>>41292402Make the NPC Trainers use better tactics that their teams are coordinated around, switch more and use items. I wouldn't even add in difficulty modes to make it optional, I'd just have this be the standard.
I would also have the game do routine checks of the player's highest leveled Pokemon (it has to have been generated within their game) that will obey them and adjust their teams (and thereby their tactics) accordingly so you can theoretically never overlevel or at the very least, you'd have to intentionally grind to a sort of sweet spot.
Make the stories more nuanced like Generation 5. 6 sort of tried to do this too, but Team Flare wasn't as good as Plasma. They don't even need to be super in your face grimdark and edgy, just progressively and with each successive generation add more to think about. Blue was interesting, Silver was interesting, Wally was interesting, Barry was okay, and Cheren and Bianca were interesting. If the rivals are allowed to be complex and get more complex with each generation, the elements of the overarching narrative should be too. The easiest way to do this is to pay careful attention to the details going into each character.
Lastly, stop with the tutorials. Ease up on any interruptions in general and space out the times you meet your Rival/Friend. If they're around too much it's almost like you never left home. Children are naturally very curious. If you leave them alone, they'll pick the game apart by themselves. They don't need a virtual helmet to play the game.
Outside of that I can't think of anything.
