Pokémon Sword & Shield: 10 Pokémon You Won't Believe Aren't In The Game

2. The Alolan Starters

Ok, forgive me, I'm going to bang on about the starters one last time.

Yes, it's understandable why so many of them have been left out but to see the most recent generation of Pokémon losing their three most iconic creatures is a shock given what a large percentage of their Alolan counterparts have been included. Over half of the Pokémon from Sun and Moon have made it to Sword and Shield, but arguably the three more recognisable haven't.

Rowlet, Litten and Popplio were heralded as a long-awaited return to the strong opening design of generations past when they were first unveiled and, while their subsequent evolutions have divided opinion, their popularity has remained nonetheless. They were instant classics and any players who joined the franchise in the last installment will be baffled at their exclusion.

Ultimately Nintendo have spoken about a new generation of Pokémon fans coming to the games through Let's Go! and Go! in recent years, but for those players making the transition from there to the main series, Gen VII was their first game. They probably regard these three in the same way many players think of Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle, so it's a shame to leave them out like this.