Over the years, there have been countless Pokémon games, ranging from the core series to less successful mobile titles and memorable spin-offs. The series’ long-lasting popularity is due to its diverse history, even though some recent games haven’t quite met fans’ expectations. For a while, it seemed like The Pokémon Company and Game Freak were prioritizing the main Pokémon games and overlooking the more creative spin-off titles. This was disappointing, as many of the most innovative and unique Pokémon experiences came from those spin-offs that weren’t afraid to try something different.
The recent release of Pokémon Pokopia, a game made by a studio other than Game Freak, suggests that The Pokémon Company is now more willing to let other developers work on the Pokémon franchise and experiment with new ideas. This got me thinking about which of Pokémon’s best spin-off games deserve a comeback – either through a sequel, a remake, or even just an updated version. For me, and I suspect many longtime Pokémon fans, the answer is Pokémon Colosseum. It’s a classic that still feels surprisingly fresh and inventive, often more so than many of the games Game Freak is currently producing.
Pokémon Colosseum Was Way Ahead Of Its Time
Pokémon Colosseum wasn’t like other Pokémon spin-offs. While games like Pokémon Snap and Pokémon Stadium focused on specific features, Colosseum did its own thing, building on the core Pokémon gameplay with a much stronger emphasis on RPG elements. This appealed to players who had grown up with the original games. It also had a darker story, a greater focus on narrative, and looked and played more polished than the games available on handheld consoles at the time.
Many fans see Pokémon Colosseum as a blend of Final Fantasy and Pokémon, and that comparison makes sense. The game was developed by a team with experience creating Dragon Quest games, so they brought a traditional Japanese RPG (JRPG) style to the Pokémon series. This offered a different feel than the main Pokémon games, which is what The Pokémon Company was looking for in a home console release. The sequel, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, built on the original and improved upon a few of its shortcomings.
Even after 23 years, Pokémon Colosseum stands out as remarkably innovative – it feels like the fresh direction Pokémon has needed. To me, it represents the natural evolution fans likely expected: a more mature tone and a stronger focus on storytelling, reflecting both the growth of the fanbase and the advancements in game development.
Despite being a truly innovative game, Pokémon Colosseum is surprisingly overlooked. It deserves a remake or remaster so more people can experience it, and to remind modern Pokémon fans what the series is currently lacking. While the recent Nintendo Switch Online release of Colosseum and its sequel makes a full remake seem unlikely, the groundbreaking work done by Genius Sorority 23 years ago shouldn’t be limited to just this re-release – it deserves to be remembered and appreciated by a wider audience.
Pokémon Colosseum Should Serve As The Blueprint For Pokémon’s Future
The Pokémon series needs to evolve beyond the familiar formula it’s used for decades and offer players something truly new and exciting. While older games like FireRed and LeafGreen are fondly remembered, relying on nostalgia isn’t enough to keep the franchise thriving. Pokémon can’t keep repeating the same patterns with weak stories, uninspired gameplay, and uninteresting new areas – it needs to take risks and deliver a more compelling experience.
The solution to this issue can be found in Pokémon Colosseum for two main reasons. First, as mentioned before, Colosseum significantly improved the core elements of Pokémon. It made battles more engaging with better animations and increased difficulty, told a story that made you connect with the characters and world, and moved the focus away from simply catching Pokémon – something that has become less exciting over time. By making these and other important changes, Pokémon can break free from its repetitive gameplay and become a more compelling and enjoyable experience, while still preserving the charm that made it so special originally.
Another key to Colosseum’s success is that it wasn’t made by Game Freak. This isn’t meant to criticize them – their upcoming game, Beast of Reincarnation, shows they’re capable of great creativity. However, if Game Freak weren’t burdened with developing both the main Pokémon games and the Legends spin-offs, they could focus on making fewer, truly outstanding titles instead of two each year. Many other developers could also create fantastic Pokémon games; Genius Sorority and Monolith Soft (known for Xenoblade Chronicles) are just two examples.
It’s still unclear how the Pokémon series will change with the Switch 2, but I really hope Game Freak looks to its past spin-off games for ideas. These games have made some fantastic improvements to the series and shouldn’t be ignored. Combining those improvements with the innovations of Pokémon Colosseum, which released 23 years ago, would be amazing. Pokémon Colosseum is an incredibly well-designed game and one of the best Pokémon games ever made. Even if The Pokémon Company doesn’t release a remastered version, I highly recommend giving it a try – you won’t be disappointed.
Would you like to see Pokémon Colosseum remastered? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-02-28 22:19