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They weren't bad, but they weren't particularly different. When you look at it it's still the same as any other gym - fight weaker battles and maybe have a bit of a quiz or puzzle to get to the big battle. Other than going way out of the formula there's not a lot you can do to replace gyms without just getting gyms that are about as different from past gyms as most memorable gyms are from each other. So maybe just implement something (maybe call it gyms, maybe something else, the name doesn't matter) that has a different challenge for each of them requiring players learn various mechanics to prove they're pokemon masters in order to compete for the championship. One can be a series of battles where you have to use type advantages, then status effects, then weather/battlefield conditions. Another could be non-battling challenges that use your pokemon's stats, like a mario kart style race so you need something with high speed and you and the other trainers are messing with each other with obstacles and shit, a boxing match(no battle moves, literally just boxing or some other kind of martial art thing) that requires high attack and defense, and navigating a huge obstacle course full of hazards that test your pokemon's special attack and defense by needing to clear them or by taking the hits from them like say you come to a large thorny bush you can either take it down or dash through it and you need to strategize based on your pokemon's abilities, the time remaining, and how much more damage they can take. A contest type thing where you and your pokemon have to be in sync so high friendship and happiness help but you also need to practice and compete with other trainers for the badge. A challenge where you have to breed pokemon meeting specific criteria like "a grass type with a poison egg move" or "a pokemon with it's parent's speed stat" nothing too specific or ridiculously time consuming but still tests your understanding of the mechanics.
