It's hard to believe it, but Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a year old today. This Pokémon game took us back to the distant past and completely shook up the formula of what we all expected from a mainline Pokémon entry. And, quite frankly, we want more of what it gave us.
Legends: Arceus sees you get thrown back in time thanks to resident Pokémon god, Arceus, to the Hisui region — which would later become known as the Sinnoh region. The game shoves aside many traditional Pokémon mechanics and introduced various new features, but the hunt to fulfill Arceus' wishes of "seeing all Pokémon" (this god has the power to give you a phone in the Pokéworld, apparently) is the ultimate goal. This is no longer just about catching and battling — you're a full-fledged Pokémon researcher.
Okay, so being commanded by PokéGod is one thing, but if a new Legends-style game were to happen, where would we want it to take place? And what Pokémon would we be doing the bidding for? Nintendo Life's editorial team has their own ideas of where and what will be the star of the 'next' Legends game.
So, from the sublime to the ridiculous, here are our thoughts...
"Pokémon Legends: Floette" - Kalos (Alana Hagues, Staff Writer)
Pokémon X & Y isn’t my favourite Pokémon generation, but I can’t deny that Kalos is a fantastic region, and it’s got one of the most intriguing – and frankly dark – histories of all Pokémon settings. Pokémon Legends: Floette is exactly what Kalos needs to help flesh out the lore. But why Floette and not Zygarde or Xerneas?
Floette is the Fairy-type flower Pokémon that AZ, a mysterious (and very tall) human you meet on Route 13 is particularly fond of. You find out that AZ is actually over 3,000 years old, and a former king of Kalos during a huge Pokémon war. His cherished companion was a Floette, who died in the war and was then brought back to life by AZ, who then ended the conflict using an ultimate weapon. That's pretty much all we know a lot about the Kalos War, which is why it has amazing potential for a Legends game.
Floette from the past could be calling on you to stop the war before AZ stops it himself. Your starter Pokémon could be anything, but to try and vary it up, I think Treecko, Fennekin, and Piplup (all with new final forms) would work – Game Freak, please let the Fennekin line stay on all fours. The regional variants could be more adapted to fighting. Medics, spies, and all sorts of combatants could inspire some forms and evolutions. And instead of focusing on catching, this could be even more RPG and stat focused than the true main entries.
I’m not sure The Pokémon Company would ever commit to a mainline Pokémon game where war is the focus, but there are absolutely ways around it – you could be a spy, or a peacekeeper, for instance. I just want to know more about Kalos.
"Pokémon Legends: Kyogre" - Hoenn (Jim Norman, Staff Writer)
Pokémon Ruby was my first love and the Hoenn region still stands in my mind today as one of the very best. Not only is this full of some of my favourite beasties, but it also sets up what is arguably my favourite Legendary storyline with the bickering Kyogre and Groudon soothed by the peace-keeping Rayquaza.
This is a land that, if we were to go back in time, is awash with conflict (pfft, what Pokémon region isn't?) but it's also one in which the Legendaries are full to the brim with natural power. Which of the three would take the titular spot is a slightly more difficult matter. Rayquaza is the obvious choice, calling on a hero from the future to help in the war between Groudon and Kyogre, but perhaps it would be interesting to focus on one of these latter two — a Legendary that is so stuck in their ways that you are forced to question whether their bidding is really the right thing to do.
Perhaps the sea is the way to go here. This is, after all, the generation that brought with it those ace diving sequences and the thought of having that mechanic in a bigger, open world could be really something special. Pokémon Legends: Kyogre does have a certain ring to it, I suppose.
"Pokémon Legends: Dragonite" - Kanto (Ollie Reynolds, Staff Writer)
I'm going to be very boring here and just say Kanto from Pokémon Red and Blue. I love Kanto; it's still my favourite region and, yes, I absolutely acknowledge that this is nostalgia talking. Nevertheless, if there's any region I'd like to explore the origins of, it's this one.
