ITT: Post what you feel makes for a good Pokemon game. Features, gimmicks, game play, characters, the sky is the limit. I'll take the first hand

-Less emphasis on in-game plot. More on a player's interpretation of their journey
-High risk, high reward game play
-Getting rewards in general for actually doing something
-Challenging but not too complex puzzle solving ie Team Rocket Basement, Ruins of Alph, Distortion World
-Less linear game progression
-Side Quests
-Post-game that feels like you're going on an entirely new journey
-Fully fleshed out lore of the Pokemon world
-Introducing characters such as rivals or reoccurring villains who make noticeable progression throughout the game that forces them to make a change from within themselves to change for the better ie. Silver, Wally, N

Generally just post what you love in Pokemon games. Feel free to express what you dislike in Pokemon in general going all the way back to Gen 1 to the most recent Gen 8. This can include what you enjoy in Pokemon side games as well ie Mystery Dungeon, Ranger, etc. Feel free to agree or disagree in this thread and try your best to calmly explain why.