ThePokemonfranchise is still going strong after nearly thirty years, and its future on the Nintendo Switch 2 already looks bright. Indeed,Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Switch 2 Edition will offer an experience that appears to be far beyond what the aging Switch 1 hardware is capable of, and the game itself looks like the most promising and experimental title the franchise has seen from Game Freak in years. Meanwhile,Pokemon’s tenth generation is expected to follow soon after, and it could finally shake some of the difficulties the series has been suffering due to the power of the Switch 2. All in all, things are looking up.
While nothing about the tenth generation has been officially confirmed, the sky feels like the limit.Pokemon ScarletandVioletfinally brought the series into an open world,Pokemon Legends: Z-Ais set to introduce a real-time take onPokemon’s battle mechanics, and the stronger Switch 2 hardware should smooth over the performance and visual issues that recent 3D entries have suffered.Pokemonis in the perfect place to experiment, and its next generation could benefit from putting a major twist on one of the oldest parts of the franchise.
Pokemon’s Pokedexes Are Becoming Too Familiar
Pokemon’s ever-growing Pokedex is a staple that no entry in the series is complete without, even if recent mainline entries, likeScarletandViolet, haven’t been able to keep the whole thing. With there now being more than1,000 Pokemon, the series is likely to continue leaning into a more compact and focused Pokedex for Gen 10, and filling it with new designs, rather than relying heavily on returning Pokemon from past regions, could make it stand out even more.
Other Pokemon Games Have Bucked Pokedex Trends Before
There are a couple examples of Pokedexes that focus primarily on new designs, and both paid off in different ways.Pokemon Gold,Silver, andCrystalfamously included Generation 1’s Kanto as an entire second map after Johto, which allowed Generation 2 Pokemon to shine early in the game.Pokemon BlackandWhiteare, perhaps, even better examples, as those games committed to only usingnew Pokemonuntil the credits rolled, and they even excluded some fan favorites, like Pikachu, after that. Generation 10 would likely face massive backlash if it took such an extreme approach to the Pokedex, but there’s a way to thread the needle.
Examining The Pros And Cons Of Pokemon Gen 10 Focusing On New Pokemon
There Are Risks, But Pokemon’s Next Generation Could Be Rewarded Handsomely
In defiance of nostalgia,PokemonGeneration 10 should fill its ranks with as many new Pokemon as possible, eschewing returning Pokemon if necessary. This would definitely set the forthcoming games apart from other recent entries in the series, includingScarlet and Violet, which put a great deal of emphasis on Pokemon from previous generations. That’s easier said than done, and there would undoubtedly becontroversy aroundPokemonGeneration 10if it took that approach, as forming familiar teams has huge appeal to many players. However, the developer could combat that controversy with improved presentation, courtesy of the Switch 2, and other good features.
Pokemon’s tenth generation has a golden opportunity. Specifically, if it can impress players with a Pokedex that is filled with new and exciting designs, it might be able to bring back some old fans who have become disillusioned withPokemon’s adherence to tradition. Additionally, the games could look and feel like the most distinctPokemontitles in years, without even resorting to the more extreme format changes that thePokemon Legendstitles are toying with.PokemonGen 10 has plenty to gain from breaking free from the typical approach to the Pokedex, and it can’t miss this shot to try something new.
