You won't find an objective answer on this board but I'll try to make a good faith argument regardless. Haven't played PLA myself.
It would have to be either SWSH, BDSP, or SV. Leaning towards SV. This was the generation that started forcing the player to become overleveled based on EXP sources they couldn't choose to remove.
>"always-on" EXP Share that multiplies EXP for all team members instead of splitting it.
>Affection stat being combined with Friendship, eventually providing the EXP and combat advantages like removing status effects, higher critical hit rate, dodging attacks, and surviving at 1 HP. These benefits can be gained from simply walking around, battling, and otherwise playing the game normally.
>EXP is gained from catching Pokémon, providing yet another source.
Previous games may have had some of these aspects, but they were optional and easily deactivated. These things really minimize the effort a player has to give. And it can lead to the situation many players like myself got into, where members of the team go unused, yet still evolve and outlevel enemy Trainers, sometimes even Gym Leaders. EXP isn't the only contributing factor, just the one I want to highlight. None of this is new information, its been discussed to death already.
A counterargument I hear is
>Pokémon was always easy
Which is true, but we have to talk within the context of the series itself. It's undeniable that the most recent games are significantly easier. "Easier" does not mean "worse" necessarily, but many players are frustrated by this.
