Nintendo ‘champions’ numerous changes to game mechanics for Pokemon gamers

photo from Nintendo Blast

After years of waiting for another addition to the Pokemon series, its parent company has added a title built for Nintendo’s brand new Switch 2 and IOS, Pokemon Champions. Champions join the cast of many popular Pokemon games for the Switch 2 such as Pokemon Legends Z-A and Pokopia, although it’s very different and caters toward the battling aspect of Pokemon rather than the traditional adventure and story games. Pokemon Champions has the keys and resources to become a massively successful game, but with any new Pokemon game release, there are always bugs and glitches that either help, or hurt this new competitive release.

The Pokemon Company usually likes to put time, resources, and money into new generations with more pokemon and more action packed storylines that fill Pokemon fans everywhere with joy and excitement. However, in recent years, they’ve started to cater into nicher groups of Pokemon fans that only enjoy certain aspects of the games. Pokopia dropped earlier this year and was a massive selling point for people who loved the building and also friendship that are between a trainer and their pokemon; another game such as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has heavy storylines and added to the lore for many people who want to play an open world game that still has a bit of storyline and an infinite number of possibilities to explore.

Pokemon Champions is vastly different from what pokemon has released in the past. A true competitive game that allows trainers to battle competitively online and receive ranks and rewards because of their skills breaks new ground. Competitive Pokemon is greatly increasing and the amount of people who love battling is a major portion of a growing fan base. Pokemon Champions allows plates worldwide to craft any team they desire, and they are held in a battle simulator sort of fashion. The original Pokemon battling mechanics stay the same and allow for fun and new competitive playstyles to shine like the infamous “Trick Room” or “Rain Dance” teams that allow weaker pokemon to shine in battle. There are no gyms, no dialogue, and no storyline, just pure battling, and the goal to become the strongest trainer worldwide.

The format of battling is what really makes Pokemon Champions shine, as players are able to battle their friends, or someone completely random. The game helps newer players also develop their own style of competitive play and aims to get more Pokemon fans into battling. The addition of Pokemon HOME integration is also a massive improvement than what fans have seen in past games. Pokemon HOME allows for players to take their teams from all different Pokemon games they’ve played and transport them into Pokemon Champions, which has become a huge selling point, because fans get to use every pokemon they’ve caught and battled with in the main games. With the addition of Pokemon HOME, fans also get to use any "gimmick" in the game such as Mega-Evolution, Dynamax, and Terastalization which give different pokemon different buffs to their stats, or complete changes in typing, allowing for a more competitive environment.  

The additions made to these games are all what fans in the past have wanted for decades. Easier ways to level up pokemon, a central hub for all battling, and long-term support to faster competitive access all are positives that the community has been needing. Additionally, adding cross-platform to the game make Pokemon Champions one of the views Switch 2 games that allow for cross-platform gameplay, allowing for IOS, Xbox, Playstation and Switch to all battle together

Although Pokemon Champions exceeds many fans' expectations, there are a few noticeable problems with the game, mainly early bugs and glitches that allow for an unfair advantage to players who abuse them. Also, there is a pay to win system as players who spend more get more in-game items that can be used in battle and overall create an unfair playing field for players who don’t want to spend money on their teams.

Overall, Pokemon Champions has created a new central hub for all competitive pokemon players worldwide. Giving fans almost everything they wanted for the past decades is a breath of fresh air, and has become Nintendo's most played games this month, racking up millions of players a day. Pokemon Champions is a great beginning to a new era of Pokemon battles for players now, and in the future.

Grade: A

Pokemon Champions delivers on many notes, and challenges all to climb the ranks, and be the very best!

by Logan Auxier

Published May 26, 2026

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue VIII