Pokemon Winds and Pokemon Waves won’t release until 2027, but their reveal trailer has already offered clues about Generation 10’s Pokedex. One widely shared tally seemingly confirmed by Game Freak reaches 54 potential species: 45 returning Pokemon, including evolutionary relatives that weren’t individually shown, plus starters Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua and six hypothetical starter evolutions. A frame-by-frame count of Pokemon actually seen is considerably smaller, and the final regional Pokedex size remains unknown. Even with those caveats, the early lineup is revealing.
Instead of relying entirely on Kanto mainstays, the roster spans much of the franchise’s history and already looks at home in its surroundings. The games’ island setting has a vast ocean and lush inland habitats, making the choice of returning species especially interesting. If Pokemon Winds and Waves continues the recent trend toward selective regional Pokedexes, these early sightings may hint at how Game Freak wants its new world to feel.
Pokemon Winds and Waves Are Drawing From Across the Franchise’s History
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Image via The Pokemon Company -
Image via The Pokemon Company -
Image via The Pokemon Company
Take the distribution. In the 54-entry fan breakdown, Kanto contributes eight returning species, while Johto supplies seven and Hoenn nine. Unova has eight, and the spread reaches as far as Galar’s Sizzlipede family and Paldea’s Nymble line. The concentration around older generations is noticeable: 37 of those 45 projected returning species come from Generations 1 through 5. The two costumed Pikachu, Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu, also show how Game Freak can adapt a familiar favorite to the games’ themes without introducing an entirely new species. Generation 6 has no entry in this particular compilation. The list remains preliminary, and even the reveal’s illustrated storybook scenes have inspired speculation about Floette and Florges.
Put the consoles in the correct order.
What makes the lineup more interesting is how easily much of it fits the environment. Wailmer and Wailord make sense in open water; Krabby, Corsola, Finneon, and Frillish are natural candidates for a coastline or reef. Wingull and Pelipper can fill the skies above those shorelines, while Tropius, Oddish, Tangela, and Carnivine suit humid forests. Sandygast is an obvious fit for beaches, and Slugma could help populate warmer, rocky terrain. It would also make exploration more memorable if the Pokemon on each island reflected its particular environment instead of appearing in interchangeable groups everywhere. The differences between a reef and a jungle could be evident in what lives there. The Pokemon Company has specifically described the region as having unique ecosystems, and these sightings give that claim some weight.
It would make exploration more memorable if the Pokemon on each island reflected its particular environment instead of appearing in interchangeable groups everywhere.
That environmental focus also fits Game Freak’s approach since Pokemon Sword and Shield. In 2019, the studio moved away from making every existing Pokemon transferable into each new mainline adventure. Producer Junichi Masuda linked the decision to practical development pressures and the work involved in selecting creatures that suited Galar. Both Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet launched with regional Pokedexes of 400 species, expanding the selection later through additional content and updates. That history makes another curated lineup plausible in Winds and Waves.
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Image via The Pokemon Company -
Image via Nintendo -
Image via Nintendo
A curated Pokedex doesn’t automatically mean a small world. Familiar Pokemon can make their habitats feel distinctive when they are placed with care, and the mixture of returning generations suggests that Game Freak has plenty to draw from. The real test will be whether that sense of place extends beyond the carefully chosen moments in the announcement trailer. An appealing Pokedex should make players curious about exploring another island because the wildlife could be different there. That is a stronger incentive to roam than a long list of entries to tick off. Of course, I understand why fans want the return of a National Dex. A regional focus can strengthen a game’s identity, but that doesn’t soften the frustration of being unable to bring a longtime favorite along.
Pokedex Curation Could Make Its New Region Feel More Alive
I don’t need every species available on day one, but knowing that older partners have a route into a new game would make the compromise easier to accept. The reveal also leaves bigger questions unanswered, including how Pokemon Home will work, whether more creatures will become compatible after launch, and whether storybook cameos will translate into real encounters. A convincing regional ecosystem and a satisfying way to keep longstanding favorites don’t have to be mutually exclusive goals.
For now, the most revealing thing about Pokemon Winds and Waves may be how ordinary its returning Pokemon are. Wailord, Sandygast, Tropius, and Wingull aren’t all obvious headline-grabbers, yet each contributes something specific to the islands Game Freak wants players to explore. I would rather see familiar species placed thoughtfully in their habitats than have a huge Pokedex where so many feel interchangeable.
- Released
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2027
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
