Topic: Next Pokémon Game Hopes and Wishes

Oh, as far as starter typings I forgot to mention, while I do not see them ever moving on from the Grass/Fire/Water triangle I think we're overdue for them to experiment with different secondary typings. There have been so many starter trios, especially from the last few games, that have done either the Fighting/Ghost/Dark triangle or done no secondary typings at all. There's no way they can do either of those trios again without it feeling stale and repetitive. Grass/Fighting, Fire/Fighting, Fire/Ghost, and Water/Dark have all been done multiple times, Fire's been done with all 3 of the Fighting/Ghost/Dark trio (and Psychic, which subbed in for Ghost in the Gen 6 trio), no secondary typings have been done twice already (Johto and Galar) and Sceptile, Serperior, and Unovan Samurott were also pure types. It's all just so tired and done to death. It's time for new secondary combinations.

@Bolt_Strike They could maybe get rid of type advantages/disadvantages like how Three Houses didn’t have the weapon triangle then go for completely random starter types.

@Grumblevolcano Well removing type advantages/disadvantages would make the existence of a type system kind of pointless. It would also make the game far less interesting than the grass-fire-water trio would even after 100 generations.

They could make every starter have a secondary dragon type.

@NintendoSupporter That would also kind of render the type matchups redundant, plus every starter has a Dragon rep now (granted only through Megas, but still).

I just want a ghost type Eevee evolution. Spectreon!

On Switch, we've started to see Pokemon repeat animal inspirations for starter Pokemon (Grookey was a primate when we already had Chimchar, Sprigatito was a cat in addition to Litten, and Fuecoco was a crocodile like Totodile), but I'd like to see them expand into new territory with starters. We haven't gotten any starter Pokemon based on invertebrates, but there's a lot of potential for them. Crabs, ants, molluscs, and more could make for great starter Pokemon if Game Freak decides to use them.

@UpsideDownRowlet not sure about invertebrates specifically…but I’ve felt for a while that Grass starters haven’t been plant-y enough. Although there has been some good grass theming, these Pokemon are animals (often mammals) first and foremost with green/plant elements added on.

Fire is similar (in the sense that they’re typically animal + flames) but I think the pool of ideas is more limited there. I actually think Fuecoco is the most creative they’ve been with this in a while so no complaints.

Water is where I think they’ve done the best job, but there’s so much variety in aquatic life that I think they could really stretch their ideas further. A crab would be cool, defo.

Of course the challenge is that starter designs have to appeal to the masses so it makes sense that basing starters on recognisable animals (rabbits, cats, turtles) is the default.

The thing with the starters is that they want them to be highly marketable, they're among the most marketable Pokemon in their respective generation, so they want animals that people can find endearing. It seems like they choose animals that they think could make good pets, the base forms tend to be more on the "cute" side for younger kids, casuals, girls, etc. that might want something less threatening to start off. I think this plays into their choices. I think that's why they've avoided more of these invertebrate starters and they tend to veer towards small mammals, it's not impossible but there are more marketable choices for starters.

Furthermore, they don't just need to come up with starters, but other early game mons as well to fill out your team. Some of those ideas might be more likely to be used for another early game Pokemon instead. They might be more likely to make an ant the regional bug than the starter for example, or maybe the crab might be more likely to be an early game Water type that they put on the first few routes for people that didn't pick the Water starter or want to build a mono Water team. They might not be conceptualizing their designs in terms of who's the starter, who's the regional rodent/bird/bug, etc. from the start, they might just come up with various concepts and then decide what role they play and where/when you find them from there. So their design process might naturally lead them away from making these kinds of Pokemon starters. Again, not impossible, but I think it might be an uphill battle to get something like this.

I hope the next Pokemon game follows in the footsteps of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream in having a non-binary option for the player character. Pokemon is very much a series where they want players to feel like they themselves are going on the adventure, so it only makes sense to be more inclusive towards non-binary folks.

I thought we all ready got our Pokemon game recently with Legends Z-A ? Well anyway I would like to see a Pokemon concept that has never been seen before. What that is about I don’t know.

That was the Legends series, but 2026 is the 30th anniversary of Pokemon and also when we expect the 10th generation of the main series to arrive.

@Atomic77 Pokemon generally has yearly content, they almost always have a new game or at least DLC (which now takes the place of third versions like Yellow, Crystal, Emerald, etc.) every year. We're expecting them to announce the Gen 10 Pokemon games on the typical Pokemon Day Presents (on February 27th) for release during the next holiday. It's also around the time (really, a year late than usual) we get a new generation, and it's the 30th anniversary.

I'm honestly just in the mindset of letting them cook. While Violet was flawed, it was also extremely refreshing and fun. Pokemon Z-A likewise, and so was Arceus. I'd love for them to surprise me yet again.

Hi Everyone,

My social media is getting flooded with BIG REVEALS FOR GEN 10 Pokemon Waves & Winds .

Does this have any track with actual rumors spoilers or it's a complete made up title and artworks by the fanbase?

@Bankaj The title and some other info was part of the teraleak info months ago after Game Freak got hacked. It's probably recirculating now since Pokemon Day is this month and everyone is expecting the game will be announced.

@FishyS
Right. I forgot that leak happened tbh. Now it makes sense again why it was a hot topic for a while, then heard nothing about it for months, and suddenly it is spawning everywhere again.
Thanks for the input!

With that said. I am absolutely ready for info about the new gen game. I have never clicked on any of the images/videos I came across, so from that perspective I haven't been spoiled yet besides the titles. I would like to keep it that way.

My expectations are low though. Z-A is the first time I skipped a Pokemon-game, and now in hindsight, I am happy I did because from what I'm seeing, it is not living up to any expectations I was having for the game. I had a great time with Legends; Arceus, but I never managed to get back into it.
I had beaten Scarlet/Violet relatively easily and got back to it thanks to the engine of the Switch 2. Last September I managed to complete the Pokedex. Thanks to the better engine, the game was more enjoyable. But it still lacks for me the replayability that the older games have. Nuzlocking Emerald is still more fun than any other mode I've tried since S/S.

I'm looking forward to what's coming and hope for a new fun game. Pokopia is on my radar as an interesting spin-off!

I think gen 10 will likely look good, but given the various experiments in Arceus, Scarlet/Violet, and Z-A, it's hard to guess precisely what the combat and other gameplay will look like. I enjoyed Z-A overall, but I wasn't a huge fan of the combat; it felt less strategic and a little more generic to me, but I realize the reactions to the combat vary wildly and some people loved it. And I realize it could be strategic, just not the way I played it 😆

As for the gen 10 title, I think the leak was actually from 2024 originally? So who knows if the title will remain the same.

Some final hopes before Pokemon Day:

• We need a good amount of character customization options, unlike SV.
• Shuckle evolution.
• If turn based, Pokemon move animations should actually make contact like in Legends Arceus.
• We need an "Episode" postgame storyline, like the Delta Episode (ORAS) or Episode RR (USUM). Postgames were really lacking in Gen 9.
• I'd like for Pokemon and character models to be cel shaded.
• Whether the frame rate is 30FPS or 60FPS, I just want it to be consistent.
• Just a bit of voice acting would be nice.
• Roaming legendaries that just sort of show up (sort of like the dragons from BOTW).
• I think it would be interesting if we got a new battle mechanic that is functionally a held item or ability for the trainer, thus affecting the trainer's entire team.
• Give me my Ultra Necrozma back.

I'm hoping gen 10 is turn based but with some of the improvements from S/V and Arceus or other small tweaks.

SV is awful in that way. At least Z-A had tons of fashion options... even if they cost a lot 😆