Pokemon Winds and Waves Has a Brand New Version of Nurse Joy

Nurse Joy is getting a new look in Pokemon Winds and Waves, the highly anticipated mainline Gen 10 game coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027, breaking a tradition that has lasted for three full decades. The Pokemon Center will still be a feature in Pokemon Winds and Waves, but the smiling face behind the counter may be a lot different than what many longtime Pokemon fans may be expecting to see.

Nurse Joy is the name given to the enigmatic set of characters who staff Pokemon Centers in the anime, caring for Pokemon and healing them up from the damage they take in battle. While the similar set of characters in the games are generally referred to by more generic, official titles that include Pokemon Center lady, nurse, clerk, or receptionist, fans can’t help but connect the two, as their pink hair tied in looping dual ponytails and other physical features have mirrored each other from close to the beginning. Even some official merch including Pokemon Trading Card Game cards have displayed Nurse Joy’s image from the anime while labeling her as the Pokemon Center Lady.

Pokemon Winds and Waves Will Introduce 2 New “Special” Pikachu

The reveal of Pokemon Winds and Waves includes a look at two unique (and appropriately dressed) versions of series mascot Pikachu.

Nurse Joy Gets a Surprise Makeover for Pokemon Winds and Waves

Aside from Nurse Joy’s weird origin story, which officially marks her as several different, identical people who all share the same name and job, one of the most enigmatic things about her is how little she’s changed across Pokemon‘s 30-year history. That tradition is about to come to an end in a big way in Pokemon Winds and Waves, as the game’s first trailer shows her sporting a new look. As spotted by some keen-eyed fans, the player character can be seen dashing along a dirt path in one short snippet, with a building that serves as both a Pokemon Center and a Poke Mart in the background. Behind the Pokemon Center counter stands a pink-haired character wearing a white and red bucket hat and short-sleeved shirt, but she’s also got some noticeably different features than what fans expect to see from a Nurse Joy.

While they share the same color, this Pokemon Center staffer’s hair is tied in a single, thick side ponytail. Additionally, her traditionally blue eyes have been switched to brown, her face has a generally rounder and wider shape, and she has a somewhat darker skin tone than most Nurse Joys of the past. This could be due to Pokemon Winds and Waves‘ regional tropical Southeast Asian island setting, although Pokemon Sun and Moon‘s Alola was based on Hawaii and still featured Nurse Joys who fit her more traditional description. In general, fans seem to be reacting well to Nurse Joy’s new look, especially her darker complexion and broader physique, though there are some traditionalists who want to see the classic character design restored.

While Nurse Joy’s look has been pretty consistent throughout the franchise’s run, there have been some games with notable exceptions. Her sprite was obviously much less detailed in Pokemon Red and Blue, as the Game Boy’s visuals can’t really compare to more modern consoles and handhelds, but it was updated to look more like the anime version with the release of Pokemon Yellow. She also wore a variety of different nurse outfits in the early games before switching to a consistent pink and white color scheme from the Nintendo DS era through modern times, only switching to a red and white ball cap and Poke Ball t-shirt in Gen 9. Healing fainted Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus was done at base camps, not Pokemon Centers, because it is set in ancient Hisui, marking the first time in a major Pokemon game that Nurse Joy’s services weren’t even needed.

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Some fans have also pointed out that the Pokemon Centers themselves seem to be taking on an unconventional trend over the course of the last two generations. While Pokemon Centers have typically been located indoors, one of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet‘s features transformed them into outdoor kiosks, no longer requiring players to go through a transition animation every time they want to heal their Pokemon. The new trailer drop shows Pokemon Winds and Waves will also adhere to that new formula in at least one location, as both the Pokemon Center and Poke Mart appear in a sort of open-air market.