Nintendo has consistently released a new main series Pokemon game every fall since 2016, but it looks as though 2020 will be different. Barring a surprising announcement from Nintendo or The Pokemon Company, it seems as though Pokemon fans won't have any new major releases to look forward to this year besides Pokemon Sleep, and so it stands to reason that many are wondering what's next for the long-running franchise.
As it so happens, there are numerous directions that Nintendo and The Pokemon Company could go with the next Pokemon games. It's possible that the next big Pokemon game releases will be something completely unexpected, but the games listed here seem like the safest bets.
Here are some of the most likely possibilities when it comes to new Pokemon games.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Remakes
Ever since the release of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen in 2004, Game Freak, Nintendo, and The Pokemon Company have consistently remade each Pokemon generation for newer platforms. The latest set of remakes, not counting the Let's Go games, were Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire on the 3DS in 2014. There's been about five years between each of the Pokemon remakes, so Pokemon fans are technically overdue for Diamond and Pearl remakes.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl marked the franchise's debut on the Nintendo DS, and they launched with a number of improvements and innovations for the franchise. Some aspects of Diamond and Pearl may not have aged particularly well, but those issues could be ironed out in remakes. Out of all the possibilities listed here, it seems as though Diamond and Pearl remakes are the most likely possibilities, especially since Time Diamond and Space Pearl titles leaked alongside Pokemon Sword and Shield back in 2017.
Pokemon Let's Go Gold and Silver
Pokemon GO remains a juggernaut in the mobile gaming space, standing as one of the most consistently popular mobile games ever made. It's no surprise that Game Freak wanted to capitalize on Pokemon GO's success, and it did so with Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee, which recreated the original Pokemon games with updated graphics and more Pokemon GO-style gameplay. While not everyone was a fan of this style of Pokemon game, it does have its appeal, and many would be excited to see the Johto region games, Gold and Silver, get a similar treatment down the line. If nothing else, these Let's Go games could help fill the gap between proper new Pokemon releases.
Pokemon Spin-Off Game
There have been countless Pokemon spin-off games released over the years, with Pokemon Sleep next up. It could be that a new Pokemon spin-off game will be the next title for fans of the franchise to look forward to, though it remains to be seen what form it will take. Perhaps it will take its cues from the popular Pokemon Snap and Stadium games on the Nintendo 64. Or maybe it will be a sequel to other Pokemon spin-off games. Alternatively, it could be a brand new concept using Pokemon that fans haven't even thought of yet. The possibilities are endless, and such a game could wind up on the Nintendo Switch or even mobile devices.
Pokemon Sword and Shield Sequels
For years, Nintendo and Game Freak would release a "third" game to go along with the pair of Pokemon titles it would release for any given generation. This third entry would be largely the same experience, albeit with some improvements and new gameplay features to make the return trip worthwhile. This tradition stopped with the release of Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, which were direct sequels to Pokemon Black and White instead, and then Pokemon X and Y never even got their third game. The Pokemon games then reverted to their previous release pattern somewhat with Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and so fans are wondering if Sword and Shield could get similar new versions or even direct sequels.
While this would usually be the safest bet when it comes to new Pokemon games, it actually seems unlikely that Nintendo will release an enhanced version of Pokemon Sword and Shield any time soon. That's because Nintendo has instead opted to release new Pokemon Sword and Shield content through DLC expansions this time around, launching Isle of Armor this summer and The Crown Tundra later this year.
Pokemon Gen 9
We also can't rule out the possibility that the next Pokemon games will be Generation 9 and move the franchise forward significantly. There's definitely a chance of it happening, though Pokemon fans shouldn't hold their breath. As just mentioned, Pokemon Sword and Shield still have DLC expansions that have yet to launch, and so support for those games will remain consistent throughout the rest of 2020 at the very least. If the Diamond and Pearl remakes are real, then it seems even less likely that Pokemon Gen 9 will be coming out any time soon, as one would imagine the Diamond and Pearl remakes would be aiming for a 2021 release.
Nintendo recently indicated that the Nintendo Switch is just about halfway through its life cycle, meaning that the company plans on releasing new games for the console until at least 2023. This leaves plenty of time for Pokemon Gen 9 to still release for the Switch, even with supposed Diamond and Pearl remakes on the horizon, but there's a decent chance that fans will have to purchase the next-generation Nintendo console to play the next-generation of Pokemon games instead.
However, all of this is just speculation at this time, and it's impossible to say with absolute certainty what the plans are for the Pokemon franchise moving forward.
