Knew? Pokémon should have ended 20 years ago

Luckily for many fans – the Pokémon games have survived.

It’s almost unimaginable these days that a new Pokémon game doesn’t come out every few years. In 2022, for example, there will be two new offshoots in the same year, Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Crimson/Crimson. It wasn’t always planned that way. The Pokémon series was originally supposed to end a long time ago.

The second generation should complete Pokémon

When Pokémon Gold and Silver was released over 20 years ago, the Game Boy title was a huge hit with fans and is still considered by many to be one of the best games in the series. The thought that it should actually be the last Pokémon edition seems all the stranger today – after all, the ninth generation is now in the starting blocks and the second generation got its own remake for Nintendo DS years ago with Heartgold and Soulsilver.

How Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara (who worked as a producer on the first generation), on the release of the remakes in interview recalled, he was initially unprepared for the success of the first generation. Red and blue was actually supposed to be released in the run-up to Christmas to rake in some decent Christmas sales, but only made it to the Japanese release in February 1996 – according to Ishihara the worst time of the year to release games.

In fact, Pokémon didn’t become popular immediately, it took some time for sales to really skyrocket. After the release of Red and Blue, work then began on Gold and Silver, which the team was planning at the time as the ultimate Pokémon games:

The reason for this is simple, after all, the second generation sold even faster than the first. What became of it is the Pokémon series as we know it today.

More interesting and absurd Pokémon facts:

The ninth generation of Pokémon is about to start

In the meantime, we are facing the ninth generation with Pokémon Crimson and Crimson, which should be released for the Nintendo Switch at the end of 2022. If you want to know what awaits you in the new games, you can watch the trailer here:

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Pokémon Scarlet & Violet – Generation 9 Reveal Trailer

In crimson and purple we get a real open game world this time, which is inspired by Spain with its Mediterranean setting. Of course, there should also be numerous new Pokémon, which new and returning Pokémon have already been confirmed for the Pokédex can be found in our list. Supposedly, the new generation is even supposed to largest Pokédex expansion in over 10 years bring.

All information about the editions, the gameplay and more can be found in our large information overview.

Which Pokémon generation do you think is the best?