This Forgotten Nintendo DS Pokemon Game Needs a Sequel Now More Than Ever

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The Pokémon franchise is most famous for its core video games, where players explore new areas, find and capture numerous Pokémon, and engage in battles. However, Pokémon also boasts a wide variety of spin-off games, including card games, fighting games, and other unique titles. These spin-offs have helped broaden the franchise’s appeal and reach new audiences. While some of these experiments have been more successful than others, one particularly well-received game that blended two genres has surprisingly never gotten a follow-up.

The Nintendo DS hosted a truly special Pokémon game called *Pokémon Conquest*, which brilliantly blended the classic Pokémon world with the strategy of tactical RPGs, similar to the *Fire Emblem* series. It proved how adaptable Pokémon could be, offering a fresh experience for fans of both franchises. However, since its 2012 release, we haven’t seen anything quite like it, and it’s high time for a follow-up. A sequel or remake of *Pokémon Conquest* would be a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Strategy and Pokémon Are a Perfect Match

Pokémon is renowned for its strategic depth, particularly in competitive play. The core games demonstrate this well, but *Pokémon Conquest* really took strategy to the next level. Unlike the traditional one-on-one battles, *Conquest* featured battles on a grid where players controlled multiple Pokémon simultaneously. Success depended heavily on careful positioning, utilizing the terrain, and building a team that worked well together. Instead of simply overpowering opponents with a single strong Pokémon, players had to focus on controlling the battlefield and strategically placing their units.

Players who enjoyed games like *Fire Emblem* or *Advance Wars* found *Pokemon Conquest* easy to pick up and play. For *Pokemon* fans, it was a great way to try strategy games, as it struck a good balance between being complex and easy to understand. The game gently taught players how everything worked, introducing the rules and challenges gradually. It also encouraged players to think strategically, rewarding careful planning and clever positioning over simply overpowering opponents. Even weaker Pokemon could be effective with the right tactics, letting players overcome stronger foes.

The game also draws inspiration from Nobunaga’s Ambition, blending historical elements into its world. It beautifully incorporates traditional Japanese feudal aesthetics into its characters and combines them with Pokémon. While this mix might seem unusual, it actually works really well. It moves away from the typical Pokémon Gym and Elite Four challenges, and significantly increases the intensity of the gameplay.

Nintendo’s Spin-off Experimentation Is Long Overdue

A key reason the Pokémon series has always been successful is its willingness to try new things. Over the years, Pokémon has branched out into different types of games, like pinball and puzzle titles. *Pokémon Conquest* was a big step into strategy games, and *Pokémon Legends: Z-A* is trying out real-time combat. However, recently, The Pokémon Company seems to be taking fewer chances with these kinds of innovative, genre-bending games.

It’s disappointing to see a shift towards safer, more predictable projects, particularly given the troubled launch of *Pokemon Scarlet* and *Pokemon Violet*. You’d think concentrating on the core *Pokemon* games and established gameplay would lead to a smoother development process, but the latest releases unfortunately suffered from bugs and performance problems.

The Pokémon Company has the opportunity to try something truly ambitious. The franchise is so popular and profitable that even if a new, experimental game didn’t succeed, it wouldn’t significantly impact their earnings. With traditional Pokémon titles like *Pokémon Champions* and the next generation of games already planned to appeal to core fans, now is the perfect time to explore new ideas. A follow-up to *Pokémon Conquest* would be an excellent and unique spin-off to pursue.

What a Modern Pokémon Conquest Sequel Could Deliver

A new Nintendo Switch would be an ideal platform for a follow-up to *Pokemon Conquest*. The *Fire Emblem* series has become increasingly popular with games like *Fire Emblem Awakening* and *Fire Emblem: Three Houses*. Nintendo and The Pokemon Company could build on this success by blending *Fire Emblem’s* strategic gameplay with the world of Pokemon. A *Pokemon Conquest* sequel could create a truly amazing strategy game by combining the best elements of both franchises.

Battles could take place on varied and realistic 3D landscapes with hills, obstacles, different ground types, and changing weather, making each fight unique and requiring players to constantly adjust their tactics. A new game could also include more Pokémon, and introduce temporary transformations like Mega Evolution or Terrastalization to add extra strategic options.

The Pokémon Company has opportunities to create richer storylines. The game *Pokémon Conquest* successfully blended Pokémon lore with historical settings, and a sequel could build on that by exploring themes like loyalty, betrayal, and warfare with Pokémon companions. The *Fire Emblem* series, particularly *Three Houses*, offers a great example of how to create a compelling, branching narrative.

I really hope a sequel adds even more to the multiplayer! The original had a great start, and I’d love to see a full co-op campaign *and* online battles. Imagine ranked ladders for competitive players and more relaxed playlists for casual fun – it could really show off how deep and strategic the gameplay could be, like in *Pokemon Conquest*. Honestly, it would set this spin-off apart from everything else and could even make it a major player in the strategy RPG world!

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2025-09-19 23:14