When Nintendo announced the official remake of the first game in the Mystery Dungeon series, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon DX, fans of Pokémon were overjoyed. Since the future of the spin-off series was up in the air, this was a nice confirmation that more games are on the way. Not only did this remake recapture the original experience, but it also included modernized improvements and a uniquely fresh art style.
With Pokémon Scarlet and Violet on the way, fans wonder what's next for the Pokémon series in terms of its spin-offs. The open-world nature of Generation 9 might have an impact on the rest of the games that release. Taking notes from the recent remake as well as other recent entries in the series, here's what fans want from the next Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game.
More Playable Pokémon
Fans of the Mystery Dungeon games want a variety of playable Pokémon. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity received criticism because the game featured only five playable Pokémon: the Unova starters (Oshawott, Tepig and Snivy) as well as Pikachu and Axew. The next entry, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, fixed this problem by including every starter from each generation, alongside Pikachu and Riolu.
The second entry in the series, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness, as well as its enhanced version, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, arguably did the best job at providing an array of playable Pokémon. At the very least, the next entry in the series should include every starter from every generation, as well as other Pokémon with different typings to include a variety of playable options. Explorers of Sky included every single starter at the time and some with other typings: Eevee, Skitty, Shinx, and Vulpix being prominent examples. At the very least, the next entry in the series should include every starter from every generation, as well as other Pokémon with different typings to include a variety of playable options.
An Original Story & Plenty of Content
Since the most recent addition to the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series was a remake, fans of the series are overdue for a new, original story. While Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon was loved by fans, the game didn't feature much of a unique story. The parallels between its story and that of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky couldn't be clearer. The two games featured a twist villain in Nuzleaf and Dusknoir and quirky leaders in Ampharos and Wigglytuff, respectively. The Expedition Society is essentially a recreation of Wigglytuff's Guild, right down to the group dinner sequences. Since that game was released back in 2016, fans of the series have been craving an original story for over five years.
A new Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game needs to include plenty of content. While Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon didn't have the most original story, it received overwhelming praise for the sheer amount of content in the game. Not only did it feature all 720 existing Pokémon at the time, but it also had multiple continents with plenty of dungeons to explore, including the Water, Air, Grass, Sand, and Mist continents. And that's not all -- there was still even more content to discover as players progressed through the game. In an all-new Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game, one that's designed for the Switch, there's no question that the Pokémon team can deliver a plethora of content to expectant fans.
While no official title has been announced yet, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon fans patiently await the next entry in the beloved series. With Pokémon Mystery Dungeon DX opening the doors, many fans find themselves wishing for their perfect game: one that includes many playable Pokémon, an original story, and a lot of content to keep them coming back.