Now, there's definitely a bit of a problem with Kanto that some of the other regions perhaps don't share, and that's the fact that there just aren't very many natural landmarks that really make it stand out; not compared to Sinnoh's Mount Coronet, at least. You've got a bunch of caves, a couple of forests, Seafoam Islands, and... Is that it? Everything else unique to Kanto is man-made, like the Safari Zone, the Cycling Road, the S.S. Anne... So yeah, while it's hardly the most interesting region from a geographical point of view, it's still one I'd like to revisit.
As for the Pokémon of choice, I think the obvious one is Mew, but Mew has been done to death now, right? I'm thinking perhaps something that, for me, feels like it belongs in Kanto and has a suitable amount of mystique to make for some interesting origins stories. Perhaps Dragonite, for example? That thing is a beast and I'd love to delve into how it came into being and behaved before humans ruled the roost.
"Pokémon Legends: Regis" - Hoenn (Kate Gray, Staff Writer)
I am also going to pick Hoenn, because I think Ruby and Sapphire are the best games, but I think that instead of having Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza as the legendaries at the heart of the story, it would instead be the Legendary Titans, Regirock, Regice, and Registeel (plus Regieleki, Regidrago, and Regigigas, why not).
Hoenn has some of the coolest storytelling in the Pokémon series, and so I would have also happily chosen the Lake Guardians, Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf — but I think the Regis are interesting in a way that I want to dive into. In Ruby and Sapphire, you discover them in a hidden underwater chamber, with cryptic braille messages instructing you where to go and how to summon the Regis, and it feels like a long-buried secret, like a doomsday device that you weren't supposed to find. Something the people "feared".
Of course, in the Pokémon games, they turn out to just be more creatures that you can capture and name "Fluffy", if you want — but imagine a game set in the distant past, when the Legendary Titans shook the earth and created chaos, when they were first sealed away by the ancient people of Hoenn. And with Regigigas as their terrifying leader, you've got an easy story setup: Defeat or subdue the rampaging titans to get clues to the location of their master and creator. Wouldn't that be cool?
Have you, like us, been dreaming about your perfect Legends: Arceus sequel? Let us know which region you think would be best suited to the Legends treatment in the poll below, and share your ideas with us in the comments — and let us know if any of our own thoughts inspire you!
Comments 85
Nobody’s saying kyurem’s complete form? D:
Pokemon Legends Lugia would be nice
A "Legend's" style kalos taking place during the pokemon war would be really interesting.
Realistically speaking, IF a new one would come out, it would probably coincide with the new remakes at that time, which are likely going to be from the Unova region. The Pokémon I could either see being Victini or Keldeo. Or complete Kyurem.
But honestly I think Legends was just a one time deal.
I choose Sinnoh that place was amazing beautiful.
Johto ftw but Unova also would be cool
Before Game Freak retconned real life references out of Pokémon, Mew was said to have been discovered in Guyana, South America. A Legends: Mew game set in a region based on Guyana has a lot of potential.
I'm a basic Brit. I just want to see my home country's Poké-analogue rendered in 3D, complete with enormous wyrms and lots of castles and constant wars with Kalos.
Pokémon Legends Unova - I would love to see Kyurem's complete form as well as battle Genesect before it was made into a living weapon by Team Plasma and see it's original form.
Could also tie in with Pokémon Scarlet and have some more unovan forms alongside Slither Wing - Maybe an ancient Hydreigon - but this time as a real Hydra?
I would love Kalos or Galar because I love European history and styles. Also would love a brand new region set to Ancient Greece.
Johto would be such a good fit if the focal point centers around the towers burning down, and the creation of Raiku, Entei, & Suicune.
I may be one of the weirdest ones; Kanto.
Now hear me out; Red/Blue is ultimately the origin of Mewtwo. But what if, by lore, Mewtwo was never caught? Set off northward where Kanto's wilds are still untamed. Gives us an excuse to still use crafting, get some old familiar faces, and maybe newer pokemon get Kanto based forms.
Pokémon Legends: Johto, with Celebi bringing you back in time to prevent the Brass Tower from burning down and killing Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. The twist is that you fail anyway because it turned out to be arson, then you'd have to help Ho-Oh revive the trio while finding out who's responsible.
There, Game Freak, you can have that one for free.
