If there’s one thing Pokémon fans around the world can agree on, it’s that the mainline games really haven’t looked their best since they first made the jump to Nintendo Switch with Pokémon Sword & Shield back in 2019.

We all know why this is, of course: Game Freak simply doesn’t get enough to keep these games in the oven, and the results often end up looking incredibly sloppy compared to other Switch and Switch 2 games. The good news, according to a recent leak, is that this is finally about to change with Pokémon‘s upcoming tenth generation.

Pokémon Gen 10 Is Going To Be A Visual Step-Up

We genuinely can’t wait

According to the vast majority of those in the know, Pokémon Gen 10 is going to be announced very soon. In all likelihood, we’ll see an initial reveal on February 27, which is the 30th anniversary of the franchise. According to industry insider Nate the Hate, probably the most trusted source on all things Nintendo right now, the next Pokémon games are set to be a step-up, visually speaking.

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking: the bar is already incredibly low for Pokémon when it comes to graphics. But Nate the Hate said: “From conversations I’ve had, Gen 10 could be visually pleasing,” and said it could be the “visual leap” fans have been waiting for.

“Could” is, of course, doing a lot of heavy lifting there. We don’t yet know for sure whether the upcoming Pokémon games will be Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. But if they really do represent a visual leap, I think it’s safe to assume they probably will be. With that said, the truncated development times on these games would suggest we probably can’t go in expecting anything too extravagant. It’s a shame, given we know Game Freak is capable of real beauty.

This Is What Fans Have Been After

Our time has come

Ultimately, I do believe that graphics are the least important part of any game. But this is an ethos Pokémon has sorely tested for the last seven years, and I’m not sure how many more times I can excuse games that wouldn’t look out of place on a Nintendo Wii.

With Pokémon Day just one month away, there’s definitely a lot of expectation around these new games. The new open-world formula introduced in Scarlet & Wild is a genuine winner, and if Game Freak can marry that with stable performance and a game that doesn’t look like it’s constantly screaming for the sweet release of death, Gen 10 could end up being very special indeed for Pokémon fans.