The second generation of Pokémon games is often considered to be one of the best. It was plenty of millennials’ gateway Pokémon experience, and it introduced plenty of features that became series mainstays, such as a day/night cycle, steel and dark-types, breeding, and more. Not to mention the endgame surprise that the entirety of Kanto could be revisited and explored once the player defeated the Elite Four.
As a result, there have been rumors of a return to Johto in one form or another for some time now. And Nintendo, via X, has just poured more fuel onto the fire that is the possibility of a Johto-themed announcement coming soon.
That is a Pokopia screenshot with a caption referencing “silver” and “gold,” the two subtitles for the original second generation of Pokémon games. The image in question is also a scene from those games, when the player’s rival is caught staring through the window of Professor Elm’s laboratory. But what could the post from Nintendo mean today?
There are a lot of theories flying around. One is that the next Pokopia region, coming in 2027 with the game’s third expansion, will be modeled on a Johto town. All the areas in Pokopia so far have been based on towns from Kanto, the region of the first generation.
Or it could be a hint to something bigger. Could we finally be getting Pokémon Let’s Go games set in the Johto region, after Kanto was represented by Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee? Pokopia and Let’s Go share a similar aesthetic, with the former even re-using assets first seen in the latter, and it’s been eight years since Pikachu & Eevee were released. There are also plenty of adorable gen two Pokémon that could be used as mascots: Togepi, Elekid, Magby, Phanpy, Cleffa, Igglybuff, Mareep, Shuckle… the list goes on.
Alternatively, maybe we’re on the brink of some form of Johto ports coming to Nintendo Switch. Pokémon Fire Red & Leaf Green, the 2004 remakes of Red & Blue, arrived on the console back in February. Heart Gold & Soul Silver, the 2009 remakes of Gold & Silver, could be on their way.
Then there’s the possibility that The Pokémon Company are working on fully fledged modern remakes of the Johto region, in a similar manner to the less-well received Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. No doubt there’d be apprehension if those were announced due to complaints about the fourth generation remakes from 2021, but a welcome surprise nonetheless.
One suggestion on Reddit, from user Deep-Reserve271, is that the caption implies Ho-Oh and Lugia will finally be able to move into your town in Pokopia. Currently, the legendary bird duo from the second generation can be seen flying in the skies above sporadically, dropping either a Rainbow or Silver Feather before leaving, but they cannot be recruited in the same way the legendary bird trio from the first generation can.
Or, at the end of the day, maybe it’s just a social media post with no hidden meaning. It’s followed up with a Nintendo post advertising Pokopia, encouraging players to “recreate memorable moments,” so maybe that’s all it is. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed for a new Johto game, though.