Unova. Pokemon Legends: Assassin's Creed 3.
Paldea would be neat. I thought it was fun to have Brilliant Diamond and then Arceus in the same place so we were already thinking about that region. I realize we've already visited Paldea in 3D, but the experience would be very different if we were running for our lives from huge boss pokemon.
Wouldn't mind seeing GF laying off Kanto for a while; that generation has had two remakes, plus I'm tired of Charizard being shoved in my face. (Did you know Leon has one?)
Somewhere with 60 fps fml
Totally biased here. Zygarde is my favorite Pokémon, so a Pokémon Legends: Zygarde taking place during the events of the war is a no-brainer. That being said, I would also enjoy one that involves the original dragon - fused Zekrom and Reshiram before they split.
I have a soft spot for Kalos because XY introduced the fairy type and my absolute favorite pokemon: Sylveon. I do also think Kalos and the pokemon war would be good story fodder but I really like the Hoenn idea about the Regis.
Realistically, I think Unova is the most likely and would tie in with BW/B2W2 remakes. I truly hope Legends: Arceus was not a one off.
For me:
1. Hoenn (with Rayquaza)
2. Alola (with Necrozma)
3. Kalos (with Zygarde)
4. Johto (with Celebi)
I like tropical vibes so Hoenn and Alola are top two, but Kalos and Johto would be fun locations as well.
"Pokemon Legends: Ho-Oh" . I am not sure if Ho-Oh would be considered "high-ranking" enough, but I always found that bird in particular so mysterious and intriguing! And Johto is still my favourite region, too. Hell, I would personally love a "Pokemon Legends: Wobbuffet"! He's my fave. 😊
As much as I would love a Legends Celebi we already got a Johto remake with Heart Gold and Soul Silver so I would prefer Unova or Kalos to get some much needed love. The last thing I want is a legends game based in Kanto. Give Kanto a rest.
@Ooyah That would be the DLC.
Next stop Unova. Pokemon Legends: Meloetta, released soon after Pokemon Darkest Black and Pokemon Brightest White.
Unova is the next logical step, but I think Alola would work really well.
Play as a member of the Ultra Recon squad, use Ultra Megapolis as the hub, each Island is a main zone, and all of the Ultra Space dimensions can be different boss fights.
No were. Just incorporate the mechanics and design into the mainline games.
i would love to see a Pokemon Legend that explore the 3.000 year war of Kalos.
New York. Pokémon Legends: Jason Alexander.
@Dom_31 if Game Freak do a Pokemon Legend set in Kanto, they could explore the origin of Mewtwo and the discovery of Mew.
give a rest to Kanto, i tired of Game Freak sholving Kanto in every generation, give the others regions some love
@Freddyfred that's the first thing I thought up after beating legends Arceus. Going back in Unova's past and seeing the ultimate dragon would be awesome. If we go by the pattern of new game, spin-off, remake, then maybe we get a Unova based legends game this year.
Red/Blue is my favorite gen, but Alola is my favorite location. So either one, or maybe a combination.
But that Kalos idea, mixed with Fire Emblem, could be a great Strategy RPG
I don’t care any of them would be fine, I just want another legends game. I would like to see gyms that scale to your level to.
@Dom_31 - What if, instead of going back in time, Kanto's history was in the making? We've only had one game, so time travel isn't quite the "staple" people want to think it is. So that can be possible leverage to watch a "legend in the making" of Mewtwo, likely with connections of Mew. He took off north of Kanto, be a good excuse to work with Bill and the wilds up there.
That way, we don't need cheesy isekai moments again.
If you were going to pick a legendary that really hasn't gotten the attention it should have, Zygarde is the obvious choice. No presence in X/Y's story, no follow-up game like every other generation up until the Switch, no movie, and only a boring collectathon sidequest that I doubt most people finished in Sun/Moon. Problem is, because of everything I just mentioned, no one cares about Zygarde, so it would be an awful choice marketing-wise. Other than that, I think a game centered around Mew, Celebi, and/or Jirachi would be cool. I like all three of them a lot, and I've always considered them a sort of unofficial trio.
