The Switch 2’s first year quietly became a celebration of Pokémon history
After a year of the Nintendo Switch 2, it was a surprisingly Pokémon-packed experience, and it’s been excellent.
As much as I love beating up Bowser or fighting Ganondorf, my preference will always be catching my beloved Pokémon. However, despite my expectations being quite low for Pokémon games this early, the Nintendo Switch 2’s first year has been packed with the franchise. Looking back, I genuinely think it’s been one of Pokémon’s strongest 12-month stretches ever.
The Pokémon train started rolling with Legends Z-A late last year, bringing back the mechanics that Arceus started, but in a more mainline setting. Admittedly, it kept the accessibility and ease going, which probably alienated a lot of older fans - but I really enjoyed it.
Lumiose was full of charm, and I liked the characters more than I expected. To be honest, Canari was a little annoying, but the rest of the trainers from AZ to your very own character felt like a huge part of the story. Personally, I’ve found the battling and catching systems to be much more fun in the Legends games - I hope it comes to Wind & Waves, at least in part.
Alongside Legends Z-A, we also got the port of the original games, FireRed and LeafGreen. While the newer games are looking ahead, these ports are a reminder of why so many people fell in love with Pokémon in the first place. They’re comfortable, familiar, and still hold up surprisingly well all these years later.
However, the biggest surprise for me was Pokopia. I’m not really a cosy game player - Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing aren’t my vibes. However, Pokopia managed to entice me into its world, delivering a vibrant and comfortable time that I’m still enjoying to this day. When the outside world is chaotic, I know my pals are waiting for me to keep cutting grass and watering plants.
Honestly, if Pokopia becomes a regular spin-off in the series, like Nintendo’s second bet on Animal Crossing, I’d be happy. The world works within the franchise really easily, and it proves the games can go beyond the regular catching or battling without losing that Pokémagic. It’s just as worthy of being praised as any of the other Pokémon games (which it’s receiving, thankfully).
The final piece of the puzzle was Pokémon Champions, the free-to-start battle-focused experience. While Pokopia showed Pokémon could thrive without battling, Champions reminded me why competitive Pokémon remains so compelling in the first place.
That’s what makes this first year so impressive. Legends Z-A looks forward, FireRed and LeafGreen look back, Pokopia proves Pokémon can succeed outside its traditional formula, and Champions gives dedicated battlers a place to compete. Rather than focusing on one corner of the franchise, the Switch 2’s first year managed to celebrate almost everything Pokémon has become over the last three decades.
I fell off shortly after Black & White before coming back with Sword & Shield, but I can’t remember a year as impactful and full of great experiences as this past 12 months. The Pokémon Company has absolutely nailed the 30th Anniversary, to say the least.
I bought a Switch 2 so my wife and I could play Mario Kart World, but it didn’t click as well as I had hoped - I probably would’ve sold it, but Pokémon has kept me getting it out of the dock every day. And though work and life commitments get in the way, I still find a way to meet my little pals in the various games.
Whether I’m checking in on Pokopia, battling in Champions, revisiting Kanto through FireRed and LeafGreen, or exploring Lumiose City in Legends Z-A, I’ve found myself spending more time with Pokémon than ever. For a franchise celebrating its 30th Anniversary, that’s probably the biggest compliment I can give it.
