With almost every generation of Pokémon the landscape changes, from a variety of different mechanics down to side games that keep the player occupied. In a list of changes too long to count, Generation 6 took the biggest step out of the lot. At a pivotal time in gaming, Pokémon X&Y were the ones that took on all the new features. Throwing away the old model as much as the series ever has an entering the new age.
Players might forget now that the 3D world is now 3 generations deep, spanning 7 years. This generation fully utilized the new console capabilities and ran with it, enacting changes that have lasted for the most of a decade now. The old games will always be nostalgic but it's undeniable that these games brought us into a much more vibrant and immersive world.
10 Catching Pokémon Experience
For the first time in Pokémon history, another mechanic was available for gaining experience. Catching pokémon actually does something for the trainer besides adding to the Pokédex, something that didn't inspire most. It's not quite the same amount as making them faint but it still counts towards the end goal.
This also opened up the experience pool for other things to start racking up the points, evolution now gives a significant amount of experience. All these things start to negate the need for constantly grinding low-level wild pokémon or tired trainers along the path.
9 Fairy Type
When Fairy type was introduced it was the only type to debut in 12 years, making it the star of 4 generations. In its short time in the universe, it already has more pokémon in the roster than Ice types with 34 pokémon falling into the fold. The original purpose being to even out the playing field by knocking Dragon types down a notch, it even rearranged the typing of already established pokémon.
With only 2 types that can deal serious damage, Poison and Steel also got a boost from the debut. Most of the attacks are not on the offensive side, ranging from stat decreases to status conditions. Its roster does contain some of the lightest stat charts in the game, focusing mainly on other means than raw power to get the job done.
8 Mega Evolution
The first departure from the original evolution, Mega Evolutions let pokémon upgrade without completely changing their form. A temporary evolution that only lasts for the battle, players will need the specific mega stone in relation to that pokémon. Even gaining or losing a type in the process, all their moves will be upgraded to deal with an even bigger blow.
The lore took a left turn in Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon when they dropped the fact that Mega Evolutions are painful for the pokémon going through them. Becoming their own species separate from the original for a short period of time, it's understandable that this process wouldn't be the most comfortable for all involved.
7 Battle Dynamics
Battle modes got a serious upgrade this generation, putting serious emphasis on the new 3D environment trainers found themselves in. Sky battles where only flying types and those with the levitate ability could fight, Horde encounter letting wild pokémon gang up on the player, or Inverse battles where the types reverse in effect.
It changed a dynamic that hadn't really been touched since the series began, finally innovating in multiple directions. As much as players fell in love with the original games, after 5 generations of the same old way it was time to mix things up. This has since lead to other battle mechanics changing and experimenting, only adding to the new content for new trainers.
6 Exp. Share Upgrade
Exp. Share was the saving grace for under levelled pokémon, a part of the series since generation 1 as Exp.all. It let players level up a pokémon that didn't go through the actual battle, making them useable at a later time. Generation 6 made it so everyone in the party could enjoy the same benefits, even including EVs in the process.
This is especially important when the player gets to higher levels, where a star pokémon can handle 3 or 4 enemies at a time. It can now be a whole new party of lower-level pokémon rising in the ranks instead of the slow task of doing it 1 by 1.
5 Outfit Customization
Since 1995 players have been stuck with the base design of a character from the very beginning of the game, unable to alter the look in any way. Generation 6 finally gave in and let fans change up the outfit, from the hat down to the shoes. Operating in a 3D environment must have encouraged the team to add in the feature in fear of rebellion.
A simple change that was available in so many other games, the introduction was a relief to everyone playing from the very beginning. Being able to set the character apart from the millions of daily trainers battling around the world is a small but important change that has carried through to future generations.
4 Graphics Upgrade
One of the most important aspects of most games are the graphics, effecting the entire tone and world that trainers operate in. Surprisingly, the 6th generation was the first to take a big leap into the future, both moving into the 3D world and upping the visuals that went along with it.
Completely overhauling the animations and pokémon sprites was the biggest change in style the series has undergone since its debut. Taking it from the flat, albeit charming world that players had inhabited for almost 20 years was something that forever changed how players, both new and old, viewed the Pokémon world.
3 EV Training
EVs have always been something that the large majority of players don't pay attention to, reserved only for the hardcore trainers. They make up the small space individual pokémon have within their species, negligible to the masses but they determine what truly makes the strongest individual pokémon.
Usually, the only way to make the team more powerful was to battle hordes of enemies for hours, Super Training allowed players to upgrade these stats through mini-games. EV juices also being introduced, certain berries could be combined to boost a specific stat.
2 Soundtrack Options
Known for having one of the most iconic soundtracks in the gaming world, most fans weren't complaining about the audio. Then they gave players the option to customize the music in specific situations in the game by talking to certain trainers, though this was temporary, it was still nostalgic to hear pieces from the previous games.
The online battles were the biggest difference, allowing players to choose from 4 pieces for every battle initially. The more the trainer battled online, the more pieces were available. Eventually, it was a choice between 11 pieces of music available to tailor the experience to the individual.
1 Pokémon Bank
Generation 6 opened up the amount of pokémon any trainer can keep at a time by allowing the storage of up to 3000 pokémon in the Bank. After paying an annual fee, players could store multiple generations in one place, available on the 3Ds through an application download.
This has since gone on to include the Pokémon Home and multiple other applications involved in storage, trading, and general upkeep of a trainers inventory. With a long list of features available across the board, the Pokémon Bank was a big change from the previously limited storage from previous generations.