Now that Pokemon Sword and Shield have been out for some time, Pokemon fans may be wondering what’s next for the long-running franchise.
Published May 27, 2020
Nintendo has consistently released a new main series Pokemon game every fall since 2016, but it looks as though 2020 will be different. Barring a surprising announcement from Nintendo or The Pokemon Company, it seems as though Pokemon fans won’t have any new major releases to look forward to this year besides Pokemon Sleep, and so it stands to reason that many are wondering what’s next for the long-running franchise.
As it so happens, there are numerous directions that Nintendo and The Pokemon Company could go with the next Pokemon games. It’s possible that the next big Pokemon game releases will be something completely unexpected, but the games listed here seem like the safest bets.
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Here are some of the most likely possibilities when it comes to new Pokemon games.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Remakes
Ever since the release of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen in 2004, Game Freak, Nintendo, and The Pokemon Company have consistently remade each Pokemon generation for newer platforms. The latest set of remakes, not counting the Let’s Go games, were Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire on the 3DS in 2014. There’s been about five years between each of the Pokemon remakes, so Pokemon fans are technically overdue for Diamond and Pearl remakes.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl marked the franchise’s debut on the Nintendo DS, and they launched with a number of improvements and innovations for the franchise. Some aspects of Diamond and Pearl may not have aged particularly well, but those issues could be ironed out in remakes. Out of all the possibilities listed here, it seems as though Diamond and Pearl remakes are the most likely possibilities, especially since Time Diamond and Space Pearl titles leaked alongside Pokemon Sword and Shield back in 2017.
Pokemon Let’s Go Gold and Silver
Pokemon GO remains a juggernaut in the mobile gaming space, standing as one of the most consistently popular mobile games ever made. It’s no surprise that Game Freak wanted to capitalize on Pokemon GO‘s success, and it did so with Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee, which recreated the original Pokemon games with updated graphics and more Pokemon GO-style gameplay. While not everyone was a fan of this style of Pokemon game, it does have its appeal, and many would be excited to see the Johto region games, Gold and Silver, get a similar treatment down the line. If nothing else, these Let’s Go games could help fill the gap between proper new Pokemon releases.
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Pokemon Spin-Off Game
There have been countless Pokemon spin-off games released over the years, with Pokemon Sleep next up. It could be that a new Pokemon spin-off game will be the next title for…