- Primary Subject: Pokémon Champions (Version 1.1.0 / Season 1)
- Key Update: The April 14, 2026 update focused on stability and anti-cheat measures for the "Global Prelude" tournament but notably lacked the "Solo Challenge" mode fans were hoping for.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: April 15, 2026
- Quick Answer: Pokémon Champions lacks a story mode, which critics argue alienates casual fans, wastes its colorful NPC cast, and prevents competitive players from practicing strategies privately.
Pokemon Champions is a game that highlights the excitement and seriousness of the franchise's competitive side. It focuses purely on the battling aspect, allowing players to jump right into the action and fight among themselves to see who's the best.
For what it's intended to do, Pokemon Champions does its job right, with many enjoying the fact that there is now a much easier and official way to fight global competitors without relying on third-party sites or software like Pokemon Showdown. Great as it is, the game still has its flaws, preventing it from being the ideal experience
While many focus on the obvious issues, such as limited items and Pokemon, I believe there is another that is much more prominent. Out of all the things that the game is lacking, one that particularly bothers me is the fact that it didn't come with a story mode right from its release.
Some may think it a non-issue, given that the point of the game is to focus on the competitive aspect, meaning nothing but battling. And while I do understand that, it's still a crime not to have a story mode, as it means missing out on huge opportunities that could have drawn in more people to play and make current fans want to continue playing.
One example of such is that it could have given more meaning to the NPCs created for the game. As soon as you start playing, you essentially go through the tutorial section, where you are taught how to battle, gain new Pokemon to fight alongside you, etc. During this, you meet the colorful cast of Pokemon Champions, and they've likely managed to catch your attention with their unique personalities and looks.
But once that tutorial section is over, they're pretty much shoved aside, with the only exception being Tatora and Kitt, given that you have no choice but to interact with them to access important features. This is quite a shame, as it feels like a lot more could have been done with all these NPCs to give the game more life.
If there were a dedicated story mode, then that would have absolutely done the job. It would have given the cast more screen time, allowing them to help us better understand their roles and personalities, and perhaps even provide us more insight into the world they reside in, which is also good for attracting newcomers.
Unfortunately, that isn't the case, and they're mostly there to just look pretty once their initial job is done, which is quite a shame. Perhaps Nintendo and Game Freak could change that with future updates, hopefully by adding a story mode, but it's a hope that we shouldn't cling to.
Another example of a missed opportunity is that it could have easily drawn in the casual Pokemon players. It is quite understandable that those who've only enjoyed the mainline games and have barely or have never touched the competitive scene would be quite intimidated by the idea of playing Pokemon Champions.
If there were a way for them to play against AI opponents rather than human ones, they would likely have tried out the game. That's where a story mode would have come in very handy, as it would grant the casual Pokemon fan a way to enter the competitive realm without the pressure that usually comes with it.
If done right, it could even transform them into more serious players, which would be a huge boon for Pokemon Champions, as it means more members in its community that secure a long and healthy lifespan. It's also important to know that this isn't just for the benefit of the casual fans, but also for the competitive ones
Not every serious battler wants to play against human opponents as soon as they boot up the game, as they might want to try new strategies without having to disclose them to everyone. Since there's no practice mode, they have no choice but to play casual matches to try out their new teams and builds, which adds an unnecessary layer of pressure in hoping that they work.
With a story mode, it would have allowed these competitive players at least a form of freedom to try out whatever they want, without revealing what they've learned to others until they're ready. Not only do they get to try out anything they set their mind to without the additional pressure, but they may even learn something from the enemy AI as well, assuming that they're coded in a way that they provide an experience worthy of competitive battling.
Pokemon Champions is still worth playing even without a story mode, but it could have been a much better experience if the game had one upon release. It's something that Nintendo and Game Freak should consider, even if it were only a short version, as it has too many benefits to pass up on.
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