Rather than releasing a traditional third version—as seen with Emerald, Platinum, and more recently, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon—Game Freak adopted a modern expansion model that allowed players to continue their journey without starting over. In this article, I’ll be exploring what made these DLCs stand out, and where they excelled—or fell short—in enriching the world of Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Set in the Galar region, which draws heavy inspiration from the United Kingdom, Pokémon Sword and Shield introduced several new mechanics and design choices that marked a turning point in the franchise. The most notable of these is the introduction of the Wild Area—a sprawling, open-world environment