Over the past 25 years, Game Freak and Nintendo have released 39 Pokémon games in the main series. With over 1,000 unique Pokémon, 64 gyms to conquer, and nine Elite Four rosters to defeat, the franchise reached its peak adventure with the release of Pokémon Silver and Gold in the U.S. in 2000.
Pokémon Silver and Gold were revolutionary at the time, introducing 100 new Pokémon, a breeding system, new evolutions, and a time mechanic that added a real-life challenge to the game. However, the standout feature of these RPGs was the inclusion of a second region to explore, setting a precedent that no Pokémon game has matched since.
After completing the Johto region and becoming the Johto League Champion, players were surprised to discover a whole new region to explore – Kanto. This allowed them to revisit familiar towns, gyms, and characters from the first generation of games, providing two distinct Pokémon adventures in a single game.
Game Freak
Experiencing this game at a young age was mind-blowing – more Pokémon, all in one game! The expansive nature of Pokémon Silver and Gold is why the remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver, are highly regarded on Digital Trends’ top 50 games of all-time list.
To this day, the multi-region adventure in Pokémon Silver and Gold continues to be praised as the ultimate post-game Pokémon experience by gaming websites like GamingBible and Screen Rant. Fans still consider these games as the best in the series, raising the question of why Game Freak hasn’t explored another two-region Pokémon title since then.
With the Pokémon universe expanding and intertwining regions in subsequent games, the idea of a new dual-region Pokémon title doesn’t seem far-fetched anymore. It’s time to revisit the most surprising moment in the series and reinvent Pokémon once again.
Through battling evil organizations, encountering legendary Pokémon, and exploring different timelines, Pokémon games have evolved dramatically over the years. The possibility of trainers traveling between regions to battle Pokémon seems inevitable, given the vast lore and world-building of the series.
