First Runner Up: Pokemon Sun and Moon
Just when we thought the Pokemon RPG series couldn’t surprise us anymore, Sun and Moon came along and completely surpassed all of our expectations. The removal of Gyms and badges sounded like a risky move at first, but it’s one that paid off extraordinarily well with the introduction of island kahunas and the Totem Pokemon. Sun and Moon kept things feeling fresh and familiar at the same time by bringing back ‘mons from gen 1, and giving them new Alolan Forms – a smart way to keep the pioneer fans around for more, but without alienating any newcomers.
The combat in Sun and Moon is just as fun as you remember, with strategy and tactics coming into play when you’re forced to take Pokemon types into consideration, along with their move sets and held items. However, perhaps the most shocking improvement that came with Sun and Moon was the story itself. Yes, Pokemon Sun and Moon actually had a well-written story with characters that you grew to care about over the course of the game. Surprised? So were we, but pleasantly so.
Pokemon Sun and Moon are quite possibly the best and strongest entries we’ve seen in this long-running franchise yet, and it’s exciting to wonder where Game Freak takes the series from here.
