Summary
MainlinePokemongames are always based on real-life locations and cultures, with the most recent example coming fromPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Paldea, which took its cues from two real-world countries - Spain and Portugal. Although the most likely games to come out next are Gen 5 remakes or aPokemon Legends Unovagame,Gen 10Pokemongamescould be two years away, maybe three if Game Freak wants to keep it in the oven for longer after the launch debacle of Gen 9. Still, there are various potential clues as to where Gen 10 games might take place, and one of the most likely candidates is Italy, which could introduce plenty of new interesting Pokemon and locations.
Gen 10Pokemongames are likely to have all the main ins and outs of the mainline series, while also introducing new and exciting elements to the gameplay loop. An Italy-based region could have a lot to offer, especially in terms of new designs for cross-gen evolutions, regional forms, or the more recent regional fakes. Therumors about an Italy-basedPokemongamedate all the way back to Gen 4 remakes, and Gen 9 seems to build on them with the addition of an in-game painting called “Street, Midday” that seems to depict an Italian street.
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Gen 10 Pokemon Games Based on Italy Would Have Plenty of Inspiration Sources
Food could be the main theme of Gen 10 if the Italy-based Pokemon game rumors are true, as it’s interwoven with the local culture, and the same holds true for anything tied to music or the Roman Empire.
A pizza or lasagna-inspired regional form, regional fake, or even cross-gen evolution for Crustle would make a lot of sense, for example. Similarly, pasta-based Pokemon would only be the next logical step. ModernPokemongames feature multiple objectmons and food-based critters, and even species based on Italy’s world-famous mandolin could be perfect fits. A wine-themed Grass-type starter would be perfect for anItaly-basedPokemongame, for example.
Likewise, one could make a strong case for regional forms, regional fakes, or cross-gen evolutions for the likes of Falinks, Escavalier, or even the more recent Armarouge and Ceruledge. Falinks is normally inspired by Spartan fighters forming phalanxes in battle, whereas an Italy-based form could represent Roman soldiers or even gladiators.Gen 10 could introduce Sound-type Pokemon, too, and Italy would be the perfect place to do that given the astronomical amount of opera houses and music-related facts or landmarks in the country.
There could be locations based on major Italian cities like Milan, Florence, Rome, and Naples, or Italian landmarks in general, such as the Colosseum or Pisa’s leaning tower.
The “Street, Midday” painting fromPokemon Scarlet and Violethighlights what could be a countryside street of any Tuscany-based city or town, or even anywhere in the southern part of the country, such as Sicily or the Amalfi Coast. These could all be in-game locations wherePokemonplayers are sent to progress the story and fill the regional Pokedex as they go, possibly exploring side locations such as Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii for the Naples area or the Carrara marble quarries in Tuscany.
Italian culture is also heavily influenced by mythology, and there could be Legendaries based on creatures like Scilla and Cariddi. Another creature inspired by folklore could be the so-called “Munaciello,” which wears monk clothes and a brimmed hat, and could easily be a Fairy or Ghost-type Pokemon. Overall, there are a lot of things and places thatGen 10Pokemongames based on Italycould draw inspiration from, and if this ends up being the actual location for the next mainline titles, players are in for a treat.
