Thanks to a recent data leak, we now know a significant number of details relating to upcoming Pokémon titles, including the potential names of the next mainline titles, and even the design of the next region. Specifically, we know which real-world country is likely the inspiration for the next generation of Pokémon games. Worry not, you’ll read no spoilers here… Except for one.

Alas, it is not based on Canada. I’m sure you are tremendously surprised. 

From the start of the Pokémon franchise, it has been tradition for Game Freak to base the regions we explore, on real-world locations. The first and second generations started small, based merely on regions within Japan, namely the Kanto and Kansai regions inspiring Pokémon’s Kanto and Johto regions respectively. Over time, Game Freak’s scope would broaden, and soon entire countries were informing the design of new regions, such as Pokémon X/Y’s clear French inspiration, and Pokémon Sun/Moon’s Alola regionbeing a clear parallel to Hawaii. 

Nowadays, half the fun of a new announcement is learning which country is the inspiration for the new region. 

Yet as we approach the tenth generation of Pokémon titles, nary a single one has chosen the land of the maple leaf as a muse for their region… As a Canadian myself, I am devastated.

Of course I am joking, but I truly do think my homeland would make an excellent setting for a Pokémon title. 

I think there are three core aspects of a new region that draw direct inspiration from the real-world location it is based upon. First is distinct subregions that are clearly inspired by the varied environment of the host country. Second is the design of the gym leaders, which generally draw inspiration from the culture of the nation that inhabit the real-world country. Third are the Pokémon themselves, which are generally based on the animals of that country, as well as inspired by their mythology. In all three of these areas, I believe Canada could provide ample inspiration.

The region itself could be broken into a number of different sub-regions all based on separate parts of Canada, with tremendous variety. Canada is a massive country with tremendously distinct environments, and this is very easy to translate to a video game. The brutal winters that come to mind when one thinks of Canada, could certainly be represented in an area based on our arctic north, constituting the territories of Nunavut and Northwest Territories. Vancouver, Victoria, and the west coast would make an excellent location for a subregion based around metropolitan culture and industry. The Rocky Mountains would certainly be a primary focus of the region, home to rock and fire-type trainers of course. What about our beautiful prairies, or the areas around Montreal? A mighty city based on Toronto? The options are endless.

Inventing a compelling roster of gym leaders based on Canadian culture would almost be trivially easy. There’s no doubt in my mind we’d get a gym leader who moonlights as a professional hockey player, fielding a team consisting of ice and fighting-type Pokémon. The gym leader in the Rocky Mountains area would assuredly be based on a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or a “Mountie” as we have nicknamed them. What about a gym leader based on our French-speaking Quebecois population, or representing our Maritimes fisheries? Of course, a new trainer type based on an Albertan oil rigger is a must as well. 

This would also present Game Freak and Nintendo a fantastic opportunity for some Indigenous representation in their games. While it would require careful and patient consultation with Indigenous elders and consultants, as a Métis descendant myself, it would be really special to see a gym leader, or perhaps even a full subregion, that paid homage to the history of our First Peoples. If the developers did it correctly, respectfully, and responsibly, it could be a truly special moment.

More important than the lands we explore or the gym leaders that we meet, are of course, the Pokémon themselves. There is a lot in Canada that would make excellent fodder for a new monster, to the point that I had to limit myself to just a handful of ideas. 

Every new Pokémon generation has a new bird evolutionary line, and how perfect would it be to have one based on the Canada Goose? These fearsome beasts are already basically monsters, so it isn’t much of a stretch. They also have a memorable appearance and colour pattern that would be very easy to adapt into a Pokémon design, which could be just as fierce as they are in real life. 

Can you believe that after the creation of over a thousand Pokémon, we still don’t have one based on a moose? That blew my mind when I realized it. Plenty of deer-based Pokémon like Stantler and Swasbuck, but none based on the mighty moose. Of course, this would be immediately remedied in a Pokémon game based on Canada, a moose Pokémon would be a given. Still, I can’t believe it hasn’t been done yet. 

Certainly we’d get a maple leaf-themed Pokémon, and although I generally don’t enjoy enjoy the Pokémon like Hitmonchan and Conkeldurr that incorporate real-world objects into their design, I feel as though a hockey player-based Pokémon wielding a hockey stick is a given. Then of course, once again with careful consultation, there is a rich tapestry of Indigenous myth that could serve as inspiration for the creation of new creatures. I’ve yet to mention the greatest idea of all though…

…A new regional form for Ditto, where he is a glob of maple syrup. Genius. 

There is no doubt in my mind that Canada would be a fantastic location for a new Pokémon title. The vast and varied terrain provide plenty of opportunities and choices for building the new region’s topography. Our unique culture gives a lot to work with when designing gym leaders and important NPCs. The Pokémon themselves have no end of inspirations, from the Canada goose to the mighty Moose. Canada might be the last place you think of for a new Pokémon game, but it would be a fantastic choice. 

There is also no doubt that your rival would end every sentence with “Eh.”

How do you feel about my crazy idea? Could the land of the greatest hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers, truly play host to a Pokémon region? Or is there somewhere else you’d rather see imitated first? Let us know in the comments below!