Pokémon Legends: Arceus took players to an ancient version of the Sinnoh region, so the next Pokémon Legends game should take a visit to a Wild West version of Unova, which is based on the USA. This could tie into Pokémon Black and White remakes, which are the next games in line to be remade on modern systems, now that Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have been released. A Pokémon Legends in Unova could set the stage for a return to the modern day Unova on Nintendo Switch.
Pokémon Black and White were the first mainline Pokémon games set in a region based on a location outside of Japan, with Unova being based on New York. Since then, all mainline Pokémon regions have been based on places outside of Japan, with Kalos from Pokémon X and Y based on Paris, Alola from Pokémon Sun and Moon based on Hawaii, Galar from Pokémon Sword and Shield based on the United Kingdom, and the upcoming Paldea region from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet based on Spain. Unova marked the growth of the Pokémon world and it will be interesting to see what the region in Generation 10 will be based on.
There’s currently no word regarding a sequel to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, but it seems likely, considering the game has already sold nearly 13 million copies in its first year. There are several possible regions that could be featured in the next Pokémon Legends, such as a Johto game that shows the death and resurrection of the Legendary Beasts, or a Kalos game that shows the ancient war and AZ unleashing his ultimate weapon. A Pokémon Legends set in Unova could take the Pokémon series to the Wild West, as trainers go on a journey to a new frontier.
Unova is The Wild Frontier & A True Mystery
Sinnoh was the setting of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, with the player exploring an ancient version of the land, back when it was called the Hisui region. Sinnoh has a long history, but the events of Pokémon Legends: Arceus happen around 300 years before the events of the other mainline games. A game set in the ancient version of the Unova region only needs to move things forward by a century, as there are events mentioned in Pokémon Black and White that can be used as the foundation for the next Pokémon Legends game. Around 200 years before the events of Pokémon Black and White, the lighthouse on Liberty Garden was constructed, which is the location where Victini is found in the games. At the same time, the Village Bridge was also constructed on Route 11/12, proving that people did exist in the Unova region centuries ago.
A Pokémon Legends game set in the Unova region can be inspired by the Wild West, with the region being an untamed frontier that has yet to be fully colonized by mankind. There are some older structures from ancient times (like the Relic Castle), but the land mostly contains Pokémon, with older human civilizations being scared off by the Swords of Justice or the arrival of Kyurem. Scarlet and Violet are giving players a Legendary Pokémon mount near the start of the game, so it would make sense for a Wild West Pokémon title to do the same, either through a new horse-like Pokémon, or by giving players a Mudsdale that doesn’t count towards their team of six (like the Rotom Pokédex). From the back of their mount, the player could explore the dust-filled frontier in search of treasure, glory, and new Pokémon.
Pokémon Red Dead Redemption (Bringing Back A Threatening Villain Team)
It’s no secret that the Pokémon villain teams have inconsistent threat levels. The villain team in Pokémon Sword and Shield stands out as being particularly pointless, especially in a game that was crying out for a proper villain, and not a random heel turn based on a ridiculous premise (i.e., Chairman Rose’s arc). A Pokémon Legends game set in the Unova region can make up for this, with a team based on bandits and outlaws, who steal from trainers out in the wild.
One way in which the gameplay of the series can use the trappings of the western genre is through shoot-outs: in the wild lands of the Unova region, people settled their disputes with one vs one Pokémon battles at dawn. This could also be used for rival battles throughout the game, with the player being forced to rely on a single Pokémon to save the day, much like how the player and their rival only use one Pokémon in their first battle in most games.
Which Mythical Pokémon Would Be The Unovan Legend?
Pokémon Legends: Arceus‘ story focused on the eponymous creature and made it the box mascot, with the rarest and most powerful Pokémon from the Sinnoh region being the focal point of the game. A similar game set in the Unova region has several options to choose from, but not its rarest Mythical Pokémon. In Pokémon Black and White and its sequels, the rarest Mythical Pokémon (and the last one to appear in the Pokédex) is Genesect, an artificial Pokémon that was created from a 300 million-year-old fossil and upgraded with modern technology. This puts Genesect in an awkward position for use as a box mascot for a new Pokémon Legends game, as its original form is hinted at having died out long ago, while its contemporary form only exists because of the work of Team Plasma in the modern era.
The better choice would be Victini, which is another Mythical Pokémon (not Legendary) from Gen 5. Victini is meant to symbolize victory, so it would make sense that trainers would come to a strange new land in search of this Pokémon. Victini’s importance to the history of the Unova region could be used to explain why it’s #000 in the Unova Pokédex in the modern era, as well as explain its connection to Liberty Garden. Victini feels like the natural choice for a more light-hearted follow-up to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, with the journey to the wild land of Unova being prompted by the hunt for the Pokémon that brings prosperity.
