Cluster's Pokémon Day 2026 Hopes and Thoughts

Pokémon Day is here, again, just like every year. But this time the anniversary is a multiple of five which makes it FIVE TIMES more important than normal! Or something. Anyway, the tenth generation of the mainline Pokémon games is also probably going to happen soon, and everybody is figuring it'll get revealed this Pokémon Day since the timing is looking like it'll work out.

With that context in mind, I figured I'd talk about what I want to see at this years big February Pokémon Presents! Except that, aside from seeing Gen 10 happening I really don't care what happens. It's Pokémon, I like Pokémon, and I'll probably enjoy the Presents and if there's any fun surprises for me, that'll be cool!

So instead I think I'll just burrow down and talk about what I would like to see from the tenth generation. Giving the obvious caveat here that what I feel like I'd like now might not hold up after seeing whatever Game Freak have cooked up this time. I probably wouldn't have outlined Scarlet and Violet if asked for my perfect Pokémon game, but they're my favorite pair of all now! So 'm looking forward to seeing reality, even if it doesn't align with my dreams.

Anyway, how about them dreams:

My biggest must-have is the return of the Union Circle feature from Scarlet and Violet. Union Circles really felt like a final evolution of the various social mechanics the games have been doing for years. More expansive than Union Rooms, more personal than Gen 8's Wild Zones (and a lot smoother too), and overall just a much more seamless experience than I think multiplayer has ever been! I played through Violet practically hand-in-hand with my partner playing Scarlet, and just getting to walk around in the world together was amazing. But it didn't end there! Getting access to each other's Pokémon spawns meant that we could catch each other's version exclusives! It felt a lot better than having to do a dozen different trades, and it meant that we could actually be the OT of nearly any Pokèmon regardless of version! Even if they put it into the next generation completely unchanged I would be thrilled... But I also know there's plenty of room for them to experiment with the formula and add new features! I'm crossing my fingers that Union Circles are here to stay!

My number two most-wanted feature in absolutely every Pokémon game ever is the Synchro Machine! Huh, another thing introduced in Scarlet and Violet! How about that. But seriously, this thing is absolutely PERFECT for any huge fan. The ability to not only collect and battle with but DIRECTLY CONTROL your favorite Pokémon??? Running around as my team in Violet felt almost like the Pokémon action game of my dreams! Ultimately it is limited in a few ways in Scarlet and Violet, but that just makes me want a return even more. Having a more full-featured Synchro Machine feature that can be used anywhere in the game world is my optimal desire. I'd also love if there are areas that can ONLY be explored with the Synchro Machine! Like there's a little hole you can't squeeze through but you can send a Pokémon in and explore a little dungeon or whatever! Especially if it was mutiplayer-compatible I think it could be a bunch of fun!

Moving on from my must-haves... I'm interested to see Real-Time Battling again. I had a good time with Legends Z-A and enjoyed that new battling system a lot more than the new twist Legends Arceus had. And while I don't necessarily want the turn-based battles to be replaced entirely (though I'm also not specifically opposed) I would like to do more of it. Especially if paired with the Synchro Machine! Honestly, my biggest complaint about the real-time battles in Legends Z-A is that I wish I were directly controlling my Pokémon while doing it. I feel like I could dodge moves and strategize a lot better with that level of control, and it would make Synchro Machine play a lot more exciting too!

On a completely different note, I want a Pokémon Ranch. Not a return of the WiiWare title or anything, instead what I want is a place where I can go to just hang out with my Pokèmon. Maybe customize the environment to suit their needs and stuff too. Gameplay-wise I imagine that interacting with them in the ranch would raise friendship and stuff, but I mostly just care about the act of playing with them and seeing them run around. My desire was inspired by both Legends Arceus and Scarlet and Violent. In Arceus your Pokémon not in your party are able to be seen hanging out on the other side of the fence, and I thought that was cool! But also wished I could pick who I saw so I could see my alphas or other cool Pokémon, not some random Bidoof I forgot I caught... And then Scarlet and Violet have the picnics! Being able to set up a picnic table and take all your Pokémon out was an anime dream come true and I only hope they bring back even better picnics for Gen 10! But I also still want this ranch idea. As for how it would mechanically work, it could be as simple as having a special box in your PC that makes the Pokémon show up in the ranch, but the exact UI implementation is pretty secondary to my desire. I'm imagining the ability to walk by and see your Pokémon milling about and then also being able to go inside and play with them. Kinda like how Oak takes care of Ash's boxed Pokémon in the anime, and they run about in his enormous backyard!

And since it's both the 30th anniversary of the series AND the tenth generation (big round numbers!!!) I hope we see some Old Favorite Characters Return With New Designs. That one's a mouthful. They've done this a few times in the past, and it's cool to see! I guess i specific I want MY favorites... It'd be cool to see a new design for Misty or Brock, for example!

And... Why not, I'll put it out there. I want the new region to based on Canada-- No! More specific! I want The Region For Gen 10 To Take Specific Inspiration From Nova Scotia! This Won't Happen! But maybe some day a Pokémon Region will be inspired by Canada! And maybe my little corner province will be lucky and get included! But I doubt it!

I think that's about every specific thing I want from the new Pokémon generation. Of course, I don't expect that we'd see all of these during the Pokémon Presents even if they all somehow were magically part of the new games! But I figured I might as well just get it all out there and see if there's anything that looks like any of my hopes on the day!

Bye now!