Nearly 20 years on, this underrated Pokémon game deserves a revival

On this day 19 years ago, the first Pokémon Ranger game launched in Japan for the Nintendo DS. The title launched a three-game spin-off series that gave us the chance to experience life in the Pokémon universe as someone other than a battle-hungry trainer, and I think it should make a return for the Nintendo Switch 2. Game Freak originally introduced the Ranger trainer class in the gen 3 Pokémon games as battlers concerned with protecting wild Pokémon and making sure travelers don’t get lost in the wilderness. The Pokémon Ranger series expanded their role in the Pokémon world significantly, opening up a whole new way to play. Instead of catching creatures in Pokéballs, Rangers use the Capture Styler to calm and befriend wild Pokémon, working alongside them to help citizens, solve environmental issues, and even catch members of evil teams like the Go-Rock Squad. In the past, Pokémon has suffered unfounded backlash from animal rights groups for its capturing and battling mechanics, with PETA accusing the series of promoting “thinly veiled animal abuse” and launching a parody browser game in 2012. The Pokémon Ranger games are the perfect counter to this argument, as they’re all about working alongside the native Pokémon of the area, rather than catching them and fighting them for sport. After the success of games like Undertale, which actively promotes and rewards more mindful and non-violent solutions to problems, the spin-off series has a chance to thrive again. Continue reading Nearly 20 years on, this underrated Pokémon game deserves a revival MORE FROM POCKET TACTICS: Pokédex - all Pokémon listed, Pokémon Go codes, Pokémon Go Eevee evolutions

Mar 23, 2025 - 18:49

Nearly 20 years on, this underrated Pokémon game deserves a revival

On this day 19 years ago, the first Pokémon Ranger game launched in Japan for the Nintendo DS. The title launched a three-game spin-off series that gave us the chance to experience life in the Pokémon universe as someone other than a battle-hungry trainer, and I think it should make a return for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Game Freak originally introduced the Ranger trainer class in the gen 3 Pokémon games as battlers concerned with protecting wild Pokémon and making sure travelers don’t get lost in the wilderness. The Pokémon Ranger series expanded their role in the Pokémon world significantly, opening up a whole new way to play. Instead of catching creatures in Pokéballs, Rangers use the Capture Styler to calm and befriend wild Pokémon, working alongside them to help citizens, solve environmental issues, and even catch members of evil teams like the Go-Rock Squad.

In the past, Pokémon has suffered unfounded backlash from animal rights groups for its capturing and battling mechanics, with PETA accusing the series of promoting “thinly veiled animal abuse” and launching a parody browser game in 2012. The Pokémon Ranger games are the perfect counter to this argument, as they’re all about working alongside the native Pokémon of the area, rather than catching them and fighting them for sport. After the success of games like Undertale, which actively promotes and rewards more mindful and non-violent solutions to problems, the spin-off series has a chance to thrive again.

Continue reading Nearly 20 years on, this underrated Pokémon game deserves a revival

MORE FROM POCKET TACTICS: Pokédex - all Pokémon listed, Pokémon Go codes, Pokémon Go Eevee evolutions