Australia Could Be the Perfect Setting for a New Pokemon Game

As Pokemon continues expanding, it seems like it’s only a matter of time until Australia is used as inspiration for a new in-game region.

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As the releases of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends Arceus grow closer and closer, the excitement for new Pokemon titles continues to grow. Fans are excited to revisit the Sinnoh region with the DS remakes and there’s plenty of mystery and wonder surrounding the world and mechanics of the Hisui region in Pokemon Legends Arceus. Once all three games release, however, many fans will be looking to the future of the franchise and where future installments will be set. While each continent featured in the mainline Pokemon games are fictional, they all look to real-world locations for their inspiration and it seems like the next title has a perfect setting ready to be used: Australia.

Pokemon has highlighted plenty of different countries and regions over the years. From Hawaii in Pokemon Sun and Moon to France in Pokemon X and Y, each new entry serves as a chance for Game Freak to highlight the culture and environments of some of the most beautiful places on Earth. Australia seems to be made for Pokemon and would be an excellent choice for the next mainline entry to be adapted from and set in.

Australia’s Wildlife Makes for Perfect Pokemon

Perhaps the easiest argument for an Australian-set Pokemon title is the fact that the country has such a diverse population of animal species, many of which are only found there. While some animals have already been adapted into Pokemon, like the Koala Pokemon, Komala, there are many more that make for excellent adaptations. The marsupial population alone seems like the perfect example of the potential that Australia has. The small and cute pademelon which could then transform into the massive red kangaroo. Obviously, some sort of Pokemon-ification would need to be done to make them fit into the fiction, but it seems like there’s already groundwork that’s been laid for evolution types.

There are so many unique mammals in Australia that seem to be begging for Pokemon interpretation. Some have already been given the Pokemon treatment like the aforementioned Komala while others simply share some features with currently existing Pokemon. For example, while Kangaskhan is a pouch-like kangaroo, the Pokemon itself bears little resemblance other than the “kang” in its name. Wombats, dingos, echidnas, Tasmanian devils, and possums would all make for interesting Pokemon that could have unique evolution lines. What’s more, Australia’s bat population is huge and could inspire plenty of different bat Pokemon outside of the classic Zubat and Woobat evolution lines.

While mammals certainly make for good Pokemon inspiration, Australia’s reptile and amphibian population could spawn plenty of new poison-type Pokemon. Australia is also known for its giant insects which could similarly serve the franchise by adding a lot of new bug-types as well with bugs like the golden orb-weaving spider and the giant Gippsland earthworm being two easy adaptations.

Recent Pokemon games have also started introducing regional variants of different older monsters, and there’s a lot of potential for that sort of thing in Australia. Totodile and its evolutionary line could have a “salt-water” variance that turns them into much bigger, more aggressive monsters, just like salt-water crocodiles. Corsola recently received a regional variance with the Galarian version debuting in Pokemon Sword and Shield, but it could get another based on the diverse species of coral that exist in the Coral Sea off the northeastern Australian coast.

Australia’s Diverse Cities and Environments

The Pokemon games often get a little bit of criticism due to how close together many of the regions’ biomes are. All too often, the desert is just a short walk from the rainforest which is in turn right next to snowy mountains. While that isn’t exactly the case in Australia, it isn’t too far off either. Many people misjudge the sheer size of the country. Despite being shrunk down for many flat maps, Australia is actually roughly the size of the continental United States and has a truly diverse range of ecosystems. Northern coasts are rainforest estuaries, southern mountains get snow year-round, and the central desert provides plenty of open space. Additionally, the island state Tasmania could feature its own exclusive regional Pokemon as it has its own unique set of wildlife.

Many major cities in Australia are spread out which results in each having its own unique feel and environment. Cairnes is a small ocean town that spends much of the year in its rainy season, while Melbourne and Sydney feature plenty of pristine architecture as they’re both more metropolitan areas in comparison. Hobart gets quite cold in the winter as a result of its southern location. Darwin sits on the coast at the edge of the harsh Australian deserts while Perth has a much more temperate climate resulting in the city’s diverse animal population.

Australia’s Culture and History

Paired hand-in-hand with its many cities, Australia’s culture and history are rich. The Aboriginal Australian culture is one of the oldest on the entire planet and there are so many different subcultures within the broader Aboriginal brush. There are plenty of legends and stories that Pokemon could be inspired by to create the lore around new legendary Pokemon. More recent Australian culture has made an impact in the West with personalities and characters like Steve Irwin and Crocodile Dundee. These large personalities and cultural touchstones could influence characters or even the various Pokemon gym leaders that would be found across the region.

There’s plenty that Game Freak could pull from Australia in terms of inspiration for a future title. While it’s likely going to be quite some time before a new mainline Pokemon game is announced, it’s still interesting to think about where the Pokemon Company could take the franchise next.

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