What the Next New Pokémon Game Needs to Fix (Before Fans Riot Again)
Pokémon is entering its 30th year, and according to Tsunekazu Ishihara, the next mainline game is being built around one big idea: connection. A beautiful sentiment. A wholesome mission. A reminder that Pokémon is supposed to bring the world together, not divide it into “Scarlet/Violet defenders” and “people who still have PTSD from the frame rate.”
But if the next Pokémon generation really wants to “connect the world,” it needs to fix a few things first — and by “a few,” I mean a list long enough to make a Pokédex blush.
This isn’t doom‑and‑gloom. It’s tough love. Because we adore this series. We grew up with it. We want it to thrive. But the next Pokémon game needs to step up in some very real ways.
1. Performance. Performance. Performance.
Let’s just rip the Band‑Aid off: Scarlet and Violet were a technical disaster. Charming? Yes. Ambitious? Absolutely. Running at a stable frame rate? Not even once.
If the next Pokémon game wants to avoid becoming a meme compilation on launch day, it needs:
- A stable frame rate
- Environments that don’t pop in like they’re shy
- Characters who don’t clip through the floor
- Weather that doesn’t break the laws of physics
- NPCs who animate at more than three frames per second
Pokémon is the biggest media franchise on Earth. It should not run worse than indie games made by three people and a houseplant.
2. A World That Feels Alive — Not Just Big
Open‑world Pokémon was a great idea. Execution? Mixed. Legends: Arceus nailed the “wild, dangerous world” vibe. Scarlet/Violet nailed the “big empty field with a Pokémon every 20 feet” vibe.
The next game needs:
- Towns with actual life
- Interiors that aren’t copy‑pasted
- Side quests that feel meaningful
- Regions that feel like characters, not maps
Pokémon worlds used to feel magical. They can again — if Game Freak stops treating them like speedrun‑friendly hallways.
3. Smarter NPCs (Please, I’m Begging)
Pokémon NPCs have two modes:
- “I love shorts!”
- “I will destroy you with my level 12 Rattata.”
We deserve better. Give us rivals with depth. Give us gym leaders with personality. Give us villains who aren’t just “Team Insert‑Word‑Here” with matching outfits and a dream.
The franchise has incredible lore. Let the characters actually use it.
4. A Story That Doesn’t Feel Like an Afterthought
Pokémon stories don’t need to be Shakespeare, but they should at least feel intentional. Black & White proved the series can deliver real narrative weight. Legends: Arceus proved it can be weird and bold.
The next game should:
- Take risks
- Build emotional stakes
- Give the player meaningful choices
- Stop pretending the world isn’t collapsing until the final hour
If Ishihara wants Pokémon to “connect the world,” then give us a story worth connecting over.
5. Better Online Features (It’s 2026, Guys)
Pokémon’s online systems feel like they were built by someone who has never used the internet.
The next game needs:
- Matchmaking that works
- Trading that isn’t a gamble
- Raids that don’t crash
- Menus that don’t require a PhD in UI navigation
Pokémon is a global franchise. The online experience should reflect that — not fight against it.
6. A Pokédex That Doesn’t Feel Like a Compromise
Every generation, we get the same debate: “Will the full Pokédex return?” And every generation, we get the same answer: “lol no.”
If the full Dex isn’t coming back, fine — but then the regional Dex needs to feel curated, not chopped down. Give us variety. Give us surprises. Give us a reason to explore.
7. Let the World Breathe Again
Pokémon used to be about discovery. About wandering into a cave and finding something unexpected. About stumbling into a weird side area that wasn’t marked on the map.
The next game needs to bring that back.
Not everything needs to be a waypoint. Not everything needs to be explained. Let players get lost again — in a good way.
8. Polish. Just… polish.
Pokémon doesn’t need to reinvent itself every generation. It just needs to feel finished. Fans aren’t asking for miracles. They’re asking for a game that feels like it had enough time in the oven.
If Ishihara truly believes Pokémon can “connect the world,” then the next game needs to launch in a state that doesn’t immediately disconnect players from the experience.
Conclusion
Pokémon is entering its 30th year with a legacy most franchises can only dream of. Ishihara’s vision — a game built around connection — is exactly the right direction. But connection requires stability, polish, and a world players actually want to spend time in.
The next Pokémon game doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to feel like the series is evolving again — not just leveling up out of habit.
