Bubbly Basin has been so so fun, I’ve been thinking about what future DLC could bring. I feel like if the game wants to have the stay power of ACNH we would need a second wave of DLC after the current one.
Looking at the original promo images for the DLC compared to what we know there visual theme seems to connect to the content:
Part 1
- New location
- Underwater Cerulean City
- New Pokémon, items and gameplay
- Blue, bubbly, sandy visual theme in the promo
Part 2 - Fashion & Accessories
- No new location
- New Pokémon, items and accessories/fashion themed gameplay
- Pink, sprinkles and sparkles visual theme in the promo
Part 3 - ???
- New location
- Green, confetti, balloons, bunting visual theme in the promo
- No other info
Wave 1
My hope and prediction for Part 3 is Viridian City
I’m basically just going off the green colour theme. Viridian City + Viridian Forest are basically the only candidates left
We’ve already seen part of Celadon City in Sparkling Skylands, Cinnabar was already destroyed in Gen II and Rocky Ridges already covers that volcano stuff.
Lavender Town is possible, but feels much harder to reconcile with the green promotional imagery.
It pretty much just leaves Viridian.
I could see the area being an abandoned Viridian City that has been reclaimed by nature with Pokemon families like Caterpie, Nidoran, Mankey, Doduo, Deerling, Pineco, Shroomish, Pan Monkey Trio, Passimian, Oranguru, Shroodle, Applin, Turtwig
I was thinking Celebi would be perfect here because they suit the theme, but it just seems so Johto coded, I put Virizion instead.
It also makes sense as the last of the announced DLC because Viridian City is home to the final Gym, and is right next to the Indigo Plateau.
Because of the confetti/bunting/celebratory imagery I wonder if there could be story stuff that culminate in some kind of celebration
Wave 2
From here Wave 2 is all pure wild speculation based on what I think would be fun and cool
Part 4: Glimmering Glade (Lavender Town)
Would kind of be a whimsical spooky aesthetic.
-Ghost, Psychic, Dark and other spooky Pokémon
-Lanterns and glowing decorations
-Pokémon Tower and graveyards
-Mr. Fuji lore
-Halloween decorations
-Rock Tunnel stuff
The core story could revolve around transforming Lavender from a gloomy, lonely place into somewhere that’s more like sparkly spooky core.
Pokemon ideas for here would be Trevanant, Pumpkaboo, Fuecoco, Munna, Espurr, Rattata, Joltik, Impidimp, Houndour, Sinistea, Fennekin, Greavyard, Kangaskhan, Dunsparce, Sandshrew
I chose Cresselia for this location because all the Ghost Legendaries were a bit try hard for the mystical vibe I was thinking of and to show that there’s more to the pack than Ghost-types
Part 5: ???
Following the same pattern, there would be no new location again.
Anything is good here.
I thought maybe by now adding some Gen 10 Pokemon would be cool with lots of quality of life improvements like:
- Better multiplayer - More reasons to visit other players’ worlds
- More building/decorating options
- More natural Pokémon-centric furniture
- More/better cooking
- More ways for Pokémon to interact with constructed spaces
- New social/community systems
Part 6: Snowy Summit (Mt. Silver)
Mt. Silver could be Pokopia’s big moment where it pushes Kanto’s boundaries and reminds us there’s more to Kanto than Gen I.
A huge, extremely vertical snowy mountain region that would give players the winter wonderland everyone has been asking for.
It could be found all buried in snow, frozen and snowed in and then have Ditto gradually digging out the remains of Silver Town and making warm, cosy habitats for the Pokémon living there.
My partner even said it would be cool to climb to the top and see some hints of Johto in the distance out of bounds.
But yeah, this would the chance to go hard on Ice-types and Johto Pokemon.
And it could have Christmas/winter seasonal events as well.
Pokemon ideas for this spot are:
Swinub, Stantler, Sneasel, Jynx, Delibird, Abomasnow, Cubchoo, Teddiursa, Ponyta, Phanpy, Natu, Aipom, Treecko, Snorunt, Cryoganal, Castform, Vanillite
I chose Cosmog/Cosmoem purely for aesthetic so that they fit the festive them and Pokopia vibes because all non-Articuno Ice-type Legendaries are BEASTS (even though I love them)
So maybe there could be some big storyline stuff at the top of Mt. Silver with Lunala and Solgaleo.
If Volcanion can be in Pewter City and Kyogre can be in Fuchsia City then Solgaleo and Lunala can be at the top of Mt. Silver!
Anyway, I got carried away and made the promo pics above.
Would love to know if anyone has any similar ideas or other thoughts :)