I'm surprised GameFreak hasn't gone all about it yet. What do you think?

I don't think an official Pokémon MMORPG is a pipe dream, as I've seen other people argue online. While it's true that Pokémon games have always been primarily console-based, we've seen an exponential increase in mobile games - an understandable strategy, considering the number of users they can reach and the potential revenue from microtransactions.

So who knows, maybe one will come out in the next few years!

MMORPG are the most difficult games to develop. I doubt Game Freak has the knowhow or resources to pull something like this, honestly.

I'd be curious how they make it work. It would certainly be fun to play alongside others in a world that feels more "alive".

As much as I'd love one, I find it less and less likely. I feel like there are a lot of ways to do it too. Some ideas I've had:

• Starting location for simplicity could be Kanto and people could travel to each region either in order or pick themselves with gym levels raising based off how many badges they have. More complicated option would be to let people

• Could be a good way to bring in Anime-exclusive locations

• Different servers-- PVE or PVP. PVE could essentially have it so areas are instanced to parties (so you could travel with friends) and the option to request battles. PVP could be on the level of the Battle Royale in Z-A.

• Could do an option of turn-based or real time-- if the latter, give control of the Pokemon when sent out.

• Customization in various ways with your trainer, hidden bases, and a place to customize (plus even your tent while traveling).

• Different "jobs" you could do-- trainer/master, option to own your own gym to be a gym leader/elite 4 member, be a Pokemon Breeder, run a cafe, etc. Lots of things you could do to experience the Pokemon World even outside of being a trainer. Could also bring in some of the like... Pokemon Stadium minigames and stuff.

• Imagine a Mystery Dungeon themed event.

In general though, I think there is SO much they could use and work with to make a really amazing Pokemon MMO. I just can't see them bothering to do so anymore, especially with the mess of split timelines and other messy story stuff in the main games at this point.

5 hours ago, Sakuramei said:

Different "jobs" you could do-- trainer/master, option to own your own gym to be a gym leader/elite 4 member, be a Pokemon Breeder, run a cafe, etc. Lots of things you could do to experience the Pokemon World even outside of being a trainer. Could also bring in some of the like... Pokemon Stadium minigames and stuff.

I would LOVE that! 🥹

That said, it’ll probably take way more years for a project like this to see the light of day - especially with Pokémon Champions coming out. They’ll be hyper-focused on that game, given it’s set to become one of the main platforms for official tournaments 😕

11 hours ago, Teo said:

I would LOVE that! 🥹

That said, it’ll probably take way more years for a project like this to see the light of day - especially with Pokémon Champions coming out. They’ll be hyper-focused on that game, given it’s set to become one of the main platforms for official tournaments 😕

That’s true, but I am glad for VGC players because they no longer have to buy every new main line game just to be able to compete.

Oh that's a really good point :)

Really excited to learn more about Champions later this month

15 hours ago, EpicCatch15 said:

That’s true, but I am glad for VGC players because they no longer have to buy every new main line game just to be able to compete.

True, I totally agree!

i would've been more on the "absolutely not" train a couple of years back, but seeing how each and every single mainline game seems to be heading in that direction....

i mean, think about it, really. s/v really was kind of the closest thing you could really get to a mmorpg what with the introduction of union circle. while legends: za is more of a single player game than multiplayer, the elements are still there as far as its pvp is concerned.

i think, slowly but surely we're going to inch closer and closer to a mmorpg-like experience in mainline games without it being an actual mmorpg. i think that's probably a stretch, but i do think more multiplayer elements are probably going to be present in mainline games moving forward.

6 hours ago, azalea said:

i think, slowly but surely we're going to inch closer and closer to a mmorpg-like experience in mainline games without it being an actual mmorpg. i think that's probably a stretch, but i do think more multiplayer elements are probably going to be present in mainline games moving forward.

Actually, I hadn't thought about the MMORPGification of the main games in the series, you're right! I wonder if we'll see even more elements of this genre of video games in Generation 10 🧐

On 2/27/2026 at 5:07 AM, Teo said:

i think, slowly but surely we're going to inch closer and closer to a mmorpg-like experience in mainline games without it being an actual mmorpg. i think that's probably a stretch, but i do think more multiplayer elements are probably going to be present in mainline games moving forward.

Actually, I hadn't thought about the MMORPGification of the main games in the series, you're right! I wonder if we'll see even more elements of this genre of video games in Generation 10 🧐

i hope so! like, are we going to reach a point where there's a mainline game with a full-fledged chat function and all the fancy bells and whistles a mmo typically has? probably not, but i think the core interactive/multiplayer elements are going to get (hopefully) better and better with each game. if that's going to be the case, then that's something i wouldn't mind at all, tbh.