the pokemon formula has been going flat, but at the same time, it's not like it's selling badly either. it's a case of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. and i can't say that i've ever played a main pokemon game and not had a good time. i might have had some grievances with some games and rank them lower than other games in the series, but i don't think any main pokemon games are inherently bad either. that's of course my own opinion. but they're still selling, they're still making money, and they're still overall a very successful line of games. something dramatic would have to happen in order for them to really rehaul what's already working for them. although i will agree that i wish the release schedule would slow down. it feels so strange that 7th generation is near its end and i don't think we had enough time to fully appreciate the generation. 6th generation went by especially fast, i believe. and i don't think they even let 6th gen reach its full potential by not releasing a third version of the kalos region, or at least some sort of follow up. it's almost like they wanted to hurry up and move on.
as for the digimon comparison, i'm with fairy. like. i fail to see how that even needs to be brought up? i don't see digimon getting the numbers and such that pokemon garners, but i don't consider them so much in 'pokemon's shadow' like they seemed to be in the late 90's/early 00's. they've very much distinguished themselves from it. that's like saying all games with a familiars system are in pokemon's shadow and i don't think that's true by any stretch of the means.