Pokémon Winds and Waves Carries Players to Uncharted Horizons and Open Seas

Pokémon fans were greeted with a pleasant surprise on Pokémon Day. The Pokémon Company surprised us with the announcement of Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves during a special presentation commemorating their 30th anniversary. These titles, a joint endeavor between the Pokémon Company and Game Freak, will be landing exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in 2027.

It’s a dual release, as is typical with mainline Pokémon games. Players can choose between playing Winds or Waves, since each comes with a unique clothing for the main character. You understand what it means: a global launch with no delays for any specific region to worry about.

The open world is all about the windswept islands on the map, and a big ocean with sparkling waves. The Pokémon that live in this area have developed tight tiny ecosystems that are inextricably linked to the land and sea. It will be a lot of fun to travel through, whether you’re sailing over the ocean, strolling through the lush countryside, or even joining together to face nature’s difficulties, such as storms or strong currents.

Of course, the new starters are the big draw, beginning with Browt, a Grass-type Bean Chick Pokémon that stands approximately a foot tall and weighs 7.7 pounds. The leaves on its brow are photosynthesising, which is a very useful trick to have. Pombon, the Fire-type Puppy Pokémon, is slightly larger at 1 foot 4 inches and weighs 14.8 pounds. A glowing throat will alert you when Pombon is getting a little too hot under the collar. Last but not least, we have Gecqua, the Water-type Water Gecko Pokémon, which is almost the same height as Browt but weighs 9.5 pounds. It can launch bouncing water balls from its tail, which… well, you get the idea.

The classic abilities have returned, with a slight twist: Overgrow will boost Browt’s Grass moves when it is low on health. Blaze functions similarly to Pombon’s Fire strikes, but Torrent amplifies Gecqua’s Water techniques. Each one promises to give some traditional dependability alongside some fresh new styles that truly reflect the spirit of the breezy, aquatic region.

Let’s not forget about the new Pikachu variants that made a splash in the trailer, such as Mr. Windychu with his beach outfit and Ms. Wavychu with her Waves style. They read through a book of artwork depicting Pikachu’s previous journeys to various places, from Kanto to Paldea. What they’re up to there is yet unknown, but we can expect them to play a role in the journey.