8 Pokémon Games With Underrated Features Players Didn’t Appreciate Until Years Later

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The Pokémon franchise is a long-running and incredibly popular video game series. Each new game has brought significant changes, helping to define each new generation of the series.

As a huge Pokémon fan, I’ve always noticed how each new game really shows off what Nintendo’s consoles can do. From using the DS’s touchscreen to connecting with friends on the old Game Boy using the Link Cable, and even trying to push the Switch with those big open areas, Pokémon games always feel like they’re meant to be the games those consoles are remembered for!

With the Pokémon series entering its tenth generation and the recent launch of Pokémon Champions, we’re revisiting some popular features from older games that haven’t been included in recent releases.

Here are 10 Pokémon games with unique features that we still miss today.

8. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

Poke Beauty Contests

The Hoenn region from the Pokémon games is a fan favorite, and it was known for its unique Pokémon Contests.

Once you arrive in Slateport City and obtain the Pokéblock Case, you can participate in Pokémon beauty contests. These contests pit your Pokémon against three others, competing for a prize. While many players focused on defeating the Elite Four or battling friends, the Poke Contests offered a unique experience – a chance to really focus on making your Pokémon look their best, almost like a precursor to games focused on style and presentation.

Although you couldn’t change your Pokémon’s appearance with clothes, you could make Pokéblocks from Berries found throughout the game and feed them to your Pokémon. These Pokéblocks were created in a separate, enjoyable mini-game. While Pokémon Contests returned in later games, I think this first version was the best because it felt more special and impressive than what came after.

7. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Pokémon Following You

Pokémon lets us imagine our battling creatures as true friends, and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver captured that special connection better than any other game.

This feature lets you choose any Pokémon from the front of your team to walk behind you as you explore the game world. This means exploring places like caves won’t feel so lonely, as you’ll have a Pokémon companion following you around – even in dark areas like Mt. Mortar.

Surprisingly, it took many games for Pokémon to bring back the ability for your Pokémon to freely wander alongside you. This feature finally returned in Let’s Go Eevee! on the Nintendo Switch, where you could even have picnics with your Pokémon.

6. Pokémon Emerald

Battle Frontier

Pokémon players love a good post-game experience – something that lets you continue training and using your team even after defeating the Elite Four. Typically, once you become Champion, the main challenges in a Pokémon game are over.

After becoming Champion by defeating the Elite Four in Pokémon Emerald, players could continue their adventure at the Battle Frontier. This post-game area was a special island filled with incredibly tough battles, more challenging than anything they’d faced before. The Battle Frontier offered seven different battle facilities, each with unique rules and a powerful boss determined to stop a player’s winning streak.

So, after every battle, you earn special currency. I’m really excited about this because you can use it to get all sorts of things! You can buy items to help you build a better strategy, teach your Pokémon new moves, or even get cool dolls to decorate your secret base – it’s awesome!

5. Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

Fossil Mining Game

It took two years after the Nintendo DS launched, but the first core Pokémon game finally arrived on the system – and it was definitely worth being patient.

Diamond and Pearl used the Nintendo DS’s touch screen to improve the Pokédex. Players could now interact with it more, including playing a new mining game. In this game, they could dig for gems, evolution stones, and fossils hidden underground.

Players can choose to use either a pickaxe or a hammer to click on tiles and reveal hidden gems. However, mining too quickly or carelessly could cause the wall to collapse, potentially preventing you from finding the final gem you’re after.

4. Pokémon Colosseum

Purifying Darkness From Your Pokémon

Pokémon Colosseum is a fantastic, but often overlooked, game that’s different from the traditional Pokémon series. It’s disappointing we haven’t seen another game like it in a long time. Instead of catching Pokémon in the wild, you actually steal them from other trainers in this unique title.

The “Snag Machine” and a Cipher device will help you detect a dark aura surrounding certain Pokémon. These are Shadow Pokémon, and they can be challenging to defeat. Your mission is to capture them in battle and then cleanse them of their darkness.

While some players might find it a bit repetitive, I really enjoy the concept of a Pokémon game where you catch all kinds of Pokémon to save them. I especially like that the game encourages you to switch up your team to build relationships with them, which eventually lets you fully heal them so they can gain experience and learn new moves.

Pokémon games are usually pretty simple, so I like that this feature makes the main story a bit more challenging.

3. Pokémon Sun and Moon

Defending Your Title as Champion

The idea of battling the Elite Four again after becoming Champion first appeared in Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green. Pokémon Sun and Moon expanded on this by letting you defend your title against numerous challengers.

The Alola region has a brand new Elite Four, and that means you have the chance to become its very first Champion! This also means you’ll constantly be challenged by trainers trying to take the title from you. Each time you face the Elite Four, expect a different Champion with a unique team, keeping you on your toes and forcing you to adapt.

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I’ve always loved how this game made you build a well-rounded team, not just one that could beat a single opponent. You really had to think about covering all your bases and being prepared for anything! It made finally becoming Champion feel like a huge accomplishment, and honestly, I wish more Pokémon games would bring this back. It added so much depth!

2. Pokémon Sword and Shield

Dynamaxing

Let’s be reasonable. I’ll admit I’m not the biggest fan of Dynamaxing, but Game Freak deserves some recognition for at least attempting to innovate and do something different with the game.

Okay, so for anyone who doesn’t know, Dynamaxing was this cool thing in the Kalos region where you could make one of your Pokémon HUGE – like, Godzilla-sized! It got a ton of HP and could use these super-powerful Max Moves for three turns. Honestly, though, it was a bit divisive. A lot of us felt it wasn’t as exciting as Mega Evolution, and sometimes it just made battles drag on forever. It was cool to see, but not always the most fun to play against.

However, many players loved seeing a Falinks transform into a powerful Persona boss. Dynamax also gained praise for effectively stopping players from repeatedly using the move Fake Out, which was a common strategy. From a competitive perspective, Dynamax was a more balanced addition to the game compared to previous temporary transformations like Mega Evolution or Z-Moves, though some found those earlier features more enjoyable.

1. Pokemomn Black 2 and White 2

Pokémon World Tournament

The Pokémon World Tournament in Pokémon Black & White 2 served a similar purpose to the Battle Frontier, offering a challenging experience. Though it didn’t have quite as much variety as the one in Pokémon Emerald, it was still a fun and engaging addition to the game.

Okay, so after you beat the main story, there’s this awesome new thing called the Pokémon World Tournament. It’s kinda like the Battle Frontier – you get to battle all the famous trainers from past games, like Gym Leaders and Champions! It’s a tournament with eight trainers, and it’s seriously challenging. If you manage to win, you can trade special currency for cool rewards like items and boosts for your Pokémon. It’s a great way to keep playing after you’ve become the Champion!

The Pokémon World Tournament is more engaging than the Battle Frontier because it has a compelling storyline that drives you forward. It doesn’t feel like just an extra—it’s a central part of the game. Plus, longtime fans will love seeing familiar Gym Leaders with new Pokémon and updated designs, which is a great way to reward their loyalty.

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2026-04-18 16:41