Considering how long the Pokemon franchise has existed, it is amazing how well it has remained steadfast to its core formula. For decades, players have been collecting the pocket monsters, trading them with friends, and battling to become the world's greatest Pokemon master. Spin-offs have injected some degree of innovation, including Pokemon Go which is a mobile game centered more on the collection aspect of the game, and Super Pokemon Rumble which focuses on toy versions of Pokemon instead.
While the commitment to some core elements has helped to ensure that Pokemon remains a familiar franchise for fans to return to over and over again, there have been some changes that players have been continuously begging for. At the top of the list is the inclusion of difficulty levels, a desire motivated by the fact that as some fans have grown up, the series has remained geared towards kids, leaving the games with a difficulty level that simply is not satisfying for older players. Difficulty levels would perhaps be the best solution to this problem, allowing younger players to still enjoy the franchise at a comfortable difficulty while allowing series veterans to crank up the dial for a more grueling experience.
It Is Clear That the Pokemon Community Wants It
If one spends a significant time in Pokemon communities on Twitter, Reddit, or dedicated Pokemon forums such as Serebii, it becomes clear that a significant portion of the community spends their time manipulating the game to make it harder. Classic examples include turning off Exp. Share and doing a monotype run where players will complete an entire Pokemon game using only one type of Pokemon. Perhaps the most popular type of self-imposed way to make Pokemon more difficult is to do a Nuzlocke run. There are many variations of the Nuzlocke run, but typically, during Nuzlockes, all fainted Pokemon must be released, players can only catch the first encountered wild Pokemon in an area, and players may only use Pokemon they have captured themselves, which means Pokemon acquired through gifts or trading are not permitted.
These challenges are fun ways to increase the difficulty of Pokemon games and add a bit of replayability, but they are also an indication that a huge segment of the Pokemon community wishes the games were harder and would have a more enjoyable time if the games were more challenging. Most importantly, though the challenges are creative, they are not a true replacement for difficulty settings that make Pokemon encountered in the wild stronger and gym leaders more strategic when battling players.
It Would Help Pokemon's Broad Appeal
The first Pokemon games Red and Green hit stores in 1996, and they easily captured the hearts of gamers worldwide. It did not take long before the games were a global phenomenon and their popularity has only increased since then. Thanks to titles such as Pokemon Go and Pokemon Legends: Arceus which have been a runaway hit on mobile and the Nintendo Switch respectively, modern gamers have also been introduced to the series and its world of cute yet powerful creatures. Due to the multi-generational reach of the franchise, Pokemon finds itself in an odd position where it courts both longtime fans who found the series as kids and carried it with them into adulthood, as well as children who are just now discovering the enchanting Pokemon world.
The inclusion of difficulty levels would help to bridge this generational gap that Pokemon has to navigate. Easier difficulty levels would accommodate newcomers and younger players, allowing them to enjoy the game without being annihilated by ruthless Pokemon in the wild. Players who have played more than their fair share of Pokemon games can choose higher difficulty levels to enjoy a tough challenge without having to implement Nuzlockes and other meta limitations.
Although Pokemon is widely regarded as a game for children, a significant portion of the fan base are adults who also crave a satisfying experience from a series they have followed for decades. Pokemon could placate both their older and younger fans by implementing difficulty levels, allowing gamers to adjust the game to their liking.