Summary
The latest release and positive reception ofPokemon Conciergecould finally prompt Game Freak to introduce a life sim spin-off to the franchise, especially withAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsproviding the ideal blueprint forPokemonto follow. Among many current and upcomingPokemonTV and anime series, likePokemon HorizonsorPokemon: Paldean Winds,Pokemon Conciergewas already an outlier for its distinctive stop-motion animation and less traditional story. WithPokemon Concierge’s reviews praisingits relaxed and stylish charm, the series has found another new directionPokemoncould expand into alongside like-minded games such asAnimal CrossingandStardew Valley.
Pokemonhas long since tried to diversify its range of games to cater to a broader audience, both within its mainline games and with spin-offs ranging fromPokemon RubyandSapphire’s Pokemon Contests to the recentDetective Pikachu Returns. Therefore, it’s no surprise thatPokemon Conciergehas received a warm welcomefrom fans as it has tapped into an underserved part ofPokemonthat many have been eager to see. Now thatPokemon Conciergehas successfully established itself within the franchise, Game Freak needs to only take inspiration fromAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsin order to capitalize on this newfound potential.
Exploring the Ordinary World of Pokemon
Pokemon Players Have Always Wanted More Than Just Battling
ThoughPokemonbegan life as a typical team-based RPG where progression was measured by how many gym badges a trainer has, the series has evolved over time to provide all sorts of players with as many different gameplay experiences. But while someplayers improvise with fan-madePokemonchallenges, others are interested in alternatives besides working their way through trainers, gyms, and the Elite Four. The success ofPokemonspin-offs that provide these alternatives, such asNew Pokemon SnaporPokemon Cafe ReMix, only further emphasizes just how keen players are to experience thePokemonworld beyond just battling Pokemon themselves.
The Overlap Between Pokemon and Animal Crossing
Given that bothPokemonandAnimal Crossingare flagship franchises under Nintendo, it’s no surprise that there are fans of both who have already createdPokemon-inspired islands and mods forAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. But whileAnimal Crossingcould benefit fromPokemon’s influencewith one or two features, it could be thatAnimal Crossing: New Horizonshas a lot to offer Game Freak with a similarly styled spin-off based onPokemon Concierge. Having already witnessed significant player overlap between the two,Pokemoncould easily take direct inspiration fromAnimal Crossing: New Horizon’s aesthetic, tone, gameplay, and more for its own Pokemon Resort.
The Gaming Potential in Pokemon Concierge
Much like other popular sim games such asStardew ValleyandAnimal Crossing,Pokemon Conciergeadopts the tried-and-tested premise of an urbanite main character shifting gears for a new, slower lifestyle. From here,Pokemoncould followAnimal Crossing: New Horizon’s lead and start the player from scratch, where progression is also non-linear as they establish their own Pokemon Resort, or it could directly takePokemon Concierge’s setup with the player taking on the role of a new employee experiencing daily life at the resort. Both have their benefits and challenges, butPokemonfortunately has various sim games to look to for guidance, including some examples below.
With the added benefit of nine generations to pool from,a newPokemonspin-off gamebased onPokemon Conciergewouldn’t be short of content to bring to the Pokemon Resort. Alongside those already featured inPokemon Conciergelike Psyduck, Eevee, and more, other Pokedex entries could tease additional Pokemon either as resort guests or employees, such as child-friendly Drampa, trigger-happy Electrode, or good-vibes-only Comfey. Like other sim games that focus on forming close-knit communities, aPokemon Conciergegame could allow players to befriend and recruit Pokemon, expand their resort and its services, and ultimately achieve prestige as a luxury vacation getaway in thePokemonworld.
