Why you should replay Pokemon Scarlet and Violet 2026

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet officially entered its fourth year in November 2025, and while Pokemon Legends: ZA has been out for several months now with its accompanying DLC, Gen 9 is still very much the mainstay of the series. This is because it was the last all-new generation of animals, giving fans plenty of content to go through both in the base game and two full-fledged expansions. However, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet had its fair share of issues and controversies attached, to the point where they were reviewed by fans who were unhappy with the games performance on the Switch. Despite this, there are many good reasons to play or replay Gen 9 games in 2026.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet features at a glance

A big one open world to explore
400 Pokemon in the Paldean Pokedex
- Over 100 new species in the base game
Over 330 Pokemon in the Kitakami and Blueberry Academy DLC Pokedex, for a total of approx. 730 unique useful animals
- 15 new Pokemon species in both DLCs
A vast VGC community with constant events, including Worlds 2026
Lots of quests to complete and items to find
Endgame content in the base game and DLC to keep you engaged
Multiple online event to get unique Pokemon, like Scarlet and Violet's Walking Wake and Iron Leaves
Tera Raid battles to play both solo and online
One of the best stories in Pokémon game

Family

Pokemon Gen 10's Pokedex should break a tradition that Scarlet and Violet upheld

While Pokemon is known for keeping things at the same level from game to game, the next generation of Pokemon would still improve with a shake-up.

Why You Should Start a Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Playthrough in 2026

Prepare for Pokemon Gen 10 2026

Complete Pokemon Scarlet and Violets Pokedex
Complete the Kitakami Pokedex
Complete the Blueberry Academy Pokedex
Transfer Pokemon to Pokemon home
Catch Pokemon you may have missed, like the DLC's Pecharunt epilogue event or event-exclusive Walking Wake and Iron Leaves

This year is the 30th anniversary of the franchise, and then new generations of Pokémon games typically launch every three years, with 2026 being the fourth year since then Scarlet and Violet came out, it's basically confirmed that Gen 10 is coming out. Pokemon wind and wavethe leaked titles for Gen 10, are likely to come out between October and November this year, so replay Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is a sure way to be ready for new titles when they are released.

Experience Pokemon Scarlet and Violet on Nintendo Switch 2

Play with enhanced graphics
Have a richer open world with more Pokémon in it Scarlet and Violet compared to Switch 1
Play at 60+ FPS, say goodbye to performance issues

When the new Nintendo console came out, it also released a Switch 2 upgrade pack for the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. This is an incredible upgrade if you have a Nintendo Switch 2, as the game runs much smoother on the new console, allowing you to explore Paldea in its best state ever.

Shiny Hunt in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Complete Tera Raid Battles to get Herba Mystica
Make shiny sandwiches
Get your favorite Pokemon as shinies
Try the Masuda method of egg glazing

Bring in the shiny charm Pokemon Scarlet and Violet requires you to catch all the Pokémon in the game, which is easier if you have two consoles and both copies of the games, but can also be done via trading. But once you have it, it combines with shiny sandwiches for incredible odds, around 1 in 500 animals. This makes it very easy to find your favorites, and it's a great way to work through a shiny Pokedex completion.

The Shiny Charm increases your chances of finding Shiny Pokémon in Eggs, which can be combined with the Masuda Method for an even greater chance.

Is it worth it to play Pokemon Scarlet and Violet in 2026?

If none of these reasons convinced you that now is the best time to go back to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet or start a new playthrough, there may be another one. Since this year is the 30th anniversary of the franchise, and since Gen 10 could be 9 or 10 months away, there is a real chance that new, unique online events will be made available for Gen 9 games.

These can be anything Pokemon Scarlet and Violets shiny Rayquaza, Tera Raids for exclusive rewards, or ways to shiny hunt legendary and mythic Pokémon that are currently unlocked. This is unconfirmed as of now, but 2026 will be a big year for Gen 9 games and will serve as their send off for when a new generation comes out.