As a long-time Pokémon fan, I’m already getting excited for the 10th generation, which is expected around 2026! But honestly, with so little information out yet, it’s tough to imagine what it’ll be like compared to all the other games. The last couple releases, like Scarlet & Violet and the Legends: Z-A remake, haven’t been perfect, so I really hope Gen 10 does something new and different. I think the franchise needs a fresh approach to get both new players hooked and bring veteran fans like me back in full force!
Every new Pokémon game experiments with something new, like the open-world style introduced in Sword & Shield (Generation 8) or the less structured Gym challenges in Sun & Moon (the previous generation). However, many core elements of Pokémon games stay the same, which has both advantages and disadvantages. While the series’ familiar gameplay is enjoyable, some bolder changes might be necessary to really make the next generation, Generation 10, feel fresh and unique.
Gen 10 Should Ditch The Tradition Of Fire, Water, & Grass Types
Since the very beginning, every Pokémon game – both the main series and spin-offs – has featured starter Pokémon representing the Fire, Water, and Grass types. Players have always chosen their first partner from these three elemental types, starting with the original trio: Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur. While this tradition is helpful for learning about type matchups in battles, some believe it’s become predictable and repetitive.
While the first Pokémon you choose and their evolutions used to be really diverse, it’s become a bit predictable. We’ve seen the same type combinations happen repeatedly – like Fire-type starters that eventually become Fire and Fighting types, as we’re seeing again in Legends: Z-A with Tepig and Emboar. Some starters used to start with multiple unique types, but that’s become uncommon in recent Pokémon generations.
Interestingly, the first and seventh generations of Pokémon broke a long-standing tradition for starter Pokémon. Rowlet, from Pokémon Sword & Shield, and the original Bulbasaur from the Kanto region are the only starters that don’t have just one of the three basic types: Grass, Water, or Fire. While having a single type used to help new players learn type matchups, most Pokémon players now understand these fundamentals well enough that it’s no longer as important.
Not Every Pokémon Game Has Followed The Same Principle As Past Titles
Most Pokémon games stick to Fire, Water, and Grass types for your first Pokémon. Pokémon Yellow was one of the first to break that mold, letting you start with the Electric-type Pikachu, just like in the popular anime. While Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee also offered different starters, they functioned quite differently than in Pokémon Yellow.
Both Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu let you start with the Normal-type Eevee, which has a lot of different evolution options, letting you eventually build a team with unusual type combinations. However, these games were largely remakes of the original Game Boy titles set in Kanto, and they used gameplay mechanics similar to Pokémon GO instead of the core Pokémon series. While catching Pokémon felt a bit different, the games still followed the familiar starter type matchups that made the originals predictable.
Starters With More Unique Elements Might Help The 10th Gen Stand Out
The classic Fire, Grass, and Water type matchups work so well because their relationships feel intuitive. It’s simple to understand which type has an advantage over another, and seeing this play out with other players’ starter Pokémon reinforces that understanding. This same clear pattern could be used with three different types in a future Pokémon game, creating new and memorable starter Pokémon that break away from the usual formula.
A new starter Pokémon trio of Fighting, Ice, and Flying types could mirror the classic Fire, Grass, and Water dynamic. This setup would create a predictable counter system: a player choosing the Fighting starter would be at a disadvantage against someone who picked the Flying type. If someone chose the Ice starter, their rival would likely pick Fighting, and the Flying starter would be countered by the Ice type. While this type matchup might not be immediately obvious, it could allow Game Freak to design incredibly unique starter Pokémon for the next generation of games (Gen 10).
Introducing a starter Pokémon of Poison, Ground, Dark, Fairy, or even pure Psychic-type would generate a lot of buzz and interest in its evolutions. Since new Pokémon games often gain excitement from their starter Pokémon, having a truly impactful starter would be a major win for the next generation, recapturing the magic of the original games that made the series so beloved.
What kinds of Pokémon would make great starter choices for the next generation (Generation 10)? Share your ideas in the comments or discuss them on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-01-20 00:42