There are plenty of villainous figures in Pokémon, often being crucial to the plot of the core games, but Generation 10 could benefit from breaking this long tradition. Every new Generation in Pokémon opens up countless new possibilities, from interesting new mechanics to new settings, Pokémon, and more. Over time, the franchise has also developed a standard formula that incorporates many of these elements, but diverging from the norm can easily make a far bigger impact than simply continuing a tradition.

There is no denying that some aspects of the next Pokémon games seem inevitable, like trend that promises to change Pokémon significantly if it continues, and more sudden changes are just as possible to keep the franchise feeling fresh. However, when it comes to the possibility of Gen 10 excluding an antagonist, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have already set the groundwork for such a change.

Scarlet And Violet Prove Pokémon Villains Aren’t Necessary

Gen 9’s Antagonists Are Far From Being Truly Evil Characters

Arguably the closest that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s base games get to having a central villain is Arven’s parent in that game, Professor Sada or Turo. They are responsible for creating the time machine which, in turn, is threatening to overwhelm Paldea with an unending tide of Paradox Pokémon. However, this is little more than accidental; the original professor is dead by the time the games commence, killed by the more aggressive of the two Legendary Pokémon they brought to the present. With their AI copy unable to interfere, this leaves the time machine to continue operating automatically.

By the time the protagonist reaches Area Zero, the consequences of the dead professor’s actions are threatening to spiral out of control, but it would be unfair to blame them for this. In many ways, with no human influence driving the problem forward, the issue of the time machine almost begins to feel like a natural disaster; the danger faced by Paldea certainly does not feel like a deliberate plot by the Professor. As a result, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet tell a very effective story with no real main villain.

Team Star similarly act as antagonists for a large portion of the game, but the Team’s underlying motivations are still sympathetic enough for the wayward students to appear far from truly evil.

Following the base games, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero places Kieran in a more straightforwardly antagonistic role. However, it is made quite clear that his behavior is unhealthy but still ultimately not that malicious; by the ending of The Indigo Disk, Kieran has decided to make amends for his actions and become proper friends with the protagonist once again. Much like Team Star, the boy is only misguided for a while and does not intend any true harm.

Pokémon Gen 10 Doesn’t Need A Major Antagonist

An Engaging Story Can Still Be Told Without A Villain

Following in the footsteps of Scarlet and Violet, there is a strong case for Gen 10 having no traditional villain. This could allow the plot of the next core games to focus more on exploring the new region and uncovering its mysteries in place of facing off against a terrorist organization or a megalomaniac aiming to harness the power of the region’s Legendaries. It should be noted that there are still plenty of interesting stories that can be told without an evil final boss, especially as this does not mean the games would not necessarily be free of conflict.

There is no need for a central evil figure in Pokémon when so many emotional and action-packed storylines can take place without one. The traditional goal of defeating the Pokémon League Champion already provides a scaling level of challenge with an atmosphere of friendly competition, whilst issues that may arise during the game may simply be individual cases of NPCs dealing with their own personal struggles. By engaging with the people of the regions and their problems, the Gen 10 games could easily tell a rich story without a malicious antagonist.

Of course, it is also worth noting that any Pokémon game’s plot will involve the box Legendaries, which does generally necessitate a large-scale problem that requires their power to face. However, this does not need to be an issue created by humans; natural disasters and similar unanticipated events could fulfill the same role with little effect on the actual underlying gameplay involved. In either case, people can still be tasked with capturing the game’s mascot Legendary in order to solve a major problem in the region.

Gen 10 Could Provide A More Relaxed Pokémon Adventure

The New Region Would Still Be Able To Offer Intriguing Mysteries

Without a villain actively stirring up trouble in Gen 10’s new setting, it is logical to assume that the games would present a much more relaxing adventure than previous titles. In turn, the different atmosphere that this would create would immediately help to set Gen 10 apart from previous eras of the franchise, and as such would arguably be an excellent change of pace. Moments of conflict or danger are perfectly possible without an active villain, and a suitably intriguing mystery would further remove the need for one.

There are plenty of strange occurrences in Pokémon games, with the fantastical titular creatures being responsible for all kinds of strange and wonderful phenomena. Generation 10 could put a stronger emphasis on this aspect of the series, perhaps setting up the protagonist to investigate some major mystery of the region. The worldbuilding of the Pokémon franchise is one of its strongest features, and allowing people to explore the region without distraction would allow it to make the most of this.

It would be very interesting to see how the Pokémon games would handle a plot without the pressure of defeating a villain, and Generation 10 offers a perfect opportunity to explore this direction. Doing so could create a more relaxed, but no less enjoyable experience, with the possibility of conflict and action emerging naturally from other sources. Instead, the focus could be more on the world itself, allowing people to investigate the next region, its many facets, and any mysteries it contains in far more detail than that of any previous Generation.