Highlights

  • Pokemon Scarlet and Violet broke new grounds, redefining the Pokemon formula and setting a precedent for future games.
  • Gen 9's in-game Pokedex and special encounters made the world feel alive, something Gen 10 should strive for.
  • Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's use of Pokedex images and group spawns added depth and immersion to the game, which Gen 10 should expand upon.

Even with the many flaws that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet had on launch and still have now, over one year later, it can't be overlooked that they were also capable of breaking new grounds for the series in multiple ways, redefining what the Pokemon formula is or can be. This is something that modern games in the franchise have been doing in increasingly more apparent ways, with another big example of it coming from Pokemon Legends: Arceus' gameplay loop. Gen 10 can keep the momentum going and shake up even more of what players know and are familiar with in Pokemon games, and two Pokemon Scarlet and Violet features should not only come back, but be expanded upon.

Pokemon Gen 10 is likely a couple of years away at least, if not four, considering recent talks from The Pokemon Company about the development cycle of Pokemon games and the challenges it comes with. Still, it is likely to be the next big mainline entry for the series, with multiple spin-offs and remakes possibly being released along the way. Among the various things that Gen 9 did well was the way it handled its in-game Pokedex and some special encounters, making the world feel more alive - something Gen 10 should strive to attain.

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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Make Good Use of the Pokedex and Overworld Encounters

Why Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Pokedex Images Should Return in Gen 10

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Pokedex still has the same issue as Gen 8's, in the sense that it only comes with 400 critters in the base game, adding a few more with each DLC, despite the series boasting an enormous roster of over 1,000 unique species. Despite this and the fact that Paldea can feel a bit empty at times due to processing limitations that make players only able to see a dozen creatures in the wild at the same time, Gen 9 makes the in-game world feel bursting with life, with each species having its dedicated habitat, routine, and much more.

This is achieved with a revolutionary way of looking at the Pokedex, as it's not only a showcase of the species at hand with a brief description, but each entry also has its own dedicated image depicting the Pokemon it's about living life in the region.

Players can find pictures of a given species living alongside its evolutions or pre-evolutions, another species exploring its typical habitat, or interacting with entirely different Pokemon. It may not seem like much at first glance, but this gives fans of the series a more immersive experience unlike any other game before Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Group Spawns Make the World More Lively

Another element that Gen 10 Pokemon games should draw inspiration from is the fact that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet feature "cluster encounters," which are basically wild critters spawning in groups in the overworld. This is an interesting mechanic in many ways, with the most common appearance coming from five base-form Pokemon encircling one of their species' evolutions. However, what's more peculiar about this is that cluster encounters can also feature different species entirely, showing what the Pokemon world could look like in a realistic way.

The fact that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet do away with tall grass encounters may feel odd to players who have been long accustomed to this type of battle, but overworld-exclusive encounters are what allows Gen 9 to make its region feel more vibrant. Running into multiple different species in each biome or environment can feel refreshing both compared to past games and for those who want to spend a lot of time on a given Pokemon game, as this approach can offer some much-needed variety. Overall, both the Pokedex feature and cluster encounters are great ways to make the best of an open-world region, and Gen 10 should use both as foundations for its own map.