Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are set to be the next mainline entries in Nintendo's long-running Pokemon franchise. Since their announcement in late February 2022, little has been revealed about the next adventure for Pokemon fans. Many fans expect the ninth generation of the series will be the best that Game Freak has had to offer.
In past Pokemon generations, post-game content has been a divisive topic. HeartGold & SoulSilver features an entirely different region to explore, while Sword & Shield features two paid DLC expansion packs. These features from previous gens would be welcomed additions to Scarlet & Violet's endgame.
10 The Battle Frontier
The Battle Frontier has taken on many forms throughout the Pokemon series. Often, it serves as a location players can visit after becoming the Champion of regions like Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. There, players can battle other Trainers and truly test the strengths of their favorite team of six Pokemon.
While the Battle Frontier was a favorite of many competitive Pokemon players, a new region hasn't included the feature since the fourth generation. However, alternatives like the Battle Tower or Battle Subway have served as areas for Trainers to test their skills. Hopefully, the return of a Battle Frontier would appeal to older fans.
9 The Safari Zone
The first four Pokemon regions featured a Pokemon preserve known as the Safari Zone. These special areas allowed players to catch various Pokemon without battling them. However, players were limited in their exploration of the Safari Zone by a step limit and a maximum of thirty Safari Balls.
The Safari Zone hasn't appeared in its original form in many generations. Gen 6 included a Friend Safari that allowed players to capture Pokemon from other regions. Given that Scarlet & Violet appear to share many similarities to Pokemon Legends: Arceus, it's possible this mechanic will re-appear in some form in the new region.
8 Special Trainer Matches
Oftentimes, defeating the Elite Four in a Pokemon game will unlock special privileges across the region. In some areas, special Trainers will appear, giving players some of their hardest battles yet. Depending on the game, certain Trainers may be references to the real world, while others will expand on the game's story.
In Sword & Shield, players could battle Morimoto, a developer at Game Freak, once a day after beating the Pokemon League. In Pokemon Black 2 & White 2, the character N can be found at his castle offering a rematch, with a different rotation of Pokemon that cycles throughout the game's seasons.
7 Gym Leader Rematches
In addition to special trainers appearing throughout the region, past Pokemon games have allowed players to have rematches with the region's Gym Leaders. However, this time, the Gym Leaders will have much stronger teams than they did before. This offers players a new challenge for their post-game adventures.
The way these rematches occur can differ between games. The fifth-generation featured the Pokemon World Tournament, while Diamond & Pearl allowed players to rematch Gym Leaders at their respective gyms. Hopefully, Scarlet & Violet gives players a chance to spar with their favorite Gym Leaders for a second time.
6 New Game Mechanics
Some special features of Pokemon games are hidden from players before completing the main story. In Sword & Shield, players were able to discover judges who could evaluate a Pokemon's IVs after becoming the Champion. Pokemon X & Y also featured the Poke Radar, which helps players find Shiny Pokemon.
However, some entries in the series, such as Sun & Moon, were lackluster in their post-game content. In this generation, the only things players could do after beating the game were catch new Pokemon and complete the National Pokedex. Having new game mechanics to play around with definitely appeals to more hardcore fans.
5 The Return Of Looker
The character Looker appeared throughout the Pokemon franchise after his debut in Pokemon Platinum. In that game, Looker encounters the player throughout the game's story as he investigates Team Galactic. However, in future gens, he makes significant appearances after the player defeats the Elite Four.
In Black & White, players help Looker arrest the Seven Sages of Team Plasma. However, in games like Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Looker's only purpose is to give the player a Mega Stone. Looker did not appear in the post-game of Sword & Shield, but perhaps the new generation will be his chance to return.
4 An Expanded Region
Sometimes, there's not too much for players to do after defeating the Pokemon League other than explore the game's respective regions. Some games, like Pokemon X & Y, will merely allow players to explore a new town. However, games like Black & White offer entire new sections of the Unova map for players to encounter new Pokemon.
Scarlet & Violet would really appeal to longtime Pokemon fans by going all the way with this concept. Sword & Shield introduced new Wild Areas through their DLC expansions. The second generation of games, as well as their remakes, even allow players to explore the Kanto region and take on their Pokemon League.
3 The National Pokedex
This may be a long shot, but part of the fun of Pokemon games was the overarching goal of actually "catching 'em all." This often fueled the post-games of the first seven generations, until Game Freak changed the rules. Sword & Shield were the first games in the series to not feature a National Pokedex.
As a result, many players had to leave their favorite Pokemon behind in past games. While services like Pokemon Home allowed players to keep their Pokemon in safe places, many players don't feel right about paying for the service. Maybe through updates, Scarlet & Violet can be a new home for many players' older Pokemon.
2 Legendary Pokemon Encounters
One of the biggest draws to completing a Pokemon game is allowing players to catch powerful Pokemon. While these Pokemon are often banned from competitive play, having one in your Pokedex is a badge of honor. In games like Diamond & Pearl and Black & White, catching Legendaries was a worthwhile post-game adventure.
However, some games like X & Y feature a limited amount of Legendary Pokemon available in the core games. On the contrary, Sword & Shield's second DLC expansion added every Legendary Pokemon into the game to be caught. Hopefully, fans will be able to spend lots of time tracking down these fearsome creatures.
1 New Pokemon To Catch
The most obvious benefit of completing a Pokemon game is the ability to encounter more Pokemon in general. Sometimes, this is due to new areas of the regional map being opened up. Other times, it's because of special conditions triggered by beating the Elite Four, such as the appearance of Legendary Pokemon across the map.
Sword & Shield takes this a step further with the Wild Area mechanic. Players can encounter new Pokemon during Foggy weather, which is accessed after completing the game. Since Scarlet & Violet will be the first fully open-world entry in the franchise, there are many opportunities for players to find new Pokemon.