Pokemon is a wildly popular RPG, tossing you into a world filled with unique creatures, various regions, and several teams of bad guys. The gameplay for the majority of mainline Pokemon games are similar. Start your journey by choosing one Pokemon, and head through the world until you reach your ultimate battle.
There are some exceptions to this rule, such as Pokemon Unite and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, but for the most part, mainline Pokemon games stick to a familiar genre. What would Pokemon be like in other genres though? Here you can check out some genres that we think Pokemon should try out next.
7 MMORPG
Imagine this; you enter into the Pokemon world, surrounded by other players who have their Pokemon partner at their side. You can take on these players in PvP battles, or team up and take on world bosses. The idea of having a Pokemon MMORPG is so popular that you can find a few fan-made MMOs online.
Overall, the structure of Pokemon can easily be translated into an MMO. Even the wild areas found in newer Pokemon games would shine in an MMO, where you would not only see others but be able to fully interact with them.
A common situation in Pokemon games is simply being too powerful. If you stray off course and decide to catch dozens of Pokemon, you may be over-leveled for the next gym battle. In an MMO, the world is your Cloyster! Test your skills in dungeons, and battle against other budding trainers.
6 Visual Novel
While Pokemon does dive into character development and interactions from time to time, this is definitely not a defining feature of the franchise. With a Pokemon visual novel, we would be able to explore these conversations and relationships a bit more.
For example, a Pokemon visual novel could focus on the academies found in Scarlet and Violet. These schools are sprawling, filling with unique students and teachers. Unfortunately, we don't get to experience this, as you aren't really required to go to school.
In addition to having a school-focuses visual novel, we would love to see one that focuses on the 'bad guys', such as Team Yell from Sword and Shield. With a bit more backstory and understanding, the team may even seem less, well... lame.
5 Battle Royale
Many battle royales involve jumping out of some sort of flying vehicle and landing on a complex map filled with 98 other people who want to kill you. With a Pokemon battle royale, this would still work.
To start, you would jump from your Pokemon-themed hot air balloon into a city (Lumiose City, anyone?) where other players aim to battle and defeat you. These battles could be traditional, but they could also take a page from Pokemon Legends: Arceus, requiring you to do some evasive maneuvering.
Overall, the goal is to come out victorious, proving that you are worthy of the Pokemon Champion title.
4 Farming/Life Simulator
At its core, the Pokemon franchise is cozy. Many people have a nostalgia associated with Pokemon games; playing Diamond and Pearl on your Nintendo DS while curled up on the couch. To expand upon the cozy vibes of Pokemon, we would love to see a farming/life simulator game.
Think Stardew Valley meets Ooblets. In Stardew, you grow crops and develop relationships with the townspeople. In Ooblets, things are pretty similar but instead of growing crops, you grow little creatures called Ooblets.
In this hypothetical Pokemon sim game, you could live a quaint life in a sleepy village, while growing crops and finding wild Pokemon. Together with your Pokemon, you can make your farm as epic as possible while taking part in everyday village life. No goal, just coziness.
3 Tower Defense
There are tons of tower defense games out there, but somehow, there is no official Pokemon version. This Pokemon tower defense game would utilize individual Pokemon as 'towers', with different types having unique powers. For example, water-type Pokemon could have AoE wave attacks.
What is the thing that you would be tower-defending against? This could be as simple as grunts from an evil team, or something a bit more quirky, like runaway Pokemon that need to be wrangled up.
Legendary Pokemon could even make their way into the tower defense game. Similar to Heroes in Bloons Tower Defense 6, Legendary Pokemon could be unique towers that provide a buff and powerful attack that has a cooldown.
2 Roguelike
The roguelike genre usually involves going on a dungeon run, with the goal of making it as far as possible. Upon death, you are sent back to the beginning, losing all of your items and progress. This simple framework can easily be molded into a Pokemon game.
A Pokemon roguelike game may involve a trainer who is sent into various 'dungeons' to investigate a higher evil. At the end of each dungeon is a large Pokemon who is causing disruption, but you will first have to make it through the many floors of the dungeon.
Along the way, you can acquire Pokemon as partners to aid in your survival. For example, a fire-type Pokemon may use fiery, long-range attacks. Specific Pokemon could even have attacks unique to them.
1 First-Person Horror
Lastly, we have a first-person horror Pokemon game. This one is a bit strange, so hear us out. In this, you would play as a researcher, sent into an abandoned facility due to recent rumors of Pokemon inside. Your goal is to enter, figure out what the facility was used for, and rescue the Pokemon.
Inside, you encounter Pokemon that seem to be victims of grotesque experiments, with many being hostile to you. While on your mission, you will need to figure out what exactly happened, and if any of the original researchers remain.
Of course, as a first-person horror game, it will be dark and have more realistic graphics when compared to current Pokemon games. Think Detective Pikachu movie appearances, with horror vibes.