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Pokemon fans want modern RPG elements in their mainline games. But they also want Pokemon in other game genres. Pokemon party games like Mario 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, and Pokemon Stadium are 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.
10 Pokemon Contests Through Costuming & Rhythm Games
Dress-Up Games in a Cute Pokemon Package
One of the mini-games that has disappeared in modern Pokemon games is Pokemon Contests. Generation 3 (Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald) and their Generation 6 remakes (Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire) featured these fun side quests that had players thinking about their Pokemon in a different way. Bringing Pokemon Contests back 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 Boutique series, Life Makeover, Shining Nikki, and even Final 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.
9 A Bigger RTS
Disgaea and Makai Kingdom Meet Pokemon Conquest
Pokemon Conquest was the franchise’s first foray into 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.
8 Explore Horror
Luigi's Mansion is the Blueprint for Children's Horror
Pokemon is full of horrific, terrifying monsters described 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 like Luigi’s Mansion could make the transition easier. It won’t be much of a lore stretch either, as players could be representatives of Silph Co. testing new Silph Scopes. Mechanically, the game could dip into Pokemon Snap and Fatal Frame and 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.
7 Run A Business With Pokemon
Pokemon Concierge Meets Capitalism 2 and Kairosoft
The Netflix series Pokemon Concierge showed workaholic Haru relaxing and becoming confident again. Concierge also 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 to run a Pokemon resort, similar to games like Bear and Breakfast and Hot 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.
6 Defeat 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, 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 the Monster Hunter franchise, a Pokemon PvE game could revolve around forest rangers protecting the local environment, like Pokemon Rangers in games, the series, and the action RPG Pokemon 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.
5 Multiplayer Party Mini-Games
Bring Back Pokemon Stadium Mini-Games On Their Own
Pokemon Stadium had a host of mini-games under 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 like Mario Party that 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 from Pokemon Stadium 1, or Pichu’s Power Plant from Pokemon Stadium 2.
4 Turn-Based RPG
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, But With Junction, Pictos, or Abilities
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon was 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 reactions like in Paper Mario.
Adding the junction or ability system from Final Fantasy 8 and 9 wouldn’t be amiss either. For a more modern take, consider something like the pictos system from Clair 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.
3 Pokemon Raising And Ranching
Monster Rancher-Style Gameplay
Monster Rancher had battles in it, but the real appeal to the game was the opportunity to 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 World for 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.
2 Pokemon Farming Sim
Farm With Pokemon
Square Enix’s Harvestella is 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’ Farmagia does the same, but with Fairy Tale graphics and the ability to grow monsters from 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 a Pokemon Concierge or Monster 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.
1 Open-World Adventure RPG
Cross The PalWorld Threshold With Your Favorite Pokemon
The kerfuffle over Palworld and Pokemon died down after gamers realized Palworld had more Ark and DayZ in its DNA than it had Pokemon. And yet, Palworld showed 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, if Palworld’s first-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 into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s latest innovations, it could also innovate new ways to traverse the world.
