After Pokemon Legends: Arceus came out and revolutionized the Pokemon formula in multiple ways, it started to become clear that the game was also going to be a financial success – enough to spawn its own spin-off series for every region in the franchise. There are a few regions that would make sense to explore before others in a new Pokemon Legends game, especially given the questions that went unanswered in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, such as everything about time travel involving Ingo and the main character or the fact that players can find Alder’s pictures in a village.

A Pokemon Legends Hoenn game would have plenty of material to work with, given the lore surrounding the Legendary Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza, as well as Regice, Regirock, and Registeel. The Hoenn region itself would be quite rich in terms of history and Pokemon species to look at for new evolutions or regional forms, and even with over one thousand critters now in existence, there are a few perfect fits for such a game.

Machop, Machoke, and Machamp

As three of the original 151 Pokemon, Machop and its evolutionary line often don’t get enough love in new games to ever justify using them over similar critters. A Pokemon Legends Hoenn game could leverage its focus on the split between land and bodies of water to justify making a regional form of Machop and its evolutions that is no longer a Fighting-type, but rather a Water-type Pokemon. Shifting the critter’s identity from that of a fighter to a swimmer and maybe even a lifeguard could be a great way to breathe new life into these creatures.

Sableye

Originating in Hoenn, Sableye could easily have a different form or evolution in a Pokemon Legends Hoenn game thanks to its having gemstone eyes and a penchant for precious stones. An evolution or different form of Sableye could revolve around other jewels, much like its Gen 6 Mega Evolution form. This pocket monster could be a Ground-type or even retain its original types, and it would be great if paired with a regional form of Carbink due to Sableye’s Gen 7 Pokedex entry mentioning it stalking the Rock/Fairy Pokemon.

Carbink

Following a regional form or evolution for Sableye, a Pokemon Legends Hoenn game could shed some light on one of Pokemon‘s unsolved mysteries – this time surrounding Carbink’s origins. Given the connection between Sableye, gemstones, and Carbink, the latter could easily have its own regional form that makes it look like a molten jewel inside of the region’s Mt. Chimney, taking its Fairy type away in favor of Fire. Such inclusion could even call for an accompanying regional form or evolution for Diancie, given the two species are closely related.

Dhelmise

Given the vastness of Hoenn’s seas, it wouldn’t be a stretch to think of a regional form or evolution for Dhelmise in a Pokemon Legends: Arceus sequel in the region. More importantly, Dhelmise could evolve into a full-blown ship Pokemon capable of carrying people on the sea, acting both as a way to take the original critter’s design to the next level and a story-heavy tool that also becomes the game’s Basculegion from Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Dreepy, Drakloak, and Dragapult

With a Pokedex entry stating that it was reborn into a Ghost-type Pokemon after a life spent in prehistoric seas, Dreepy would be a perfect inclusion in a Pokemon Legends Hoenn game. Considering that Gen 3’s Kyogre is essentially the source of water in the region, it’s not a stretch to think that a prehistoric version of Dreepy was instead a Water-type Pokemon living in Hoenn. Seeing how successful Dragapult was in Pokemon Gen 8, it would easily lend itself to a regional form that’s equally successful.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available for Nintendo Switch.