With the announcement of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, the ninth generation of Pokemon games is set to debut in 2022. From the first trailer, these games are already shaping up to be a new beginning for the series. The new Spain-inspired region even resembles the open-world aspects of Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
As fans get excited over new Pokemon to discover, others will be interested in how these games expand upon the features introduced in Pokemon Sword & Shield. In addition, perhaps this new generation will re-introduce some beloved features that Game Freak has since abandoned. Any of these ten mechanics returning would make any longtime Pokemon fan overjoyed.
10 A DLC Post-Game
Recent generations of Pokemon have sadly disappointed fans who clamor for the post-game adventures of the past. In games like Pokemon X & Y, there isn't much to discover once you've won the Pokemon League. However, Pokemon Sword & Shield upped the ante by introducing new areas to explore via downloadable content.
It is yet to be revealed how stacked Pokemon Scarlet & Violet's main story will be. However, it can be assumed that the open-world aspect will leave a lot to be discovered. Getting to surprise fans with even more content or areas to explore after the game is released would be a more-than-welcome addition.
9 Reintroducing A National Pokedex
Along with new DLC areas would of course come more Pokemon to discover. Sword & Shield were unique in the series for not including the National Pokedex, meaning some fan-favorites were, unfortunately, left in the boxes of Pokemon HOME. If Scarlet & Violet are ambitious enough, perhaps fans can bring their favorites back into the fray.
It seems unlikely that Game Freak would reintroduce the National Pokedex right upon release. Hopefully, with DLC releases, they can slowly add in sections of the Pokedex, which would keep fans engaged long after the initial release. Either way, hopefully, this generation will show favor to Pokemon who were left out of Sword & Shield.
8 Dual-Typed Starter Evolutions
Speculating the final evolutions of the three starter Pokemon usually lasts from the game's announcement to its release. Oftentimes, it can be fun for fans, especially artists, to imagine where each evolution line will go, both in design and typing. Unfortunately, in Sword & Shield, the final starter evolutions remained pure-typed.
With the new starters being revealed in the trailer to Scarlet & Violet, fans are already hyped to see what they evolve into. Hopefully, dual-typing gets re-introduced for these starters. It could be fun to see unique typings, like a Grass/Dark-type Sprigatito evolution, a Fire/Ground Fuecoco evolution, or a Water/Fighting Quaxly evolution.
7 Z-Moves
Pokemon Sun & Moon introduced Z-Moves into the competitive meta. These super-charged moves prove to be devastating in the heat of battle. Most of the Z-Crystals needed to perform Z-Moves are specific to types, while others can only be used by certain Pokemon, like Pikachu, Lycanroc, or Mimikyu.
Unfortunately, Z-Moves were left in the seventh generation, and not included in Pokemon Sword & Shield in favor of Dynamaxing. However, it'd be interesting to see Z-Moves in the new generation's mechanics, especially considering the open-world aspects. Could Z-Moves be used outside of battle as replacements for HMs?
6 Secret Bases
Secret bases originally appeared in the third generation, as small areas that players could discover and customize for themselves. They appeared again in the fourth generation, as well as the remakes of those respective games. The closest thing to Secret Bases in recent games are the Base Camps in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
Given that Pokemon Scarlet & Violet seem to be taking many cues from Legends: Arceus, perhaps Secret Bases or Base Camps will make a re-appearance. While the Base Camps are preset in Legends: Arceus, perhaps reintroducing customization can give players the freedom to set up bases anywhere in the new region.
5 A Pokemon Camp-Like Feature
One of the features that's made its way across several regions is Pokemon-Amie, which was introduced in Pokemon X & Y. It re-appeared as Pokemon Refresh in Sun & Moon. Finally, it returned in Sword & Shield as Pokemon Camp, as a personal base where you can play with your Pokemon, cook for them, and visit other players.
It's safe to say that Pokemon Scarlet & Violet will probably feature some iteration of Pokemon Camp. In Sword & Shield, it was particularly useful because your Pokemon would gain experience after eating the food you cook for them. It's also a good way to increase your friendship levels with Pokemon, which is needed for some evolutions.
4 Pokemon Following You
One of the most beloved features of the games is having the first Pokemon in your party follow you around the region. This feature has been come-and-go, appearing heavily in the second generation and finally being re-introduced in Sword & Shield's DLC. Especially in an open-world game, interacting with your team like this is key.
Obviously, what makes this feature so difficult to include is it needing to work for all Pokemon that are available to catch in the game. Features like this are probably what cuts down the National Pokedex, like it was in Sword & Shield. However, that may be worth the price for fans to travel with some of their favorite Pokemon behind them.
3 Ride Pokemon
Pokemon Sun & Moon was the first in the series to introduce riding Pokemon as a gameplay mechanic. Certain land features were only accessible via ride-able Pokemon like Mudsdale and Lapras. This feature basically served to replace HMs, but was ultimately not included in Sword & Shield in favor of a bike that could tread water.
However, Ride Pokemon re-appeared in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which was helpful in allowing players to navigate the large stretches of open-world. Since Scarlet & Violet are following in that style, it makes sense for Ride Pokemon to make another appearance. It's a great way to introduce fans to Pokemon they've never heard of.
2 Super Training
Alongside Pokemon Amie, Super Training was introduced in Pokemon X & Y and was practically a godsend to competitive players. Via the 3DS's bottom screen, players could train their Pokemon outside of battle by tapping it. In this feature, earning experience points and levels would be traded for effort values, or EVs.
Super Training doesn't appear in any games after Gen 6, though similar features, like Hyper Training in Sun & Moon, affect your team's EVs and IVs. Legends: Arceus also contains a similar feature with Grit items, which increase effort levels. Hopefully, some sort of streamlined EV or IV training shows up again in the new generation.
1 Mega Evolution
Perhaps the abandoned feature with the most potential is Mega Evolution, also introduced in the sixth generation. When a Pokemon in your party is given the appropriate Mega Stone, they are able to become a new form, sometimes with type changes. Suffice it to say, but Mega Evolution turned some unimpressive Pokemon into competitive beasts.
This new feature inspired lots of speculation from fans as to which underrated Pokemon could gain Mega Evolutions in future games. However, the feature was left out of mainline games post-Gen 6. Many fans feel that its replacements, Z-Moves and Dynamaxing, weren't as creative. Hopefully, Mega Evolution can see a comeback in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are set to release for Nintendo Switch in late 2022.