5 Classic Pokémon Features Gen 10 Winds & Waves Should Bring Back

With Pokémon’s tenth mainline generation reportedly on the horizon under the working title Pokémon Winds & Waves, fans are already asking the same question they ask every generation: what beloved features from the past will finally make their return? It’s a fair question — the series has a long history of introducing mechanics that feel essential, then quietly shelving them a few games later.

What follows is grounded in well-established, publicly known Pokémon series history — the features fans have genuinely and repeatedly called for, based on what has existed in past generations and what has since been removed.

If Gen 10 is real and arriving soon, these are the classic mechanics the community most wants to see come back.

Why Pokémon Keeps Losing Features Fans Love

One of the most consistent criticisms of the Pokémon series over the past decade is that Game Freak tends to add meaningful systems, let players fall in love with them, and then remove them in the next entry with little explanation. It happened with Mega Evolution. It happened with the Global Trade System in its original form. It happened with the Battle Frontier.

Each new game brings fresh ideas, but the tradeoff often feels lopsided. Features that deepened the experience — that gave players reasons to keep playing after the credits rolled — get replaced with simpler alternatives or dropped entirely. For a franchise this size, that pattern has frustrated a loyal fanbase for years.

Gen 10 represents a genuine opportunity to course-correct.

Classic Pokémon Features That Deserve a Return

These are five mechanics and systems that have appeared in past Pokémon generations, earned strong fan support, and have not been present in recent mainline titles in their full original form.

• The Battle Frontier — First introduced in Generation III’s Pokémon Emerald and expanded in Generation IV’s Pokémon Platinum, the Battle Frontier offered a robust post-game competitive facility with multiple challenge formats. It has been absent from mainline titles for years, replaced by simpler battle facilities that many fans consider a significant downgrade.
• Mega Evolution — Introduced in Generation VI (Pokémon X and Y), Mega Evolution allowed certain Pokémon to temporarily transform into more powerful forms during battle. It was widely praised for adding strategic depth and visual excitement. The mechanic was phased out in Generation VIII in favor of Dynamax, which itself was later removed.
• The Underground / Grand Underground — The original Underground from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl let players dig for fossils and items while interacting with other players in a shared space. Its revival in the Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remakes as the Grand Underground was well-received. A fully reimagined version for a new generation could be a major draw.
• Pokémon Contests — A side activity introduced in Generation III, Contests asked players to show off their Pokémon’s style, beauty, and charm rather than battle strength. They offered a genuinely different way to engage with the game and have been largely absent from modern entries.
• A Robust Global Trading System — The original GTS allowed players to deposit Pokémon and request trades from trainers around the world. While trading still exists in modern Pokémon games, many fans feel the current implementation lacks the depth and accessibility of earlier systems.

A Look at Where These Features Appeared

What a Return Would Actually Mean for Players

This isn’t just nostalgia talking. Each of these features addressed a real gap in what Pokémon offers as a game experience. The Battle Frontier gave competitive players a reason to keep building teams and refining strategies long after the main story ended. Mega Evolution made certain Pokémon feel truly special in a way that temporary gimmicks haven’t replicated.

Contests and Underground exploration gave players who weren’t focused on battling something meaningful to do — a secondary experience that respected their time and rewarded creativity. A stronger GTS would make the entire ecosystem of trading and collecting feel alive again rather than transactional and limited.

Bringing even two or three of these back in a polished, modernized form would send a clear message that Game Freak is listening to its longtime fanbase while still pushing the series forward.

What Gen 10 Needs to Get Right

The challenge for any new Pokémon generation isn’t just adding features — it’s integrating them in a way that feels intentional rather than checklist-driven. Fans don’t just want the Battle Frontier back; they want it built for the hardware and the world the new game creates. They don’t just want Mega Evolution returned; they want it to feel earned within the story and setting.

If Pokémon Winds & Waves is indeed the next mainline entry, Game Freak has a genuine opportunity to bring back the depth that made older generations feel so enduring — without abandoning what’s new. That balance is hard to strike. But it’s exactly what the series needs right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Pokémon Winds & Waves been officially confirmed by Nintendo or Game Freak?
As of the time of writing, this has not been officially confirmed by Nintendo or Game Freak. The title is being discussed as a rumored or anticipated Gen 10 entry.

Will Mega Evolution return in Generation 10?
This has not yet been confirmed. Mega Evolution has been absent from mainline titles since Generation VII, and its return would depend entirely on Game Freak’s design decisions for the new games.

What replaced the Battle Frontier in recent Pokémon games?
Recent titles have included simpler battle facilities such as the Battle Tower, which many fans consider a less feature-rich alternative to the original Battle Frontier’s multiple challenge formats.

Are Pokémon Contests completely gone from the series?
Contests last appeared in a mainline context in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (2014) and have not featured in recent entries. They are not confirmed for any upcoming titles.

Can players still use the GTS to trade Pokémon online?
Online trading still exists in recent Pokémon games, but many fans argue the current system lacks the depth and global accessibility of the original GTS introduced in Generation IV.

When might more information about Gen 10 Pokémon games be announced?
No official announcement timeline has been confirmed. Pokémon game reveals typically come through official Nintendo Directs or dedicated Pokémon Presents presentations.