Pokémon Legends: Arceus ended on a somewhat questionable note, with a sequel not yet out of the question for fans of the free-roaming Pokémon title. After the player character accomplishes the goals set out for them by Arceus, the Galaxy Expedition Team, and the Diamond and Pearl Clans, players still don't return home or receive a meaningful conclusion to their journey. Unlike traditional Pokémon games where players become the Champion and continue catching different monsters and completing their Pokédex, Legends: Arceus has a unique position in the traditional series. With no Pokémon League and seemingly no way home, Nintendo may not be finished with the prequel series yet.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes place in Ancient Sinnoh, known at the time as Hisui, shortly after the player protagonist falls from the sky. Arceus has commanded them to meet every Pokémon and equipped them with an Arc Phone to navigate the new world. Discovered by the Galaxy Expedition Team's Professor Laventon, Akari or Rei (depending on the gender chosen) is brought back to Jubilife Village and offered a place in the Survey Corps to earn their keep. Along the way, players must assist the Diamond and Pearl Clans in calming their Noble Pokémon and discover the purpose behind the wormhole above Mount Coronet. Unfortunately, while it takes some time to complete these tasks, the game's ending doesn't provide the same satisfaction as the rest of the journey.
There are multiple endings to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, corresponding with the main story and the quest given to players by Arceus at the game's start. The main boss is Volo, who has manipulated the player character into collecting all the available Plates across Hisui to summon the true Arceus. Unfortunately, he miscalculates and calls Giratina instead, sparking a difficult battle reminiscent of Cynthia's Champion battle in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Once players defeat him and capture every Pokémon in Legends: Arceus, players can finally meet Arceus and capture the legendary monster. However, players aren't sent back to their time and are left with more questions than answers, possibly hinting at a Pokémon Legends sequel.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Doesn't Return The Player Home
The biggest hint that Nintendo may create a Pokémon Legends: Arceus sequel is that the player character doesn't return home. While this may be because of the series' inherent mechanics and the traditional style of Pokémon endgames, it's a large plot hole to leave unsolved. Throughout the game, citizens in Jubilife Village and the Galaxy Expedition Team members bring up the player's strange origins, but nothing of note ever comes from them. Assuming Nintendo and Game Freak intend to make something with this storyline, it's possible the protagonist didn't return home because their work is unfinished. Arceus is not the only legendary Pokémon capable of time-traveling powers, and it's not the only legendary capable of speech. If Nintendo wanted to create a Pokémon Legends series, Legends: Arceus created an opportunity to do so with the same character.
Other Pokémon Ancestors & Time Travelers Are Present
The existence of familiar characters in Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Jubilife Village serves as a callback and a method to maintain lore and familiarity. Characters like Commander Kamado and Captain Cyllene are the ancestors of Professor Rowan and Galactic Boss Cyrus, respectively. However, these connections are never addressed by the player character and fail to influence world events much. Other characters like the original Diamond and Pearl Clan founders also represent characters (Magma Boss Maxie and Aqua Boss Archie), suggesting the game is creating links to other regions for a purpose. Since Hisui features Pokémon from all over the world, and takes character inspiration from many different characters, other regions could likely appear in their own Pokémon Legends game.
A particular Pokémon Legends: Arceus Warden proves Game Freak has already taken another established character and taken them to the past. Warden Ingo, Pearl Clan's Warden for Noble Sneasler, is the same Ingo that appears in Pokémon Black and White in the Subway Battles. It's unknown how much memory the player character maintains, but Ingo has also fallen from the sky and lost his memory. His usage of train-based lingo and time-traveling accomplishment proves that Game Freak could introduce other regions through similar methods. Unfortunately, Ingo's story is never resolved, as the man's separation from his beloved Pokémon and brother never ends during the game, nor does he ever retrieve his memory. With Ingo still stranded in Hisui and the origins of other regions free to explore, Pokémon Legends could likely become a fully-fledged series that ends with all displaced characters returning to their times.
Volo Doesn't Reappear In Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Volo is the twist villain at the game's end, having posed as a friendly Ginkgo Merchant for most of the game. After players collect the Plates, it's revealed that Volo is obsessed with discovering Arceus' true identity and attempts to summon the divine being. Instead, Volo summons Giratina and launches players into an intense battle. After defeating Volo and retrieving the final Plate, the game's main villain vanishes. While it's similar to the departure of other team bosses in Pokémon games, the game's lack of clarity with Volo is worrying. Assuming Volo hasn't abandoned his dream of catching Arceus or locating the truest source of power in the world, that could allow Nintendo and Game Freak to use Volo in other games.
Since there's a clear possibility for a Pokémon Legends series to explore other regions, Game Freak can also use Volo as a villain in future titles or make the character a member of a fanatic organization. It's unlikely for Pokémon Legends: Arceus to receive a direct sequel in Hisui, since repeating the same region in the same timeline would be incredibly dull. However, the same gameplay formula as Legends: Arceus could be adapted for regions like Hoenn, Unova, or Kanto. The issue with creating a direct sequel, despite its villain's unfinished story, is the restrictions introduced with the Hisui region. A sequel could provide a meaningful adventure if a Pokémon Legends franchise focused on developing regions and creating settlements. Unfortunately, restricting players to the same collection of species isn't the best path forwards.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is very different from traditional Pokémon games, but is part of the main series and could provide a starting point for the franchise's next steps. While it's unlike for fans to return to the Hisui region in a direct sequel, there are opportunities for Nintendo and Game Freak to continue the Pokémon Legends series in other regions. Additionally, it's unknown whether Pokémon Legends: Arceus will receive DLC that could tie up loose ends from the story. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is now available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.