With the upcoming release ofNew Pokemon Snapfor the Switch, many fans may have been wondering why there haven’t been morePokemonspin-offs from Nintendo. Since the Switch was first released, the onlyPokemonspin-offs that have been released arePokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, Pokken Tournament DX,and thePokemon Let’s Goseries.
For a console like the Switch that has so much potential, it’s surprising to see that morePokemonspin-offs haven’t made a comeback from previous generations. Over the years,Pokemonhas had a wide variety of spin-off games spanning different genres and new mechanics. With theNintendo Switch only nearing the midpoint of its lifecycle, it should be interesting to see where thePokemonseries goes after the announcement ofNew Pokemon Snap.
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Pokemon Conquest
Commonly referred to as one of themost underratedPokemonspin-offs,Pokemon Conquesttransformed the series into a tactical RPG as a crossover with theNobunaga’s Ambitionseries.Pokemon Conquestcombined turn-based strategy mechanics with a small cast of Pokemon in thePokemonequivalent of feudal Japan. Players would take on the role of becoming the Warlord of the Aurora kingdom, and they set off to conquer other kingdoms in an effort to unite them.
AlthoughPokemon Conquestonly featured a limited amount ofPokemon,it had some of the most well-thought out mechanics of any other spin-off game. One of its unique features was the need to have a good management system in place as conquered countries would be sieged while the main army was stationed away.Much like theCivilizationseries,Pokemon Conquestrelied on the player being able to manage each kingdom effectively. With the success of games likeFire EmblemandDisgaeaon the Switch, a strategic, turn-based spin-off likePokemon Conquestwould feel right at home.
Pokemon Colosseum/Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
Collectively known as the “Shadow Pokemon” games,Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darknesswere interesting departuresfrom the mainline games. With a darker tone than the rest of thePokemonseries, the two games placed players in the Orre region where there were no wild encounters. Instead, players had to “snag” Shadow Pokemon from other trainers and purify their hearts. Though the mechanic itself was interesting, the real strength ofPokemon ColosseumandPokemon XD: Gale of Darknesswas that the lack of random encounters allowed players to focus on a solid story.
WhilePokemon ColosseumandPokemon XD: Gale of Darknessweren’t huge successes like the mainline games, they offered a unique spin on thePokemonformula. Both put a heavy emphasis on being a story-driven RPG, something that has been a recent criticism of the mainline games. Fans haven’t been satisfied withsome of the stories in the mainlinePokemongamesand having a spin-off that doesn’t repeat the same cycle of battling, exploring, and conquering the Elite Four might be a nice addition to the Nintendo Switch.
Pokemon Trading Card Game Online
One of the most obvious choices for aPokemonspin-off on the Nintendo Switch isPokemon TCG Online.With therecent surge of popularity of the physicalPokemon TCGgame, it’s strange to see thatPokemon TCG Onlinehasn’t been ported to the Switch. Considering it’s already available on PC, iOS, and Android, the Switch should be an obvious destination.
Featuring a faithful simulation of the tabletop version,Pokemon TCG Onlineis a fantastic option for players looking to get into the game or relive some of their childhood nostalgia. Along with options to play against AI or other players online,Pokemon TCGOnlineis directly tied with the physical versionof the game as booster packs come with redeemable codes. The touchscreen capabilities of the Nintendo Switch could be very useful in a port ofPokemon TCG Online.
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PokePark/Pokemon Channel
Though they weren’t received well, thePokeParkandPokemon Channelgames felt like misused potential rather than being outright bad games. The idea of a slice-of-lifePokemonspin-off is an enticing one especially given the popularity of casual games likeAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsandStardew Valley.Playing a wide variety of minigames or watching TV together with Pokemon sounds like a great way to unwind, especially if players can port their own Pokemon over.
Although it would take some time to perfect the mechanics, there’s great potential in a casualPokemonspin-off with the ability tobring over the Pokemon fromPokemon SwordandPokemon Shield.WhilePokemon SwordandPokemon Shieldhave the option to casually interact with Pokemon through the camping mechanic, it feels underdeveloped as there simply isn’t enough to do. Having a more casualPokemongame where players can interact with their own Pokemon and enjoy minigames would be a great addition to the Nintendo Switch.
Pokemon Ranger
If there’s one spin-off series that can benefit from the focus on open-world exploration seen inPokemon SwordandPokemon Shield,it’sPokemon Ranger.The originalPokemon Rangergames allowed players to control and calm wild Pokemon in order to protect nature and arrest poachers. Players start out as a rookie Pokemon Ranger, and must travel the land completing missions before gaining higher ranks.
The mechanics of aPokemon Rangergame fit nicely into thedesign ideals of the Wild Area inPokemon SwordandPokemon Shield.Exploring an island or nature sanctuary as a Pokemon Ranger would be a great use of open-world mechanics, and the Pokemon captured could make use of the large area to use their moves like Surf or Rock Climb. There’s plenty of potential in creating a brand newPokemon Rangergame with everything that the series has learned from the Wild Area. From reuniting lost Pokemon to putting out forest fires to tracking down poachers, the Nintendo Switch offers tons of utility in an open-world environment.
Although thePokemonseries has focused on mobile games for its spin-offs over the past few years, the Nintendo Switch offers plenty of potential for standalone games or new additions to forgotten series.With the recent announcement ofNew Pokemon Snap, Pokemonfanshave been wondering where the series will go next with its spin-offs. Though not all of the spin-offs were ultimately successful, the success ofPokemon Swordand PokemonShield,and the Nintendo Switch as a console should allow them to take more risks with thePokemonseries.
