Pokemon Sword and Shield may have been a commercial success, but it definitely had some features and changes that fans weren't too happy with. However, the games did also introduce some concepts that, if Game Freak decided to keep going forward, could make as great additions to a Pokemon MMO.
With TemTem, a Pokemon-like MMO coming into the spotlight, fans are wondering if Game Freak could take the leap and make a full-fledged Pokemon MMO that would satisfy both new and long-time fans of the series. If Game Freak carried over some features from Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, and added some key features, Game Freak could very-well break into the MMO genre with a smash hit.
Pokemon. Lots of Them.
Obviously the first pillar of a success Pokemon game is a strong foundation of Pokemon to catch. One of the biggest complaints about Pokemon Sword and Shield was the lack of returning Pokemon in the game. The Galar Pokedex only featured 400 Pokemon total between new and returning Pokemon. There was no National Pokedex for players to chase after completing the regional Dex, and even when players get access to Pokemon Home, they will not be able to transfer in any Pokemon not on the Galar Pokedex.
If players are expected to be engaged in a long-form, massive Pokemon game - which a Pokemon MMO should be - then there needs to be a lot of Pokemon. Ideally, the game would feature every Pokemon so far as well as any new Pokemon added in that generation. If Game Freak were to plan on supporting the game indefinitely, then expansions and updates could add new regions and any new Pokemon that are introduced in games launched after the MMO.
Friends and Social Features
MMOs are built around the idea of playing with others in a massive world, so a Pokemon MMO needs to have great social functions. Sword and Shield's social features were not ideal and could be a teaching moment. The Y-Comm function is limited in its scope, and despite the games being connected to the internet at all times, finding players to play with is a chore. The only way to find a specific player to trade or battle with is with a Link Code - a 4-digit code that players must search with. Even if two players use the same code, there is still a chance that some random person may be using the code as well. A Pokemon MMO would need some sort of dedicated friends list feature, and a way to connect with players easily and seamlessly.
Sword and Shield's new Wild Area features what could be seen as the building blocks for MMO-like features. Players can see other trainers running around the Wild Area, and can interact with them to a limited degree. Players can also participate in raid battles and link up to take down raid bosses. While the Wild Area is more like a simulated social hub, if the ideas were taken to the next level then Game Freak could turn the concept of the Wild Area into a living, breathing world for Pokemon trainers to explore.
Freedom to Explore
Building off the concept of the Wild Area, a Pokemon MMO would need to have plenty of area to explore. Pokemon can learn from the Legend of Zelda in this regard. Trainers should be able to set out on their journey into a rich, vibrant world densely populated with Pokemon and have to forge their own path forward. The Wild Area is certainly a large area to explore, but comes up short on things to do. Outside of catching Pokemon and Raid Battles, the Wild Area is pretty barren.
While there are some hidden items that can be found, there is little reward for players who venture off the main path through the large area. In a perfect game, players should have large amounts of distance to cover between major towns that feature plenty of activities or areas to explore, and players should be adequately rewarded for exploring them. MMOs often feature massive maps, and a Pokemon MMO should be no different.
An Expansive Gym Challenge
Gyms are another pivotal part of the Pokemon experience, so a Pokemon MMO should be no different in that regard. Sword and Shield featured some great gym leaders, and in an MMO there should perhaps be more gym leaders than ever before. The great thing about being in a more open setting like an MMO is that it could feature several different gym challenges for players to take on. Different leagues can feature different gym leaders to fight and badges to collect. The question would be how Game Freak could handle scaling. If gym leaders have set levels then progression across multiple regions would have to scale accordingly.
A major part of MMOs is the grind to level up and get proper gear (or perhaps in this case Pokemon), so gyms would have to be designed around that concept. Either leveling up Pokemon has to be harder, or there would likely have to be some limitations on what can be used in different leagues for that gym challenge. While there is no right answer on how to handle this, it would take some serious brainstorming on Game Freak's part to make sure it's handled right. If an MMO doesn't handle progression and challenge properly, it can quickly fall apart.
Player Choice and Rewards
Pokemon games are about freedom. While the general idea is that players beat the gym challenge and become champion, after that players are free to spend their time as they please. Whether that is by finishing the Pokedex or hunting Shiny Pokemon, players have some options as to how they want to experience the game. A Pokemon MMO could take that and expand upon that even further.
Whether players get to choose at the start how they want to spend their time, or if they just get to follow whatever path they like whenever they want, players should have plenty of options on how to spend their time. A main story could be a potential route, while another could be for trainers wanting to become champion. One route could be for those wanting to complete a Pokedex and become a professor of sorts, while another could be for trainers looking to be breeders. The options in the Pokemon world are vast, and Game Freak could make a lot of fans happy by giving them the ability to follow their dreams.
With TemTem's release on the horizon, many Pokemon fans are looking to Game Freak in the hopes that they will one day soon make the Pokemon MMO that fans have always wanted. Whether or not that will ever come to be is one thing, but if it were to be developed it could definitely learn a thing or two from other popular MMOs - and even from Game Freak's own titles. Sword and Shield had some ideas and features that could transition well into an MMO, but Game Freak would need to do a lot of work after Sword and Shield to make sure those features were perfected.
Pokemon Sword and Shield are available now for Nintendo Switch.