What are your favourite additions to the Pokémon games?

[Diamond 97]

Not necessarily an "addition" per se, but I was SO happy when Gen VII got rid of HMs. It made team building so much smoother, lots of "YAY I don't have to use a Flying-type!" and "YAY I don't have to give up this good move on my Pokemon to give it Strength or Rock Smash!". The only downside was I didn't like how the TMs for Surf and Waterfall weren't available until post-game.
While I will miss Mega Evolution, I'm happy that regional variants are sticking around for at least one more generation. Many of the Alola forms (Muk, Raichu, Ninetales) are in my opinion much better than the originals.

 

[Sheep]

• Removal of HMs
• Use Repel again prompt when yours expired
• Pokémon automatically going to the next box if your currently active one is full
• Abilities like Flame Body speeding up egg hatching
• Proper backgrounds in battles
• Regional variants
• Gender differences - though I wish there were more
• The addition of Mints, Bottlecaps, and other similar items
• EXP. Candies existing since I can now boost new Pokémon up in level much quicker

And a lot more. A lot of convenient features nowadays!

 

[Zeostar]

This is a very small quality of life feature that almost never gets mentioned.

I like that when we pick up TM's now, it specifies which one we obtained. In Gens 1 and 2, you had to go to the menu and find out what you just picked up based on the number.

 

[Devalue]

• Time-based things, like the Day/Night cycle, seasons, and weekly events. Gives you a reason to peek in at different times/days.
• The improved Experience Share. Levels some Pokemon with weak early stages much easier.
• Unlimited bag space. Did not enjoy the inventory management.

This is a very small quality of life feature that almost never gets mentioned.

I like that when we pick up TM's now, it specifies which one we obtained. In Gens 1 and 2, you had to go to the menu and find out what you just picked up based on the number.

Agrees on that. Played some Archipelago of Red/Blue. Receives a bunch of TMs with random numbers. Needs to use each one to see what it is. (Removed the limit on the bag, at least.)

 

[Corveone]

Well, even basic things like Abilities, and the Dark and Steel types were additions so there's plenty. I guess I'll focus on my favorite additions from Gen 6 onwards:

Fairy type
Poké Rides replacing HMs
Nature Mints
Mirror Herb
Terastallization
Consumable held items restored after battle
Unreal clock (real time clock was awful for those who could only play at a specific time of the day)
Legends-exclusive Effort Levels

 

[RadEmpoleon]

Just listing these off at random:

- character customization
- Shiny Charm
- hidden abilities
- Linking Cable for triggering trade evolutions without a second system
- allowing for multiple items to be registered with the Y button
- adding the "What Pokémon?" button in the GTS to look for a Pokémon that isn't registered in your dex
- raising the character limit for player and Pokémon names
- sorting items in the bag by name (though I wish it would sort new items alphabetically instead of appearing at the bottom)

 

[PoryKid575]

In descending order of significance:

- Removal of HMs
- Physical/Special Split
- Abilities
- Getting rid of the limit on the amount of items that can be in the bag
- The new types (Dark/Steel/Fairy)
- Prompt asking if you want to spray another repel
- Free-roaming Pokemon replacing random encounters
- EXP candies

 

[ReKoil]

Box access from anywhere.
Gen 8 and 9 have really spoiled me with it as whenever I play an older game it's the thing I miss the most.