If you own a Nintendo Switch and enjoy going on long walks through the Kanto region, you are in for a treat this year. Japanese developers Game Freak have announced three new Pokémon titles set to launch throughout the year, one of which is already available to download for free on Switch.
Go on a quest (for free)
There are two other games launching in November, and Nintendo has decided to focus on simplified controls and even a mobile tie-in with Pokemon Go. And you get to start out with either an Eevee or a Pikachu (cue fangirl screams).
Let’s Go to November
The Let’s Go games draw heavily from the handheld Pokémon titles, and could be considered a reboot in a sense. These new games focus primarily on the Kanto region, home to the original 151 pokémon, while your primary companion prefers to hang outside of its Pokéball, just like in Pokémon Yellow.
Get in the Pokéball
For the die-hard Pokémon Go players, or even those wanting to get into the game, the new releases will incorporate mobile in some major ways, starting with the ability to catch pokémon with the mobile game and then transfer them to the Switch experience. The Pokémon Go Plus peripheral (which is a life-sized Pokéball controller) that launched specifically for the mobile game has been reimagined as the Pokéball Plus, which will act as both the current version of the Go Plus and a Joy-Con for Switch players. Game Freak has also teased further crossover between the two games (have a look at the teaser trailer above).
Pokémon’s obviously running with the nostalgia element, but that is why this might have a bigger impact than Pokemon Go ever did. This is bringing back old-school gameplay while incorporating mobile and co-op, which should rake in the younger generation — even so, those of us already turning grey will be first in line come launch day. Obviously.