Summary
Pokemon fans want modern RPG elements intheir mainline games. But they also want Pokemon in other game genres. Pokemon party games likeMario Party, a Pokemon ranching sim focused on raising monsters instead of battling, or even an exploration-first, open-world RPG with Pokemon, with a side of crafting — these are only some game concepts fans have explored and asked for over the decades.
GameFreak and the Pokemon company’s many third-party partners already have a library of non-mainline games mixing mons with different genres.Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, Pokemon Go,andPokemon Stadiumare only a few of these games. But there’s space in TPC’s calendar for genres long-asked for by Pokemon fans, and even people completely unfamiliar with the franchise outside its mascots.
10Pokemon Contests Through Costuming & Rhythm Games
Dress-Up Games in a Cute Pokemon Package
One ofthe mini-gamesthat has disappeared in modern Pokemon games is Pokemon Contests. Generation 3 (Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire,andEmerald) and their Generation 6 remakes (Pokemon Omega RubyandAlpha Sapphire) featured these fun side quests that had players thinking about their Pokemon in a different way. BringingPokemon Contestsback as a separate game could satisfy players who miss these extravaganzas, and players who want the core gameplay in their mainline games.
Nintendo 3DS’New Style Boutiqueseries,Life Makeover,Shining Nikki, and evenFinal Fantasy 14’s Glamor community have gameplay concepts that may make contests feel more immersive. The appeal or talent round can also be expanded to make chaining Pokemon abilities and talents feel more organic, and help players express their personal aesthetics.
9A Bigger RTS
Disgaea and Makai Kingdom Meet Pokemon Conquest
Pokemon Conquestwas the franchise’s first forayinto real-time strategy. The Warring States period was the perfect springboard for strategic warfare with Pokemon. Plus, being a crossover game between Pokemon and Nobunaga’s Ambition meant that TPC tapped into two huge pre-existing fanbases in Japan.
A new standalone Pokemon RTS would be welcome, especially since the Switch 2 can handle having all 1025 different Pokemon in the game. The feature of “Linking” with wild Pokemon instead of using pokeballs could also be brought over from Conquest, as well as abilities being locked to certain Pokemon types. Not being locked to the Warring States period could also expand the game’s appeal to a wider audience.
8Explore Horror
Luigi’s Mansion is the Blueprint for Children’s Horror
Pokemon is full ofhorrific, terrifying monstersdescribed as such in-game, like the eldritch Mimikyu or the grudge-holding Yamask. Lavender Town infamously spawned dozens of urban legends due to its status as a burial ground for deceased Pokemon. The Old Chateau in Gen 4, Route 14 between Lumiose City and Laverre City, and The Strange House in Unova also give spooks that can even startle adults.
Basing a Pokemon horror game on a kid-friendly horror franchise likeLuigi’s Mansioncould make the transition easier. It won’t be much of a lore stretch either, as players could be representatives ofSilph Co.testing new Silph Scopes. Mechanically, the game could dip intoPokemon SnapandFatal Frameand have players merely photograph ghosts, or go full Luigi’s Mansion and capture ghost Pokemon and add them to the player’s roster to help with future captures.
7Run A Business With Pokemon
Pokemon Concierge Meets Capitalism 2 and Kairosoft
The Netflix seriesPokemon Conciergeshowed workaholic Haru relaxing and becoming confident again.Conciergealso shows practical problems businesses face when dealing with a diverse variety of Pokemon in a service setting. Naturally, it had some gamers thinking about what it would be like torun a Pokemon resort, similar to games likeBear and BreakfastandHot Springs Story.
Mechanics would likely be simplified for managing facility upgrades, customer feedback, and moving furniture. A Pokemon resort management game would also likely have a camera mode to let fans watch unique Pokemon animations for various facilities and activities. Pokemon could also be employed and trained to do jobs like Lapras ferries, or Sealeos playing volleyball with guests.
