>>35714246every new generation is a response to a complaint from a past generation.
Gen 2 is basically trying to complete everything Gen 1 was missing.
Gen 3 its hard to explain, and you want to know why? because EVERYONE loved gen2, so its hard to identify what philosophy was behind gen3 to improve upon 2, but the basic is there (more mons of unused types, like dark/dragon/ice/ghost).
Gen 4 tried its darnest to make old mons relevant again, with the phys/special split, adding tons of new moves and evolutions to old mons, its the hardcore generation, in terms of difficulty AND balance.
Gen 5 listened to the "zubats/tentacools/bidoofs" complaint, trying to create 150 brand new mons from start to finish, and heavily changing the way they interact in the game, also removed TMs because they where EXTREME to use in gen 4.
Gen 6 immediately backtracks and goes full gen 1 pandering with megas, starters, much less new mons, etc, the exp share being much more OP is a response to the endgame in Gen 5 requiring the most leveling of any pokemon game.
Gen 7 added much more plot and characterization/ost improvement in response to the complaints of Gen 6 being bad at these elements.
TL;DR every gen is in some way or another, trying to respond to the complains of the gen before it, so if the complaints of gen 7 is it being a tour guide, you can expect gen 8 to have much more freedom of exploration and less hand-holding.