With Pokémon Winds and Waves on the horizon for the Nintendo Switch in 2026, the community is looking toward Generation 10 as a prime opportunity for the franchise to evolve. While the series has successfully transitioned into open-world environments, many core elements remain stagnant. If GameFreak wants to sharpen the experience for its next outing, these are the changes that need to happen.

Quick Facts

  • Platform: Nintendo Switch
  • Release Window: 2026
  • Key Requested Features: Improved rival depth, delayed EXP Share, and the return of fishing mechanics.

Bringing Back a Real Rival

The days of Gary and Silver—rivals who were actually antagonistic and provided a genuine challenge—are long gone. Recent entries have favored friendly competition, with characters like Nemona feeling more like cheerleaders than obstacles. Players are looking for a return to a rival who feels like a legitimate roadblock that you actually want to beat.

Refining the Progression: EXP Share and Legendaries

The current ease of access to powerful tools has arguably dulled the sense of accomplishment. By locking the EXP Share until after the third gym, players would be forced to spend more time and energy bonding with their Pokémon individually. Similarly, legendary Pokémon have lost their prestige by being handed out too early. A return to the old-school model—where legendary encounters required specific puzzles or rare spawns—would restore the sense of discovery that many long-time fans miss.

Restoring Fishing and Expanding the Roster

It remains a point of confusion for many why Pokémon Scarlet and Violet omitted the classic fishing mechanic in favor of simply seeing Pokémon swim in the water. Winds and Waves is set to feature ocean biomes, providing the perfect stage to reintroduce fishing while allowing trainers to see exactly what they are aiming for. Additionally, with over 1,000 Pokémon in existence, the base game roster should aim to include at least 500 creatures, ensuring a diverse team-building experience.

Better Gyms and Meaningful Villains

The open-world structure of recent titles created a disconnect when gyms didn't scale to the player's level. Winds and Waves should feature gym leaders with adaptive teams that adjust based on when you challenge them, preventing players from accidentally making the rest of the game too easy or encountering an insurmountable difficulty spike. Furthermore, the villainous teams have become increasingly toothless. It is time for a group with actual stakes and a real threat to the protagonist, rather than teams focused on social support or cheerleading.

Modernizing Customization and Dialogue

While character customization has progressed, it is time for a full-fledged creation system that goes beyond simple presets. Giving players more control over their appearance and deeper clothing options would be a welcome shift. Finally, the silent protagonist era should reach its end. While a fully voice-acted game might be a large undertaking, at the very least, every major cutscene in Winds and Waves deserves to be voiced to bring the story to life.

A Crossroads for Battle Mechanics

The series has struggled to find a successor to the popularity of Mega Evolution, with mechanics like Terastallization failing to impress a large portion of the player base. Whether GameFreak decides to implement a new weather-based gimmick or opts to stick to refined, standard battles, the priority must be on quality execution rather than flashy, under-thought additions.