Legends: Mew
Takes place in a new South American region. You're part of a research team to help look into how Pokemon adapt to various environments (Urban, Forest, rivers etc). The research programme has been co-funded by sources who want you to look into various tasks for example-
The Pokemon League- collect info on how environments affect battles
The Professors Council - Research different types of pokemon to compare to how various pokemon behave region by region
Silph Co - Explore how technology is used by locals and how people can learn from each other
??? - A mysterious benefactor who wishes for information to be collected about the mythical pokemon Mew
One night while walking alone at night, you are approached by a New only you can see. As the story goes on, it becomes clearer that Mew needs your help as it has a feeling that someone in the group is secretly trying to find Mew and capture it for their bosses collection.
Anyway, it all comes to climax when you have to battle Mew who now wants to save the region by completely destroying it to start anew. Impossible to beat, you set off to summon 3 spirits of ancient mythological beings that will give you enough buffs to calm down Mew during battle. These spirits are
Purity (Celebi)
Hope (Jirachi)
Success (Victini)
In the end, Mew escapes and goes into hiding as you and the team make your way home. A mid-credits scene sees one of the exploration team approach a figure to explain that Mew was unobtainable but he managed to get something that might be of use. Its a Mew hair. The figure says it will have to suffice. The figure turns out to be the mysterious co-funder, Giovanni
As you can guess, it would be direct prequel to Red and Blue set a few months before the events of Gen 1
Feel free to nitpick, everyone
Johto for sure! Ho-Oh and Lugia!
Rayquaza
Hoenn
Pokemon Legends Mew
I think Unova has the most potential - possibly too much to try and squeeze into a single game? Focusing on the original combined dragon could be really cool, and it'd be really interesting to see if they lean into a colonial America vibe or focus on the more medieval underpinnings Unova has. Perhaps Castelia could be the central hub as a castle town of sorts, and the world could be a bit more populated than Hisui (i.e. Floccesy Town, Lentimas Town, Opelucid City, maybe even the White Forest). Maybe they could also dive into things like the Entralink, the Giant Chasm, or the Swords of Justice? Johto and Kalos also have a lot going for them, but I think a Legends game in Unova could be something special, especially if they delve into the themes of the original Gen 5 games.
Pokémon Legends Celebi (Johto), time travel at it's finest.
And it would be a game in which time travel is an actual mechanic. For example you start the game in New Bark Town, you get attacked by Team Rocket and Celebi comes in to save you. With Celebi you travel to the past. And throughout the game you travel between modern Johto and ancient Johto to complete some ancient prophecy.
Rayquaza (Hoenn), Mew, or Celebi (Kanto+Johto) would make the most sense lorewise, but I agree that Unova is most likely from a marketing perspective.
That said, I don't know if the next Pokemon game will be a Legends. They're pumping out mainline games awfully fast. I was expecting this article to be about suggesting real-world locations (in which case, it's about time for Australia).
And if that's true, the next Legends game could easily be medieval Kalos.
I would love it to feel like an African safari. I also hate how every map is starting to feel generic. Plains, caves, desert, beach, ice zone. I'm fine with it ditching a few and making it feel like a unique place.
I think it would be nice if we could be able to explore some of the regions from the spin-offs, like Orre (Colosseum & XD) Fiore, Almia, Oblivia (Pokémon Ranger) or Lental (New Pokémon Snap).
Surprise! They don't make another one
We need a Legends game in Unova! It would be a perfect opportunity to give us the original form of Kyurem, Zekrom, and Reshiram.
I hope if they do make another Legends it uses a more conventional battle system. Get what they were trying to do with it but the combat is pretty handily the weakest part of that game. Still ended up liking the game as a whole lot more than I thought I would mind you.
I've missed out on a lot of Pokemon games so I'm not entirely sure. But Mewtwo if it existed then and Mew sounds good. I like the Pokemon Celebi so I'd be happy to go for that. And anything in the Johto region. I missed that game but I know it's a really cool and interesting region. I like the legendary cats/dogs/things designs and the legendary birds designs a lot. So yeah. It all seemed interesting when I was a lot younger as well, can't remember much now but am sure it was.
