>>39460302I feel like the games are still important to the franchise because that's how most people create bonds with characters and mons, which is necessary for the merch and spin-off to succeed.
Tho that's just me and my anecdotal evidence talking. It's possible that nowadays most people primarily get into the whole pokemon fantasy via anime, movies and the TCG.
Doesn't line up with my own experience at all, but that's not saying much.
