An Untamed Open World Defines New Pokémon ‘Winds’ & ‘Waves’

By Danial Martinus  •  02 Mar 2026 in Games

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The Pokémon universe is going to see an expansion that truly lets players take a breath of fresh air and a splash of sea spray.

The two new companion titles, unveiled by Game Freak at the latest Pokémon Presents, are Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves. They’ll be releasing simultaneously in 2027 as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.

A true open-world experience

Set in what seems to be a tropical archipelago, the new games promise a fully open-world experience, with fewer invisible walls and more genuine exploration.

Interestingly, the terrain itself plays a much bigger role this time. For instance, gusts of wind can alter routes, and tides might even reveal hidden areas. This feature forces players to be mindful of their surroundings, making it feel more real-life than ever.

Even the Pokémon you come across will look like they’re meant for that specific environment or habitat. So you’re not gonna find a grass-type Pokémon dwelling inside a volcano, for example. It’s thoughtful and truly makes the place feel like a living, breathing world.

As is the tradition with Pokémon, you start off with a difficult choice between three starter companions. This time, you’ll get to choose between the grass-type Browt, a slightly clumsy Bean Chick Pokémon; Pombon, a fire-type puppy Pokémon; as well as the water-type Gecqua, a sharp-eyed gecko.

The trailer for the two games also hinted at a redesigned Pikachu: Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu. There isn’t much info about them at the time of writing, but their stylised appearances suggest regional variants, depending on whether you play Winds or Waves.

Even player characters will look different depending on which game you play. The most noticeable differentiators are hat type and backpack colours, with Winds showcasing a white safari hat and backpack, while Waves features dark blue caps and backpacks.

They’re small details, but they definitely separate the two parallel titles quite tastefully.

For now, we’ll just have to wait until 2027 for the games to release. Watch the trailer below:

For more info about Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, click here.

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