In addition to nine generations of mainline games, thePokemonfranchise has spawned dozens of different spin-off games throughout the years, with varying degrees of popularity. Spin-offs are a great way to introduce new and interesting types of gameplay to the familiar world of Pokemon.
While some spin-off series have maintained their popularity and earned a spot amongst the mainline games, some have been entirely forgotten, not having had a new release in several years. If there were ever a time to revive some of Pokemon’s forgotten spin-off series, it would be now, with the release of the Switch 2.
TheMystery Dungeon seriesis one of Pokemon’s best spin-off series, and the one with the most releases. However, in the original Switch’s entire eight-year lifespan, we only got one Mystery Dungeon game, and it was a remake of the first one.
In Mystery Dungeon, you become a Pokemon, fighting alongside a partner of your choosing and exploring grid-based dungeons. The gameplay is wildly different from the main series, but they have some of the most compelling stories ever told in Pokemon games, and it’s way past due for a new release in the series.
Pokemon Conquest was a spin-off crossover between the Pokemon franchise and Nobunaga’s Ambition, a turn-based strategy RPG. The game has a historical Japanese setting, and many of the game’s characters are based on real Japanese warriors, warlords, and shoguns, like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.
This unique blend of tactics, historical setting, and Pokemon makes for one of the best Pokemon spin-off games, and it’s a shame they only ever made the one. With remakes and remasters for games like Tactics Ogre andFinal Fantasy Tacticscropping up, as well as the popularity of the Fire Emblem series as a whole, we think Pokemon Conquest is worth revisiting on the Switch 2.
The Pokemon Rumble series of games were action RPGs where you control wind-up toy versions of Pokemon. While not as complex as the mainline games or even other spin-offs like Conquest or Mystery Dungeon, the Rumble games were great for relaxing and collecting Pokemon.
With a bit of added depth of mechanics, new Pokemon, and an extensive endgame, a new Pokemon Rumble game would be a great companion game between bigger releases like Legends Z-A or the eventual Generation ten game.
The original Switch is home to an extensive lineup of Picross games, but we have yet to see a new Pokemon Picross game since the freemium offering on the 3DS. Pokemon Picross blends the satisfying gameplay of Picross puzzle-solving with the joy of discovering and collecting Pokemon.
The Switch 2’s added mouse controls could also offer an alternative way to play Picross for those who prefer a more organic approach, making it the perfect console to release a new Pokemon Picross game for.
Pinball and Pokemon may be two concepts that at first don’t seem compatible, but Pokemon Pinball and Pokemon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire more than prove they are. Pinball’s endless replayability perfectly meld with Pokemon’s monster-capturing mechanics to create one of the most satisfying spin-offs in the entire Pokemon franchise.
If the fact that the last Pokemon Pinball release was in 2003 is alarming for you, know that you’re not alone. It’s beyond past due for a new Pokemon Pinball game, and with modern game design sensibilities, it could turn out to be one of the best Pokemon games, full stop. That is, if they ever decide to make it in the first place.
The Pokemon Trozei and Shuffle games were another series of puzzle games centered around Pokemon, specifically using match-3 or match-4 gameplay. These games are a lot of fun, and scratch that itch that has, for the most part, entirely moved on to the mobile scene.
The original Switch proved that games like this can co-exist on console and mobile devices. An updated Trozei game with a new story and the same beloved gameplay is something we would love to see on Nintendo’s newest console.
Not to be confused with the physical Pokemon TCG, which is still going strong, there were several digital Trading Card Games released for the Game Boy Color that emulated the rules and gameplay of the physical TCG, but in video game form.
These games were a great way to learn the rules of the physical TCG, while also exploring an original world and story made just for this version. With the rising popularity ofPokemon TCG Pocket, more people than ever are interested in Pokemon cards, so a single-player game like the GBC Trading Card Game would definitely be a welcome addition to the Switch 2’s library.
The Pokemon Ranger games made full use of the DS’s capabilities, utilizing the bottom touch screen as the main form of gameplay. The core of this forgotten spin-off series was capturing Pokemon by making loops around them using the touch screen and stylus, relying on your partner Pokemon’s abilities to assist you.
The gameplay was a lot of fun, but definitely challenging in some places. With the Switch 2 built-in mouse controls on the Joy Cons, now is the perfect time to revive the Pokemon Ranger series.
