There are many villainous figures in Pokémonoften being crucial to the plot of the main games, but Generation 10 could benefit from breaking from this long tradition. Each new generation of 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 have a much greater impact than simply continuing a tradition.
There is no denying that some aspects of the next Pokémon the games feel inevitable, as Gen 10 introduces another new battle gimmick to the franchise. At the same time, however, the franchise has also proven to welcome change and innovation over the years. There is more than one trend that promises to change Pokémon significantly if it continues, and more sudden changes will be possible to keep the franchise fresh. However, when it comes to the possibility of Gen 10 deleting an antagonist, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have already laid the foundations for such change.
Scarlet and Violet prove that Pokémon villains aren't necessary
Generation 9's antagonists are far from being truly evil characters
Arguably the closest to that Pokémon Scarlet and VioletThe base games have a central villain who is Arven's father in this game, Professor Sada or Turo. They are responsible for creating the time machine which, in turn, threatens to overwhelm Paldea with an endless tide of Paradox Pokémon. However, this is little more than accidental; the original professor is dead when the games begin, killed by the more aggressive of the two Legendary Pokémon they brought to the present. Since his AI copy is unable to interfere, this causes the time machine to continue operating automatically.
By the time the protagonist arrives at Area Zero, the consequences of the dead professor's actions threaten to spiral out of control, but it would be unfair to blame them for that. In many ways, without any human influence driving the problem, the time machine issue almost begins to look like a natural disaster; the danger faced by Paldea certainly doesn't seem like a deliberate plot by the Professor. As a result, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet tell a very effective story with no real main villain.
Following the basic games, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero puts Kieran in a more directly antagonistic role. However, it's pretty clear that his behavior is unhealthy, but ultimately not that malicious; by the end of The indigo diskKieran decided to make amends for his actions and become friends with the protagonist once again. Just like Team Star, the kid is misguided for a while and has no intention of causing any real harm.
Pokémon Gen 10 doesn't need a major antagonist
A Compelling Story Can Still Be Told Without a Villain
Following in the footsteps of Scarlet and Violet, there's a strong argument for Generation 10 not having a traditional villain. This could allow the plot of the next main games to focus more on exploring the new region and uncovering its mysteries, rather than facing off against a terrorist organization or megalomaniac aiming to harness the power of the region's Legendaries. It should be noted that there are still plenty of interesting stories that could be told without an evil final boss, especially since that doesn't mean the games wouldn't necessarily be conflict-free.
No need for an evil central figure Pokémon when so many emotional, action-packed stories can happen without one. The traditional goal of defeating the Pokémon League Champion already provides an increasing level of challenge with an atmosphere of friendly competition, while problems that may arise during gameplay 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 important to note that any Pokémon The game's plot will involve the Legendaries box, which usually requires a large-scale problem that requires its power to tackle. However, this need not be a human-created problem; Natural disasters and similar unforeseen events could fulfill the same role with little effect on the actual underlying gameplay involved. In both cases, people can still be tasked with capturing the game's Legendary mascot to solve a big problem in the region.
Generation 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 the new Generation 10 setting, it's logical to assume that the games would present a much more relaxing adventure than previous titles. In turn, the different atmosphere this would create would immediately help differentiate Generation 10 from previous eras of the franchise, and as such would undoubtedly 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 eliminate the need for one.
There are many strange occurrences in Pokémon games, with the titular fantastical creatures being responsible for all sorts of weird and wonderful phenomena. Generation 10 could place greater emphasis on this aspect of the series, perhaps preparing the protagonist to investigate some important mystery in the region. The construction of the world of Pokémon The franchise is one of its strongest features, and allowing people to explore the region without distractions would make the most of it.
It would be very interesting to see how the Pokémon games would deal with a plot without the pressure of defeating a villain, and Generation 10 provides a perfect opportunity to explore that direction. Doing so could create a more relaxed but no less enjoyable experience, with the possibility of conflicts and actions emerging naturally from other sources. Instead, the focus could be more on the world itself, allowing people to investigate the upcoming region, its many facets, and any mysteries it holds in far greater detail than any previous generation.