Though they were once a distinctive tradition within Pokemon games, the series' most recent generations have been inconsistent with Fossil Pokemon and have now left Gen 10 with the responsibility of reviving a historic Pokemon trope. As one of Pokemon's oldest design staples, Fossil Pokemon have featured in every generation up until Gen 6, almost consistently as a pair where players choose one of the two. Despite returning with a twist inspired by real-life archeology in Gen 8, no new Fossils were added in both Gen 7 and Gen 9's Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

It's believed that due to the introduction of Ultra Beasts and Paradox Pokemon in Gens 7 and 9 respectively that Fossils were sidelined, especially when Fossil Pokemon conflicted with Scarlet and Violet's Paradox Pokemon. But given that Sword and Shield's unique mismatched Fossils also strays from the decades-old tradition, Gen 10 is now in a difficult position where it can either return to or completely break from the Fossil Pokemon formula. However, regardless of which option Gen 10 takes, the minimum it needs to accomplish is enshrining Fossil Pokemon as an important part of Pokemon's ever-expanding legacy.

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Gen 10 Should Restore The Fossil Pokemon Tradition

As players familiar with the series may already know, there are plenty of traditions that Pokemon relies on throughout most if not all of its games, from the staple of early Bug, Flying, and Normal-type Pokemon to the overuse of Dragon-type Legendary Pokemon. Its Fossil Pokemon are among these, as each generation up to Gen 6 gave players a binary choice, with certain exceptions like Aerodactyl or Relicanth. Though this might have seemed too formulaic after so many games, Fossils maintained interest with fans speculating about what new types or design inspirations these prehistoric Pokemon would have next.

For instance, fans theorized about potential Fossil Pokemon for Scarlet and Violet quickly after its announcement, demonstrating that the tradition was alive and well within players' interests. Therefore, Gen 10 has the opportunity to restore traditional Fossils and introduce two new Pokemon lines after their inconsistent use across three generations. Doing so not only reengages its players' anticipation of new Fossil Pokemon, but it further feeds back into Pokemon's version exclusivity where the choice between two Fossils will encourage players to trade with others to obtain the Pokemon they didn't get as a result.

Gen 10 Could Revamp Pokemon's Approach to Fossils

However, Fossil Pokemon's struggle in recent generations could be a sign Game Freak is trying to break free from Pokemon's predictable tropes as seen with Sword and Shield's experimental approach. Though Gen 8 complicated things with its Fossils, adding four man-made Pokemon whose actual prehistoric counterparts were lost to time, the intrigue they generated does show that Pokemon could find new ways of introducing Fossil Pokemon. For instance, considering its success as a spin-off, it's possible that Pokemon Legends could do more with Fossil Pokemon thanks to its time travel narrative and historical setting.

In fact, should Gen 10 not return to the traditional choice of two Fossils, it could instead adopt the approach Pokemon established all the way back in Gen 1. Just as Aerodactyl breaks the mold as a lone single-stage Pokemon revived from amber, Gen 10 could explore similar or new ideas for its Fossils. For example, like Gen 8's adaptation of incorrectly matched fossils, Gen 10 could take influences from scientific efforts to revive the wooly mammoth as another lone Fossil Pokemon, or it could be the first generation to introduce a three-stage Fossil Pokemon evolution line in contrast to all other Fossils throughout Pokemon.

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