Pokemon games have been improving and expanding their post-game mechanics since the first titles were released in 1996. The series' ninth generation, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, features more ways for players to complete their collection of rare items and Pokemon than any prior entry. However, the grind is becoming tedious for some players, raising the question of how post-game mechanics and collecting could be improved in future generations. Gen 10 Pokemon games would benefit from adapting one feature from another monster-tamer title, Temtem, which allows players to acquire new items and critters using Pansun, the game's main currency.
Temtem was released in 2020 to average reviews. Unlike Pokemon, the title is an MMORPG, meaning players can interact with each other in Temtem's open world. This opens up players' options for completing both in-game tasks and personal collections. In fact, players are able to complete nearly every facet of Temtem's gameplay in co-op. As Temtem battles are normally 2v2, players can either work together, contributing one Temtem each, or create a team of complementary pairs with which to tackle the game alone. Temtem also features a unique option for those looking to complete their post-game collections, the Trade House, which allows players to auction or bid on Temtem and rare items in an online marketplace, similar to eBay.
Temtem's Trade House is An Alternative to Pokemon's Trading and Catching Mechanics
Temtem differs from Pokemon in various ways, with many of its improved mechanics resulting from a modern approach. One such mechanic is the eBay-like Trade Houses, where players can bid on other players' Temtem and items, using in-game currency, with the highest bidder taking home the prize. When a player bids their Pansun, the sum is automatically deducted from their storage, with refunds sent if an auction is lost. Trade Houses also feature a buyout option, like eBay's "Buy It Now" category, where a player can bypass the auction phase by paying a total determined by the auctioneer. The Houses can be found in three areas of Temtem's world, Deniz, Tucma, and Arbury.
The Trade House provides a fresh alternative to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's post-game collect-a-thon. In lieu of traversing the world of Temtem for a few specific monsters, or scouring the online player base for a good trade, players can search and bid on exactly what they need, regardless of their current Temtem collection. This allows players to grind other types of materials, either currency or items, and turn that investment into Temtem or items of greater rarity. It also expands the role of player interaction in the title's in-world economy, something Pokemon has yet to implement, though a similar establishment to the Trade House can be found in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Porto Marinada.
Pokemon Gen 10 Games Could Use Temtem's Trade Houses
Early in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the player must chase Kofu, a Gym Leader, to Porto Marinada. It is here that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet introduce auctions to the series' gameplay. By interacting with one of three merchants at the Porto Marinada Auction House, players can take part in auctions against two random NPCs for an assortment of items, which rotate daily. While auctions allow players to obtain helpful items early on, as well as some that previously came in limited quantities, there is certainly room to improve the feature, both in implementation and impact.
Gen 10 of Pokemon could include an expanded version of the auction house that allows players to auction their Pokemon and items to other players for in-game currency. This could help players search for a particular shiny Pokemon or one with a specific set of stats and characteristics. Given the competitive nature of Pokemon, there would likely need to be a unique endgame currency or a post-game unlock for some of the auction's categories. Players may see improved auctions implemented in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's upcoming DLC or other new additions to the series' endgame mechanics. Until The Teal Mask is released this fall, Pokemon fans can look to games like Temtem for a unique insight into modern monster-taming gameplay and online implementation.
Temtem is available now for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
