>>59060672This. Pokémon Contests have a lot of potential. But I don't think that can fully be explored if it's just limited to a side mode in the main games.
In a full game focussed on Pokémon Contests:
The main focus would be a Pokémon Journey across a Region earning Ribbons for our Pokémon.
Different Pokémon having different Base Stats specficially for Pokémon Contests so that all species aren't identical besides their movepool and if they can Mega Evolve or not.
Pokémon Contests made more in-depth to at least the same degree that Pokémon Battles already are.
Likely much more expanded care mechanics for our Pokémon along with possibly even dressing them up with Accessories.
Ranked online multiplayer for Pokémon Contests which also mean a metagame for Pokémon Contests.
A story that doesn't involve saving the world and an evil team.
>>59060589Gen 3 gave us Pokémon Contests and then gen 4 had an alternate version of them. But after that they only returned in ORAS for being a remake of RS and BDSP for being a remake of DP. The Pokémon Musicals in gen 5 aren't Pokémon Contests, but I agree they're so bad, they're such little to them although I admit they did make the dress up better than in DP. Then in the anime, contests function differently but that's because it's a different medium, also Pokémon Showcases are confused for contests. Pokémon Contests as a whole really seem to have an identity issue. For me, I consider the RSE and ORAS contests to be the truest version of Pokémon Contests and thus what I'd like expanded on.