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Pokemon has had dozens of characters introduced across the main series games, spin-offs, movies, television show, and more. Some protagonists, such as Ash Ketchum and Red, are more well known than other protagonists of some Pokemon spin-off games, such as Kellyn and Kate from Pokemon Ranger: Shadows Of Almia. That said, over the years the franchise's community of fans has grown very fond of certain side characters that have popped up throughout all the forms of Pokemon media.
Some of these side characters have been around for as long as the first generation of Pokemon, while others have been introduced later on in the series. Many of these side characters have interesting roles in the Pokemon universe, making them either villains or giving them an aspiration aside from collecting all eight gym badges and winning the Pokemon League.
7 Tracey Sketchit
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Tracey Sketchit was a side character introduced in the Pokemon anime to take the place of Brock during Ash's Orange League adventures. Tracey was unlike any other side character that's traveled with Ash at the time that the Orange League arc of his adventure was airing. Both of Ash's previous and current companions, Brock and Misty, were both gym leaders while Tracey was a "Pokemon Watcher."
Being a Pokemon Watcher meant he studied the habits and condition of Pokemon in their natural habitat, sketching them as an added bonus. Even after Tracey's adventures with Ash concluded, he stayed behind as an assistant to Professor Oak. Tracey has a lot of potential to be the protagonist in a spin-off Pokemon game, with there being potential for him to be the protagonist of a story-based Pokemon drawing game or even something to do with being an assistant for Professor Oak.
6 May
May was another one of Ash's companions introduced during Ash's adventures traveling through the Hoenn region. Unlike his previous companions, May's aspirations weren't being a former gym leader or to win the Pokemon League. Her aspirations consisted of becoming the next top coordinator in the flashy, fancy Pokemon Contests that would be held throughout the region.
Her role as a Pokemon coordinator makes for an interesting concept as far as a spin-off game goes. There were a plethora of quirky, lovable characters introduced with May's storyline throughout her journey as a Pokemon Coordinator, including Harvey and Drew. She has the potential to lead a spin-off game based solely on Pokemon Contests, featuring some of the memorable characters that popped up during her storyline in the anime.
5 Gary Oak
Any Pokemon fans who watched the anime when it first came out will remember (maybe not so fondly) the obnoxious Gary Oak. This character, although full of himself and cocky, still managed to charm many fans over the years. His role in the story is interesting too, given that he's both Ash's rival in the Pokemon League challenge as well as the son of Professor Oak.
His potential as a spin-off game protagonist is strong, with there being potential for him to star in a game that parallels the storyline of Ash's main journey, showing players what the character was up to behind the scenes throughout all eight gym badges and the Pokemon League.
4 Brock
Brock is, without a doubt, many fan's favorite companion throughout the years that he spent traveling with Ash. Many fans were devastated and angry to see him go during Ash's adventures through the Unova region, where he was replaced with the Pokemon connoisseur, Cilan.
Since Brock is both a Pokemon Breeder and the gym leader of Pewter City, there is potential to have either of those roles in the Pokemon universe fleshed out into a spin-off game starring the lovable and quirky Brock.
3 Professor Oak
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Professor Oak has appeared as a side or tutorial character in many of the main and spin-off Pokemon games, such as Pokemon Snap and Pokemon Yellow. However, the original Pokemon Professor has never had a whole game to himself based on the profession of being a Pokemon researcher.
With the success of the research mechanic in Pokemon Legends Arceus, opportunity has opened up to create a spin-off game with Professor Oak based around the concept of gathering research on Pokemon and compiling it into some of the first drafts of the Pokedex.
2 N
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N was an incredibly interesting rival that appeared in Pokemon Black & White, Pokemon Black 2 & White 2, and the Pokemon anime. N has one of the most interesting backstories of any rival in the game, as he was raised as a son by the leader of Team Plasma, Ghetsis. N was isolated from people growing up and only allowed to see Pokemon that had been hurt by humans, which made him adopt this mindset that all humans were bad people capable of hurting Pokemon.
This character has so many aspects that could create a legendary spin-off game, including his backstory and role as the puppet leader of Team Plasma. A spin-off game could even come from his story post-Pokemon Black 2 & White 2, or from the theory that N is a Zoroark.
1 Team Rocket: Jessie, James, Meowth
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Over the years, Nintendo has granted its fans spin-off games based on many roles and characters in the world of Pokemon. Including Pokemon Photographers, Pokemon Rangers, and even Pikachu himself. That said, the one opportunity that has never been seized is that of making a spin-off title based on Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket.
The three criminals have been consistently thwarting Ash and the gang in the anime since the very beginning, while also charming audiences with their quirky hijinks and interesting backstories. There is no shortage of opportunity for the three to lead their own spin-off game based on the villainous acts of working for Team Rocket.