Highlights

  • Pokemon Generation 10 could benefit from revisiting traditional evolution methods, giving players a more straightforward experience.
  • Unusual evolution requirements in recent generations have made evolution frustrating for some players, warranting a return to simplicity.
  • While unique evolution methods can be creative, including too many in Pokemon Generation 10 may hinder player enjoyment and accessibility.

There is one trend that has been on the rise in recent Pokemon games that might need to take a break in the next generation. Pokemon Generation 10 will almost certainly be a milestone for the series, so Nintendo will probably want it to be as high-quality as possible. That would entail emphasizing what worked about past games while downplaying aspects that have not been so successful. This could be a good reason for the developers to revisit one feature that has appeared quite often. For Pokemon Generation 10, not everything from recent titles needs to be repeated.

There have been notable gameplay changes in every Pokemon generation, from minor tweaks to complete overhauls. The biggest changes of note would be Generation 3 adding abilities to every Pokemon, and Generation 4 introducing the Physical-Special split, both of which radically changed the game going forward. In addition, most generations have had a prominent gimmick that formed a part of the metagame, such as Dynamaxing and Tera forms. These changes have played a big role in making sure that each game feels fresh despite the general gameplay loop remaining similar. It's only natural to expect Pokemon Generation 10 to have some new ideas of its own.

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Pokemon Generation 10 Might Need Fewer Nonstandard Evolutionary Methods

Evolution Has Always Been Important in Pokemon

Even since the beginning, evolution in Pokemon games has been a vital mechanic. Most Pokemon, including every starter, belong to evolutionary lines, getting stronger every time they evolve. There are a few main methods of evolution, including:

  • Level-up
  • Evolution items
  • Friendship
  • Day/Night requirement
  • Trade

However, in recent generations, there has been an increasing number of critters with unusual evolution requirements. Either they do not fit any of the above methods or have extra restrictions that have to be fulfilled in order to evolve. This shift has led to a significant amount of rather unexpected ways that Pokemon have found to evolve.

There is a downside to this, though. While Pokemon's trade evolutions have been an issue for many players, many of the more unique evolution methods can be frustrating in their own right. One of Scarlet and Violet's new Pokemon, Finizen, needs to level up in multiplayer in order to evolve, which is an obstacle for some. Even more egregious may be Karrablast and Shelmet, who need to specifically be traded for each other. Particularly obtuse is Galarian Farfetch'd, who needs to land three critical hits in a single battle. A lot of these methods of evolution can be difficult or cumbersome, complicating the process.

Generation 10 Could Benefit From Having More Traditional Pokemon Evolutions

Generation 10 of Pokemon should consider scaling back some of the more unusual evolution requirements. Breaking a Pokemon pattern in Generation 10 regarding evolutions could be a refreshing change of pace. Not only would it make filling out the Pokedex easier, but it would also keep some creatures from being blocked off for players who don't know or can't fulfill their odd evolution requirements. Sometimes keeping things simple is a good move, and Pokemon's evolution might be one example of such a time. For the next set of mons, sticking to tried-and-true methods of evolution might be a good call.

Introducing a few critters every now and then with nonstandard evolution methods is fine, but the series may have done too much. Hopefully, the region for Pokemon Generation 10 will take a step back in that sense and not feature as many Pokemon that require tactics outside of the norm in order to evolve. While Pokemon does deserve praise for its creativity, a change in philosophy regarding upcoming evolutions could prove useful. In the next generation of Pokemon, players will hopefully have fewer obstacles when it comes to evolving critters.