In the manga, Viridian Forest is home to Yellow. Also, every ten years a child is born there and possesses the abilities to heal Pokémon and read their thoughts. Named people like these are Yellow, Giovanni and Lance.
Viridian Forest is also a major location in the game Hey You, Pikachu!. It is played during the beginning of the game, and is where the player meets Pikachu for the first time. The player is then given the basics from Professor Oak on what commands to tell Pikachu. Eventually, at one point, Pikachu will use Thunder onto the player and steal their lunchbox. The player is forced to chase Pikachu around in Viridian Forest until they reach deeper. It turns out that Pikachu was using the toolbox to feed some Caterpie, and hands back the toolbox feeling remorse for its actions. The player then asks Pikachu to stay with them, and Pikachu gladly heads back with them.
Viridian Forest is also the main setting for the "Caring for Caterpie" activities. The player and Pikachu are given the task to watch over Butterfree's Caterpie. Pikachu mainly does all of the work, while the player is there to tell Pikachu when a Caterpie is hungry and to tell it how to get a rosebud down.
Viridian Forest is one of four main locations in Pokémon Channel. However, one must purchase the bus ticket to Viridian Forest from Shop 'N Squirtle first. Viridian Forest is rather small compared to its appearance in Hey You, Pikachu! but it is most notable for having concerts here. Near the end of the game, the player can go through Viridian Forest in order to get to the campsite to view the full Pichu Bros. in Party Panic up at the stars.