Highlights

  • Pokemon fans are abuzz about possible new titles post-Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, with speculation on Gen 10 and potential releases in 2026.
  • A combined Johto and Unova Pokemon game could merge Gen 2 and 5 experiences, offering a fresh take on both regions with a single, combined title.
  • The game could feature Paradox Legendary Pokemon, incorporating Scarlet and Violet's time travel elements for a unique and lore-rich gameplay experience.

After the release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Indigo Disk DLC, the discourse surrounding Pokemon games started to veer in the direction of what's next - be it new titles revealed on Pokemon Day 2024 or even next year with Gen 10 and whatever it may bring. While Pokemon Gen 10 games are a hot topic due to how Pokemon Scarlet and Violet set new bars to clear both in positive terms and negative ones, there is a chance that the next mainline games will be released in 2026 instead of next year, since that is the 30th anniversary of the franchise. Still, the next big release is rumored to be that of Johto or Unova Pokemon games, but they may come with a big twist.

The Pokemon Company could even release Johto and Unova Pokemon games simultaneously, possibly including Gen 5 remakes to follow Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and maybe a new Pokemon Legends or Let's Go! games. There have been all sorts of rumors about this so far, and it would make sense to deliver both of these hypothetical titles since there's a strong demand for new Johto and Unova experiences. To this end, there is a solution that would help have both Johto and Unova games, and it would be to have them as a single, combined title.

nintendo switch 2 release september 2024 pokemon launch bad why
Related
Nintendo Switch 2's Rumored Release Month Rules Out a Big Franchise For Launch Titles

The Nintendo Switch 2 remains a mystery with no official news so far, and its rumored release date may mean it's doing without a big launch franchise.

How A Combined Johto and Unova Pokemon Would Bring Gen 2 and 5 Full Circle

A Combined Johto and Unova Game Would Make a Lot of Sense

Much like Gen 2 games allowed players to explore Johto for the first time and then head to Kanto, a new Johto and Unova Pokemon game could have a similar premise, with the starting point being either region, depending on story reasons. One could argue that having such a game start in Unova and then head to Johto would make the most sense since it would be first and foremost a Gen 5 remake, and then also offer a fresh take on Johto, bringing the original Gen 2 titles full circle.

A primarily Gen 5 game allowing players to visit a different region altogether would also bring Unova games full circle, as they were meant to be a soft reboot of the series, closing the chapter of Japan-based games and broadening Pokemon's horizons overseas.

Going to Johto in the post-game as players did with Kanto in Gen 2 would be a nice touch and a big nostalgic move on The Pokemon Company's part. This approach could even address a big problem of Gen 2 games, where players don't find a lot of Johtonian Pokemon in the wilds in the playthrough and instead, they have to look for them later, in the endgame or post-game. It could also be a good way to have players focus on Unovan Pokemon first and foremost, making the title a true Gen 5 Pokemon game.

A Johto and Unova Combined Game Could Feature Paradox Legendary Pokemon

A Pokemon Game Spanning Johto and Unova Could Use Scarlet and Violet's Time Travel Gimmick

The Unova to Johto trip (or vice versa) wouldn't even need to follow the same rules as the Kanto post-game in Gen 2. In fact, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Paradox Legendary Beasts and Swords of Justice come from two different eras, with the former being from the past and the latter from the future. A Pokemon Johto and Unova game could use both of these concepts and involve time travel in a different way than Gen 9, this time allowing players to hop between different periods to catch these powerful critters.

Players could use time travel to reach future Unova and then past Johto, for example, which would make it not only justified to reintroduce Paradox Pokemon, but also an interesting addition to the series due to the lore and story implications this choice could entail. With Gen 5 Legendary Pokemon's penchant for fusions, a combined Johto and Unova Pokemon game could even have fusions between Zekrom, Reshiram, Ho-Oh, and Lugia, all based on the different versions of the game. There is a lot of untapped potential for this idea, and a combined Gen 2 and Gen 5 Pokemon game would be perfect to address what many fans want.