Summary
Pokemonis one of the most popular gaming franchises of all time, no question about it. Mainline Pokemon games have conquered the hearts of billions of players all around the world, and fans still eagerly wait for new generations of Pokemon almost thirty years after the first generation started it all in 1996.
While the mainline RPGs are surely what Pokemon is most widely known for, the franchise has seen the release of many spin-off series over the years, some of which have gained cult followings within the Pokemon community. Maybe it’s time for Nintendo and the Pokemon Company to revisit some of these spin-offs, but which games should they consider bringing back?
Pokemon Mystery Dungeonis without a shadow of a doubt the most consistently popular spin-off series the franchise has ever produced, boasting a total of seven games (not including dual releases) as of now. The series has received a lot of appreciation from fansfor its ability to delve deeper into thePokemonworld, letting players take the role of the creatures themselves, exploring the world through their eyes.
The core elements of this series are a simple yet captivating gameplay formula and intriguing plots, some of which are considered by players among the best to be found in the franchise as a whole,especially for the DS-era games. While it’s true that fans got to experience a new game in 2020 on the Nintendo Switch, it should be taken into consideration that it is still a remake and that four years have passed already since its release. Maybe it’s time to give this sub-series another spin with a completely new title, or maybe with a remake of the belovedExplorerstrio of games.
Another RPG spin-off with a completely different take on the franchise’s classic formula,Pokemon Rangerlets players take the role of Rangers, who are tasked not with catching Pokemon, but rather with capturing them for a short period. The games take place in far away regions of the world, where there are no such things as Pokemon battles and Pokedex, and people just live together with the Pokemon in harmony.
What makes the series so interesting is how different it is from the mainline games, focusing on the plot and the capturing mechanics rather than on the collecting and battling elements.They also make heavy use of the DS' unique features, most notably the stylus. Fans have been demanding a new game in the sub-series for ages now, and while nothing has happened since 2010, it would still be interesting to see the Creatures Inc. studio trying to tackle this formula on completely different hardware.
3PokePark Series
Chill Adventures In The Pokemon World
PokeParkis a sub-series consisting of only two games released so far, both available exclusively on the Nintendo Wii. While this series is far from being a classic, it does indeed have its charm, which contributed to creating a small but loyal cult following among the fanbase, even if it has been missing since 2012. Gameplay-wise, bothPokeParkreleases play like action-adventure games, letting the player take the role of different Pokemon while they explore the titular PokePark, completing missions and minigames throughout the story.
What makesPokeParkso unique in the franchise is probably its atmosphere.Both games share a very chill atmospherethat makes it easy to get lost in the small yet captivating worlds. A new release on the Nintendo Switch (or its successor) could be the chance to take this sub-series to the next level, expanding the core formula with bigger areas, deeper gameplay, and even more multiplayer features, adding to the game’s value as a party game too.
Another relatively unknown spin-off that has a dear place in the heart of the Pokemon community,Pokemon Pinballso far consists of two games, released to coincide with the first and third-generation mainline games. There’s nothing much to say about these games:they’re simply pinball gamesthat take place in the Kanto and Hoenn regions, with plenty of Pokemon and iconic locations scattered throughout the adventure.
While this formula may be seen as too simplistic for today’s gaming standards, it should be noted that it would match the Nintendo Switch’s portability quite well, and players would be able to enjoy a simple and quick pinball game on the go. Considering how many regions and Pokemon have been added to the franchise since the last game, a new title could also include multiple regions to explore, giving players the chance to take a trip down memory lane as they go through their pinball adventure.
For a long time, thePokemon Stadiumsub-series,includingPokemon ColosseumandPokemon XD: Gale Of Darknesson the GameCube, was the closest thing to mainline games players would be able to get on home consoles. As the title implies, these spin-off games were much more focused on Pokemon battles, which took center stage in glorious 3D graphics for the first time. At first glance, there should be no need for games like these anymore, given that mainline games are no longer confined to portable systems.
On the other hand, it would be interesting to see a game that deals primarilywith the competitive side of the franchise, with top-notch visuals and some new options for the battles, along with all those who have been absent from mainline games for some time now. Maybe it wouldn’t be every Pokemon fan’s cup of tea, but surely competitive players would enjoy having a dedicated game with an appropriate infrastructure that is finally up-to-date.
