2021 marks the Pokemon franchise's 25th anniversary since its initial release on the original Game Boy, and as such, many fans believe that Nintendo has something special in store. Like the Super Mario 35th Anniversary that was celebrated this year with several big announcements for the red plumber, it seems quite likely that Nintendo is going to have a similar celebration for the Pocket Monsters as well. The Pokemon Company already announced via Twitter that the franchise was getting a celebration next year, with further details coming soon, so all that fans can do at the moment is speculate.
With such a rich history and long list of games, there's nearly unlimited possibilities for what Pokemon fans could expect from the upcoming 25th anniversary celebration. Nintendo is notorious for delivering some surprises to its fans, and fans should expect to see at least a few interesting curve balls from the company during this celebration. Here are some of the potential things that could come from next year's event.
An Anniversary Collection
Back in September, Nintendo released Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a collection of some of the best 3D Mario games in one single package for the Switch. The game sold incredibly well, and may be a sign that future collections similar to it will be coming in the near future. With Pokemon now celebrating its own anniversary soon, it seems like great timing for Nintendo to release some sort of collection for it as well. What exactly the collection would include is unclear, but something like the first three titles in one bundle seems like a safe bet. Additionally, fans should maybe also expect the collection to be a timed release, like 3D All-Stars is. It seems that Nintendo is going the Disney Vault route of releasing its games for a limited time in order to let the games hold their monetary value over time.
New Pokemon Snap
Earlier this year, the Nintendo 64 classic Pokemon Snap got a sequel announced for the Switch. Simply titled New Pokemon Snap, the game is set to launch on the Switch at some point in the future. It seems like almost perfect timing for this game to release next year, right in time for the franchise's 25th anniversary. It seems fairly likely that fans will learn additional details for New Pokemon Snap during a potential Pokemon-focused Nintendo Direct, with a potential release date reveal. It's been nearly six months since fans last heard anything about this spin-off, so it's probably safe to say that the game's development has progressed quite a bit since its reveal trailer and it might even be close to being finished at this point.
Diamond and Pearl or Gold and Silver Remakes
Other than the franchise itself celebrating its 25th anniversary, next year will also mark the 15th anniversary of the fourth generation of games, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. Originally releasing in 2006 for the DS, Diamond and Pearl are the next games up to be fully remade as Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, HeartGold and SoulSilver, and Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire were each remade in 2004, 2009, and 2014 respectively. The series generally sees remakes of a new generation every five years, which means that the remake of these next games is technically overdue. These remakes have been long-rumored and highly anticipated by many fans, so it would only make sense for them to be revealed at such a special time for the franchise. If true, these games will undoubtedly be the biggest part of 2021 for the series, with a holiday release date very likely.
Alternatively, Nintendo could also throw fans a massive curveball by revealing a sequel to Pokemon Let's Go, Pikachu set within the Johto region. This title has also been highly anticipated and asked for by many fans, as the second generation of games are one of the most well-received. Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee were aimed at a much more casual audience and sold very well, so it is possible that Game Freak will be making another entry into the series similar to it. But regardless, either one of these remakes would make for exciting new releases.
In-Game Events and Celebrations
Nintendo will likely be celebrating Pokemon's anniversary with several in-game events and celebrations. Pokemon Sword and Shield will most definitely get some sort of in-game events, like mystery gifts and new Max Raid Battles. Outside of those titles, it's likely that the Pokemon series will be celebrated on other Nintendo titles like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Perhaps New Horizons will add Pokemon-themed craftable furniture and clothing, and Ultimate will add in some new Pokemon spirits. The possibilities seem endless, with Nintendo historically celebrating other franchises through events. Fans of the popular mobile game Pokemon GO should also expect to see plenty of in-game events in that title as well.
Other Spin-off Games and Surprises
The Pokemon Company could also be planning the reveal of other Pokemon-related projects, like a new spin-off title or even future DLC for Sword and Shield. For all we know, Game Freak could be planning a third expansion for Sword and Shield, and is waiting to reveal details early next year. Additionally, fans are already aware of Pokemon Unite, which is an upcoming MOBA game for both Switch and mobile devices. The fan reception has been very negative, but the title will likely get its release just in time for the franchise's anniversary as well. But something more unexpected, like a sequel to 2016's Pokken Tournament, could also very well be in the works. This new fighting game was quite popular when it first released on the Wii U, so it wouldn't be too far-fetched to expect some sort of follow-up to it. The Pokemon Company sure loves its spin-off games, and there are a lot of them. Games like Pokemon Rumble, Pokemon Conquest, or even Detective Pikachu could possibly make some sort of return next year, or the company could end up delivering something else brand new entirely.
The possibilities are nearly endless with the Pokemon franchise, and we think its safe to say that anything is possible. But with a series as massive as Pokemon, there's sure to be at least a few surprises that will come from its 25th anniversary next year. Fans will just have to wait and see what's in store.