6Defeat Giant Pokemon In PvE Team Battle
Monster Hunter for Big Game Pokemon
Even without mega evolutions,Pokemon can get gigantic. Wailord is chief among these vanilla humongous mons, followed by Steelix, Dodonzo, and Exeggutor. On the legendary Pokemon side, Eternatus can grow 328 feet long when Dynamaxed and is 65 feet long when in its normal state.
Similar to theMonster Hunterfranchise, a Pokemon PvE game could revolve around forest rangers protecting the local environment, like Pokemon Rangers in games, the series, and the action RPGPokemon Ranger. Players can switch between controlling their rangers and partners when exploring, lock on to Pokemon controls in combat, and switch between mons to equip different skills.
5Multiplayer Party Mini-Games
Bring Back Pokemon Stadium Mini-Games On Their Own
Pokemon Stadiumhad ahost of mini-gamesunder Kids Club that made for fun afternoons between battles. There was also a GameCube tech demo called Meowth’s Party that had camera controls. But Pokemon doesn’t have a true standalone party game likeMario Partythat plops players on a game board with tons of mini-games.
With mainline Pokemon games focusing on combat, a standalone, low-stakes multiplayer Pokemon party mini-game title would be welcome. TPC can bring back mini-games like Run, Rattata, Run fromPokemon Stadium 1, or Pichu’s Power Plant from Pokemon Stadium 2.
4Turn-Based RPG
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, But With Junction, Pictos, or Abilities
Pokemon Mystery Dungeonwas a roguelike RPG, but a potential turn-based Pokemon RPG that didn’t rely on mainline combat rules has yet to surface. A Pokemon RPG in an alternate setting where only Pokemon exist, with classic turn-based JRPG mechanics, wouldn’t be amiss, especially when paired with QTE reactionslike inPaper Mario.
Adding the junction or ability system fromFinal Fantasy 8and9wouldn’t be amiss either. For a more modern take, consider something like the pictos system fromClair Obscure: Expedition 33. This kind of ability system mimics the skill and attributes management Pokemon breeders do in mainline games to create the perfect Pokemon. Having QTEs would provide some depth in combat that both kids and adults can appreciate.
3Pokemon Raising And Ranching
Monster Rancher-Style Gameplay
Monster Rancherhad battles in it, but the real appeal to the game was the opportunityto raise monsters. Caring for the monsters every day, from the food they eat to how they train, affects their battle abilities and how well they do in adventures.Digimon Worldfor the PS1 also had this level of personal attention to affect how Digimons evolved.
A Pokemon game about raising ‘mons in this focused way could be a refreshing break from the battle-centric nature of the mainline games. Pokemon raising sims can have players take on the role of employees of a Pokemon daycare, or owner of a ranch, focused on caring for ‘mons in small batches.
2Pokemon Farming Sim
Farm With Pokemon
Square Enix’sHarvestellais a fantasy RPG take on farming/life sims with a compelling main story that doesn’t force players to move on from their farms. Marvelous’Farmagiadoes the same, but withFairy Talegraphics and theability to grow monstersfrom dungeon seeds. It’s not hard to imagine a Pokemon game in such a setting, especially when the franchise has plenty of examples of Pokemon who are commonly used in agriculture.
In the same vein as aPokemon ConciergeorMonster Rancher-type game, a Pokemon farming sim would be either relaxed or action-filled according to the player’s whims. Players could focus on tending to their farm with their Pokemon, foraging with their partners, or even multitasking with friends if multiplayer is an option.
1Open-World Adventure RPG
Cross The PalWorld Threshold With Your Favorite Pokemon
The kerfuffle overPalworldand Pokemon died down after gamers realizedPalworldhad moreArkandDayZin its DNA than it had Pokemon. And yet,Palworldshowed that adventuring with cool creatures, and using their abilities to do so, is a ton of fun. Plus, it shows fans are totally willing to pay for the experience, ifPalworld’sfirst-week sales are any indication.
Obviously, an open-world survival adventure game with Pokemon wouldn’t have gun upgrades in it. But it could have harnesses for rideable Pokemon, and hot springs where trainers and Pokemon can bond. If TPC taps intoThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s latest innovations, it could also innovatenew ways to traversethe world.
