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

9. Squirtle / Wartortle / Blastoise

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

Allegedly (although don't ask me how this was worked out) Squirtle was Generation 1's second most popular starter. Way back in 1999 with everyone riding their Game Boy across this improbable wave of excitement, more people than you realise opted to start their journey with Squirtle. Not me, of course, I chose Charmander like a normal person, but for literally millions of others it holds a very special place in their hearts.

And if so then, well, you're s**t out of luck in Sword and Shield.

Despite still retaining the number 7 slot in the National Pokédex (admittedly not that impressive), despite getting a background role as a team of firefighters in the recent Detective Pikachu movie (also not that impressive), despite being one of most recognizable video game characters of its generation, there will be no Squirtle - and by extension its subsequent evolutions of Wartortle and Blastoise - in Sword and Shield.

Now, yes, every new generation brings with it its own starters and it's always important to let them get the spotlight, but that's never stopped the game from letting you bring your old companions with it or meet them again at some point. Until now, sadly.