Of all the Pokémon spinoff series, Pokémon Pinball is long overdue for a new entry. Pokémon has a plethora of side games that have accumulated over the decades, some of which have seen consistent upkeep. Others only see resurgence very rarely, while others still have seemingly been forgotten.
Pokémon Pinball is one such spinoff series. The first title, named simply Pokémon Pinball, is a 1999 Game Boy Color game that adds a Pokémon collection element to the traditional arcade game of pinball. It received a sequel in 2003 for Game Boy Advance called Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, bringing in new Pokémon from the then-newest Ruby and Sapphire Versions.
It’s been 19 years since a Pokémon Pinball game was made, and the spin-off series as a whole is 23. Pokémon Snap is another 1999 spin-off game that received a sequel 22 years later with New Pokémon Snap. New Pokémon Snap’s quality and subsequent success has given other Pokémon spin-off series that haven’t received recent attention hope for revivals. Pokémon Pinball might not have the same demand behind it as Pokémon Snap did, but it’s still a well-enjoyed classic with a lot of potential even in the current day gaming market. The pinball gameplay can naturally be enjoyed for both long stretches of time and in shorter intervals. This makes a Pokémon Pinball game perfect for the portable and home hybrid Nintendo Switch console. It also lends itself well to a mobile format, which is in line with what other Pokémon spin-off games have already been working towards.
A New Pokémon Pinball Would Be Perfect On Console & Mobile Devices
Pokémon Battle Trozei, the 2014 Nintendo 3DS sequel to the 2005 Japanese and 2006 international Nintendo DS game, Pokémon Trozei, was used as a basis for the mobile game Pokémon Shuffle in 2015. 12 million players enjoy Pokémon Café ReMix, originally released in 2020, which was also made both for mobile and Nintendo Switch. A new Pokémon Pinball game would be perfect for a simultaneous Nintendo Switch and mobile release so players can use whichever they’re most comfortable with and have the game reach a larger audience.
As long as micro transactions are kept to a minimum - and there’s a fair way to get any necessary in-game currency or items to play and progress - a Switch and mobile Pokémon Pinball game would be a very effective way to bring back the series. It also provides a way to keep the series relevant through free updates and even events like in Pokémon Cafe ReMix. A newer Pokémon Pinball game wouldn’t need to be developed anytime soon if the mobile release were to receive consistent updates, making it a great choice for fans of the original spinoffs and newcomers alike.