2026 is Suddenly Huge Not Just For Pokemon Games, But Pokemon Clones, Too

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As a huge Pokémon fan, I’m already hyped for *Pokémon Legends: Z-A* coming next month, but I’m also starting to think about 2026! That’s when Pokémon turns 30, and it feels like there’s *always* something new coming from The Pokémon Company, whether it’s a brand-new game, cool merchandise, or the latest anime. But anniversary years are extra special – the 25th anniversary was a year-long celebration, and I have a feeling the 30th will be even bigger and more packed with fun stuff!

Okay, so 2026 is looking *crazy* busy for us Pokemon fans! The Pokemon Company has a lot planned, but honestly, it’s not just going to be about Pokemon. There are at least two, maybe three, other big games coming out that seem to be taking notes from the monster-catching genre – which is awesome, but also means my gaming calendar is already filling up! If all these games deliver, it’s going to be tough to keep track of everything. But hey, that’s a good problem to have, right? It means there’ll be something for pretty much any kind of fan out there.

Everything Pokemon Fans Have to Look Forward to From the Series or Otherwise

What Pokemon Could Potentially Do For Its 30th and Similar Games Releasing in 2026

  • Pokemon 30th Anniversary promotions, which will lead to all sorts of merchandise and projects throughout the year.
  • Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Mega Dimension DLC, with a rumor circulating that Mega Dimension isn’t the only DLC the game is getting.
  • Pokemon Champions is set to release, which will change competitive VCG Pokemon completely just in time for the World Championships.
  • The anniversary date in February will likely mark the reveal of the Generation 10 games with a release date of November 2026.
  • If true, Generation 10 will bring in even more merchandise, trading cards, and plenty more items for the collectors of the series to enjoy.
  • Pokemon Pokopia is set to launch in 2026, marking the series’ first foray into life sim games.
  • Palworld will be leaving early access and releasing its 1.0 version next year, with tons of content along with it.
  • There’s a chance HoYoVerse will release Honkai: Nexus Anima next year.
  • Aniimo is set to launch in 2026 as well, bringing an entirely new creature-catching experience to PC, console, and mobile.

It’s important to note that much of the information above is based on educated guesses. Considering The Pokémon Company’s history of celebrating milestones and the typical development timeline, it’s plausible that Generation 10 could be released next year. Also, while the second, unconfirmed *Pokémon Legends: Z-A* DLC is currently just a rumor, it fits the pattern established by *Sword* and *Shield*, and *Scarlet* and *Violet*, which both received two expansions. This kind of release isn’t unusual for the *Pokémon* series.

Okay, so if they drop Generation 10 next year – maybe after the second DLC for *Pokemon Legends: Z-A* – we’re going to be *swamped* with games! Between *Champions* and whatever *Pokopia* turns out to be, there’ll be tons to play. But if battling or building a virtual life isn’t your thing, there are other options to keep you busy while we wait for the next *Pokemon* game. I’ve been checking out *Aniimo*, *Honkai: Nexus Anima*, and *Palworld*, and they all look pretty good for filling the gaps.

Palworld and Aniimo are scheduled to launch in 2026, but the release date for Honkai: Nexus Anima is still unknown.

Even if HoYoVerse’s next game doesn’t come out next year, 2026 is shaping up to be a huge year for fans of creature-catching games. There will be so much content available that players should plan ahead to make time for everything. Expect even more exciting announcements both before and after 2026!

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2025-09-23 03:07