@Anachronism I mean, I doubt Legends Arceus sold as well as it did because Arceus is some marketing juggernaut, I could see Zygarde working out
I may or may not be saying this as a Gen 5 fanboy....but I feel like it's GOTTA be Legends: Kyurem. Not only are there multiple periods of American history to pull from (establishment, independence, crime wars, etc.) but it would be the perfect opportunity to finally show us the Original Dragon that Zekrom, Reshiram and Kyurem used to be apart of before splitting (similar to how PLA finally gave us official access to the Azure Flute/Arceus event). There's far more potential than that but that's just me scratching the surface.
PLA is one of my favourite Pokemon games ever made and I think I'd genuinely die on the spot if we got Legends Unova after it. Happy 1-Year Anniversary PLA!
How about not at all and we just get a new kind of game
Bali, Indonesia. 🇮🇩
Pokemon Legends: Kecak & Legong.
@Aerona Admittedly, he's no Pikachu or Charizard, but in a popularity contest, I still think Arceus would have Zygarde beat by a mile, even before getting his own game. Though if Game Freak decides to prove me wrong, I certainly won't complain. X is one of my favorite Pokemon games, with some of the series's most interesting lore, so seeing an ancient Kalos region would be awesome.
Somewhere completely new. Sick of old regions being reused over and over. Just wish more people here would take off those Nostalgia goggles.
Anywhere but Kanto.
In particular I want Hoenn with Rayquaza or Unova with Kyurem when it was the complete Pokémon with Reshiram and Zekrom.
A Unova legends game would be awesome, I really wanna see and capture the original full dragon. But I think the sub titles could be all Mythical pokemon, like Arceus
It should be in 8,000 BC!!!
I WANNA SEE BLASTOISE WRESTLE A T-REX
Paldea would actually be a great candidate for a Legends Arceus style entry.
The mystery of the great crater and treasure expeditions, set centuries before Scarlet and Violet.
Pokémon Legends: Ho-Oh, Lugia, and the Resurrected Beasts. Let’s get a game based upon this story. You also would use Pokeballs made out of berries (like it was said by Kurt).
Johto would be perfect, since it's kind of like Pokemon's Kyoto. The tower, Celebi being able to travel through time, it's just all right there, begging for a Legends entry!
Rayquaza, Deoxys, or Jirachi and set in Hoenn would be amazing!
Johto has a rich history and Celebi could easily spice up the game with its powers of time travel.
@RubyCarbuncle Well Legends whole point it seems is seeing regions centuries in the past and seeing how they were formed and how the Legendaries and Mythics fully connect to it. Setting Legends 2 in a random new region would kill a massive appeal of the series.
Johto and Galar would work well for showcasing classical Japan or medieval Britain respectively, while Unova could continue Legends: Arceus’ theme of “let’s touch upon the topics of colonisation and empire while glossing over the over the more unsavoury elements because it’s a kids’ game for a mass market global audience”.
Personally I just want a remake of Pokemon Gold and Silver with the modern graphics and those games had both the Johto and Kanto regions in them so they could include Kanto again if that is what they want to do.
Yessir, Johto is winning, even though it wasn't written about! That's because it's already got a little bit of an ancient vibe!
@DigimonMonster They’ve clearly got it down to a fine art!
@Farts_Ahoy You’d have to go back quite a few more million years for dinosaurs it seems — at least in terms of real world chronology.
Apparently they did have potatoes then though, so that’s something.
I sort of feel like the Legends we received is sort of perfect as is. My son booted it up today too, and I was just really impressed, seeing it again briefly. The Sinnoh games are perhaps my least favorite, but Legends Arceus is an example of the lore being so good that a better game could be made from the generation. Love the game. The Arceus lore is perfect and I’m not sure how they could top it. Unova is the logical choice, I suppose, but, despite it being the strongest mainline title, the lore just isn’t better than Sinnoh. I’d argue we almost need a new place in a new era and then explore the new region in greater detail for Gen 10… unless, of course, Gen 10 is the generation that finally links the disparate regions of Pokémon into a unified collective in some way finally.
