Pokemon’s Multi-Region Remake Has a Once-a-Generation Golden Opportunity That It Can’t Let Slide

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Can you believe Pokémon is turning 30?! It feels like just yesterday I was starting my adventure! There’s so much to look forward to – we already know Gen 10, Pokémon Winds and Waves, is coming to the Switch 2 in 2027, but apparently that’s not all! Leaks are pointing to a new Pokémon Legends game, this time set way back in ancient Galar. But the biggest news? Rumor has it they’re planning a massive remake that will cover so many regions – Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Kitakami! I’m seriously hyped!

Fans have long hoped for a new Pokémon game where you can travel through multiple regions, similar to how Pokémon Gold and Silver let you explore both Johto and Kanto. But the most exciting part of a game like that would be the Pokémon themselves. Pokémon Sun and Moon introduced Regional Variants – different forms of existing Pokémon found in specific areas – and each new game has added more. Since a remake would probably focus on Pokémon that already exist, this would be a great chance to include Regional Variants that aren’t normally found in those regions – an opportunity that might not come around again.

Pokemon’s Leaked Multi-Region Remake Can Introduce New Regional Variants for Older Regions

Creating a new Pokémon game that revisits the original four regions (Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh) is a huge opportunity that likely won’t happen again. To truly make this special, the game should include Pokémon that weren’t previously available in those areas. A great way to do this would be to introduce regional versions of newer Pokémon, giving players a fresh experience and celebrating the game’s ambitious scope.

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Pre-Gen 7 Regions Are Largely Left Out of the Regional Variant Lottery

The idea of Regional Variants in Pokemon is inspired by how evolution works in nature – where creatures of the same species change over time to better suit their surroundings. When Pokemon Sun and Moon first introduced this feature, it was a big hit because it gave older Pokemon a new look and kept them interesting for newer players. But this ability to create regional forms shouldn’t be limited to older Pokemon; newer Pokemon should also get the chance to have their own unique variants in existing regions.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus Proves Giving Regional Variants to Older Gen Regions is Worthwhile

Though Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set in the Hisui region – a historical version of Sinnoh from over a century ago – it shows how Pokemon could change in earlier regions. Giving Basculin a new evolution, Basculeigon, was a clever way to improve a weaker Pokemon, and designing Hisuian Voltorb to fit the setting suggests a cool approach for future Pokemon when they’re adapted to established regions.

Pokemon That Deserve Regional Variants and The Regions That Make the Most Sense

  • Rockruff — Johtonian Form
  • Mudsdale — Sinnohian Form
  • Coalossal — Hoennian Form
  • Arboliva — Johtonian Form
  • Mabosstiff — Kantonian Form

A large-scale remake covering multiple regions could introduce Regional Variants for many Pokémon from the seventh, eighth, and ninth generations. But some Pokémon would be particularly well-suited to these new forms, fitting seamlessly into the environments of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, or Sinnoh.

A fan on X (formerly Twitter) shared artwork imagining a new version of the Pokémon Rockruff, specifically for the Johto region. This version would change Rockruff’s type from Rock to Ghost. Many fans believe adding more Ghost-type Pokémon to Johto would be great, especially if the original Gym Leaders return. Morty, the Ghost-type Gym Leader, currently has a limited team and could really benefit from a unique Pokémon like this regional Rockruff.

Mudsdale, a Pokémon from Generation 7, would be a great candidate for a Regional Variant, especially in a remake that features multiple regions. A Sinnoh-based variant makes the most sense because Sinnoh is inspired by Hokkaido, a region in Japan known for its horse breeding and famous racehorses. Considering Hokkaido’s cold climate, an Ice/Ground-type Mudsdale would be a fitting and interesting variant for that region.

Considering Pokémon from Generation 8, Coalossal would be a perfect fit for a Regional Variant in Hoenn. Hoenn is known for its hot springs, like those near Lavaridge Town and Mt. Chimney, which are inspired by the sulfurous hot springs of Kyushu in Japan. A Hoenn-native Coalossal could reflect this, changing from a Fire-type to a Poison/Rock-type with a yellow, sulfurous appearance and a distinct, unpleasant smell.

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Two Pokémon from the ninth generation, specifically Arboliva and its earlier forms, would be perfect for new Regional Variants. These Pokémon are inspired by olives and olive trees, and their presence in the Paldea region reflects the importance of olive farming in the Mediterranean. Japan’s Shodoshima Island, with its similar climate, is also a major olive-producing area. A Johto version of Arboliva could acknowledge this, potentially appearing near Olivine City or Cianwood City, which are based on the same real-world location as Shodoshima.

Mabosstiff has quickly become a fan favorite in the latest Pokémon games, Scarlet and Violet, thanks to its role alongside the character Arven and the engaging Path of Legends story. It would also fit perfectly into a reimagining of the classic Kanto region. The Pokémon’s design is already inspired by Mastiff dogs and Italian mobsters, and since the Japanese Yakuza has a strong presence in the real-world area that Kanto is based on, a regional variant of Mabosstiff with a Yakuza-inspired appearance – and perhaps a change from Dark-type to Fighting-type – would be a natural and fitting addition.

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2026-05-14 03:05