Fans of the Pokemon franchise know that TV shows and movies are staples of the universe and usually come in the form of anime. During the most recent Pokemon Presents as part of Pokemon Day, a new show called Pokemon Concierge was announced that features a slightly different format. Pokemon Concierge will be stop-motion animated and revolve around a hotel where all the guests are Pokemon.
The upcoming show is a departure from the anime, which is set to debut with new protagonists this April. The teaser trailer for Pokemon Concierge shows a Psyduck on a beach and states that Pokemon Concierge is the story of a concierge at a hotel for Pokemon. The premise of running a hotel is familiar to fans of management simulation games, and Pokemon Concierge could be the perfect inspiration for a Pokemon-centric hotel management simulator game.
A Pokemon Management Game
Video games that task players with running and managing businesses, cities, and communities have been popular for a long time and continue to be. Games like Civilization 6 and Two Point Hospital continue to sell, and many gamers enjoy the responsibility and the power that these management games give to them. A hotel management game with great artwork and interesting mechanics would already appeal to a huge population of players, and the addition of Pokemon branding and characters would only aid that success.
In Pokemon Concierge, a human character can be seen in promotional materials, but it's unclear what her role in the show will be. It is confirmed that the hotel featured in the new animated series is for Pokemon, not human guests, and the show will be about Pokemon on vacation, so it's safe to assume that a majority of the characters will be pocket monsters. This would be perfect for a hotel simulation game — whether the player character is human or Pokemon, they'll still aid Pokemon in having an incredible, relaxing beach vacation.
There are countless possibilities for gameplay in a potential Pokemon Concierge management game. Checking in adorable Pokemon guests, providing room service, constructing and upgrading hotel amenities, entertaining guests, and performing custodial tasks all provide opportunities for interesting mechanics and mini-games that players can take on to complete tasks. The idea of a Pokemon game that requires players to complete tasks and play games in order to befriend other Pokemon creatures isn't a new one — the PokePark series for the Wii featured a similar format.
A Pokemon Concierge spin-off game wouldn't necessarily be the first Pokemon game with management aspects, either. Pokemon Cafe ReMix for the Switch puts players in charge of running a cafe for Pokemon, selling drinks and treats to hungry customers. Pokemon Cafe ReMix is actually a puzzle game, but its setting is reminiscent of restaurant simulation games, and as players complete puzzles they can unlock new menu offerings and staff members. Just like the adorable Pokemon-themed menu items featured in Pokemon Cafe ReMix, a hotel management game could feature Pokemon-specific decor, room service items, and souvenirs for the Pokemon guests to acquire.
The Pokemon series is no stranger to spin-off games that introduce new mechanics, with games like Pokemon UNITE and New Pokemon Snap available for the Nintendo Switch. Pokemon Concierge doesn't have a confirmed release date but will likely release sometime after the debut of the newest Pokemon anime series. A Pokemon spin-off game could be in the future, but the success of Pokemon Concierge remains to be seen.
Pokemon Concierge does not yet have a release date.