Want to get back into Pokemon after a couple years but need help

[MrWhippasnappa]

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Back in 6th grade a couple years back, I loved Pokemon. I had a DS Lite and played Pokemon all the time.

I still do love the world of Pokemon and I've started watching some Pokemon channels recently. Watching these channels makes me want to get into a Pokemon game, like really into one. Y'know shiny hunting, breeding, battling, and just overall diving into a game and spending tens of hours exploring the region and creating tons of great teams and building bonds with my Pokemon.

This would be the first time I did this with a Pokemon game as normally I just beat the champion and move on but this time, I really want to absorb the region.

So what's the issue?

Well, i've tried to play the Pokemon games I have right now but haven't been able to get past the first gym in any of them because I get bored. I'll chalk this up to a slow start and already having beaten the games I have.

I'll list off all the Pokemon games I have so you guys won't say those but I would LOVE if you would give me the Pokemon game with the most content, preferably cheaper, and just overall being good for shiny hunting, fun to 100% the Pokedex, and having a good post-game. Having online play would also be a nice plus.

I would prefer playing games that either have an entirely new region or reinvent the region majorly, although remakes or original versions of games i've already played should hopefully be fine

Here are all the Pokemon games I have and have beaten (Not interested in playing again):

- Pokemon FireRed
- Pokemon Emerald
- Pokemon Sapphire
- Pokemon Diamond
- Pokemon White
- Pokemon Moon
- Pokemon Shield

Please give me recommendations on what Pokemon game to play next! I really want to get back into this franchise because I love the world and idea of playing them again!

 

[Squirtlenator]

I would recommend either Heart Gold/Soul Silver or Black 2/White 2. Also, to up the challenge: don't use healing items in gym battles, select 'set' for battle options, and only use the same number of mons as the gym leader i.e. 1 v 1 or 2 v 2

 

[Sheep]

HeartGold/SoulSilver are great options imo, and typically very loved by fans. Lots of content with the Kanto region post game, and a lot more to do overall compared to the original Gold and Silver. Downside is you did say something cheaper and from what I know these games still sell for a lot (as do most old Pokémon games even now), and WiFi serves for anything below gen 6 was discontinued a while ago. For online your main options would be XY, ORAS, and Sword and Shield. Since you played Shield, maybe (on top of HGSS, which I still recommend), give XY a try? They're not the best story or content-wise but they're an interesting experience with the new region, without being a remake of a game you're already familiar with like ORAS.

 

[Valroxen]

Black2/White2 easily. It provides some familiarity from White but adds so much new stuff, different team options and stuff that it'll feel like a new experience! Its also got the most post game content out of any game and it'll be really enjoyable!

 

[Meister_anon~Master_o f_None]

If you don't mind playing on emulator I recommend checking out the romhack pokemon blaze black, or volt white.
Its the same game with a good amount of qol improvements, different pokemon locations, different gym battles, different learn sets and pokemon base stats.

If you want something familiar but knew I'd say this is the game for you.


p.s. there's also a sequel by the same person so you can try black 2 or white 2, in blaze black 2 or volt white 2, I've heard good things but I've only played the first as of yet.

 

[Sydian]

if you're getting bored that early on, i think you might have better luck playing a suited up hack, like blaze black or polished crystal. they're harder than the base games, but if you don't want to mess with emulators (which is completely understandable), then i recommend platinum, black 2/white 2. it also looks like you haven't played XY, so i'll toss those in, not because they pose much challenge, but because it would be a new region for you to explore and there are a lot of good quality of life additions that were in XY that make the game enjoyable, as well as a vast regional dex that gives you a lot to choose from for your team.

if you're looking to play casually, but also give yourself a challenge and make the games a little more difficult, i suggest playing in set rather than switch, using no items in battle (held are fine, unless you want to go the extra mile and also exclude them), matching your team against the next gym/boss battle by not overlevelling and/or not exceeding the amount of pokemon they have. if this all appeals to you, or if you want more ideas, i highly recommend checking out the challenges forum. there are fun challenges and other ways to play the game that can liven things up, and i'd even suggest revisiting a game you've already played while doing a challenge because it will make you think differently about how you play.

i personally went through a bit of a pokemon drought up until summer of last year when i started implementing more of these small self-imposed rules. i did challenges a lot already, but including playing in set and not using items in battle made me kind of change how i play the games and i've replayed countless games since summer last year because of it aha. it really helped me, so i'm hoping it can do the same for you. would love to know what you choose to do. best of luck, friend!