Mew and Mewtwo leading straight into red/blue would be badass. I want to experience the destruction of Cinnabar island and how Mew was potentially caught. It would be a heartbreaking tale that could tie direct to red/blue/yellow and the first pokemon movie. I have wanted that since the beginning.
@Yosher Sadly I have to agree here. I don't think we're going to see another Pokemon Legends unless GF decides they want to keep the mainlines and a spin-off running in parallel that offers a different type of Gameplay.
Otherwise, I think Legends: Arceus being what it is was able to happen because of how mysterious the origins of Dialga and Palkia themselves are.
If they did decide to do another one, as you mentioned, it would probably be Kyurem, or so we hope.
@MegaVel91 I want to see a pokemon game trump Arceus soon. But at the same time, I’m happy I got to live long enough to experience Arceus. Made me feel like a kid again. Not a perfect game but it made me love Pokemon all over again.
If we do get another Legends game, I really want it to be similar to Arceus in terms of gameplay. I don’t mind change, obviously, but I don’t want the Arceus formula yo completely change.
@MagicMan id would of held off my expectations until after gen 10 for a unova remake/reboot. but this console generation seems like its going to be longer than the previously established. so maybe i think there may be a slim chance of them doing a unova legends alongside a low resource remake… bdsp style since they could just reuse the assets. Tho I wouldn’t expect it until next year since this year could just be s/v dlc. Even saying that sounds like a tall order to me tho haha.
Pokémon Legends: Suicune.
We would be able to keep the wonderful Japanese theme in the same ish time as Arceus. Plus there would be some easy ancestral lines to create here. Notably Eugene the Suicune hunter himself. He even talks about his ancestors in heartgold so it’s just free storytelling. Plus there’s already lots of established history missed in Johto. Notably the burned tower as well as how Ho-Oh operated back in the time when the sages would perform ceremony with the rainbow wings. It keeps going on.
Pokemon Legends: Unown (Johto).
However I think a Legends game could be set in a region where the boundaries were different in the past or an ancient (since fallen) empire, so could be an old region encompassing parts from different areas that we're familiar with.
I expected there to be another Let's Go game so maybe there won't be another Legends though.
If they want to stay in Japan Johto would be my first pick (classical Japan at its finest), Hoenn would also be cool (further explore the already rich lore and many legendaries), absolutely not Kanto (unless they come up with some cool new lore based on the history of that region in real life).
Outside of Japan my first choice would be Kalos (because of the war, plus to give Zygarde a real chance to shine) followed by Unova (quite a lot of lore and legendaries, especially Kyurem, the most probable one since it would go along with gen 5 remakes), Paldea (still early in the game, but the lore has already piqued my interest), Galar (has potential being based on Britain, but could go wrong if they just retread the current lore and legendaries) and last Alola (simply because I have no idea what they could do with it).
I really like the idea of Kalos, but let's face it, no one's going to get excited about Floette on the box art. Doesn't mean I'm not interested in getting more of that backstory in the game, but I think Pokemon Legends: Zygarde works really well because we never got a Pokemon Z, and as mentioned there's a lot they could delve into.
None of these are even mythical.
Johto is my favourite region of all, so, having Gen II remakes plus a Legends reimagining would absolutely spoil me, and Celebi is also one of my favourite legendary/mythical Pokémon.
I would love to see old school Johto and the story of the original tower burning down. And perhaps Celebi’s time travelling shenanigans could play a major role in the story.
Didn’t know I cared about Kalos, but Alana’s pitch sounds fascinating.
Lugia in Johto or Kyogre in Hoenn would be cool
@Freddyfred I too have been wanting to see his true form for a minute. only seeing him 1/2 fused back for so long...
Johto for sure! Followed by Alola. I think they could do some really cool stuff for either.
Galar is my favorite out of all the series so far. I don't let nostalgia blind me.
That said, anyone interested of how the Darkest Day started 3000 years ago prior to Sword/Shield according to the Legend? I know I am. We will get to see how Zacian & Zamazenta look like before they got their battle scars.
That, I MUST experience.
I am also fine with other Regions for a Legends' take. Just that Galar is in my wishlist right now.
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