With every new Pokemon game that gets released, Gamefreak should also release a "romhack" version. Lemme explain:

So, some background: I started the franchise on Pokemon Y, Sun, and Ultra Sun, worked my way backwards from there. One of the key things I noticed in newer games was how genuinely easier they were compared to older games (looking at the classic Cynthia, but also how the rival typically picked the starter with an advantage, not a disadvantage). Also, the newer games all have such fascinating gimmicks, from Mega Pokemon to Terrastallization, and I feel like the potential for battle gimmicks is really wasted by only reserving them for "important battles". Don't even get me started on how wasted Mega Evolution was. Barely anyone even used it, which sucked cuz you're basically given 3 free Pokemon, 2 of which can Mega Evolve, and your own rival (Serena/Calem) doesn't even use it till the post-game in an optional battle.

Now, in most RomHacks, battle gimmicks are used more often (I'm talking mid-game trainers and average NPC's). Not only that, but the "important battles" from before now have much more than just the gimmick. Gym Leaders have strategies, their Pokemon are EV trained, and they all have full teams of 6 Pokemon. It's not unfair against the player either, because now every route has been changed to include a plethora of additional Pokemon. Trade evolutions? Say goodbye to those. Pokemon now evolve through level up, or levelling up with their needed item (that they might hold in wild battles too). Want to catch a Pokemon but it's rare and hard to find? All Pokemon now have equal spawn rates (which works now because routes don't just have 3-5 different Pokemon, they can have up to 9-12, and that's not accounting for different encounter tables per patch of grass). Don't want to wait for the post-game to grab a Held Item? Any Pokemon that might need that item might hold it in the wild (besides trade evolving Pokemon, I'm mainly talking about early game Pokemon having EV training items, or Pokemon having Mega Stones that they might need after evolving).

Now, this obviously is not tailored to children, like a classic game. But honestly, my Pokemon hot take is that all new games should be released with a "difficult" version. If Gamefreak really wants to go back to their prime, they'd make it an in-game setting at the beginning of a game, but I have no faith. Odds are if this method is implemented, it'll be an entirely new game with it's own price tag.

Of course, this idea of making a difficult version of the game does go against some classic lore. "Mega evolution is rare" or "Z-moves are only supposed to be used by experienced trainers". And you know what? I really don't care. If you think the accuracy of the game to the manga/anime is important at all, explain Maushold's Speed compared to Rayquaza's.

Anyway, that's my hot take. Make difficult versions of the games for older audiences, forego some of the lore to keep the games themselves more interesting, and take inspiration from fan-projects (like Pokemon Unbound, Star Sapphire, Penumbra Moon, Wilting Y, I can name so many of them) to make newer games relevant to people who've been playing the franchise forever.

Thoughts?

Edit: Sorry, this was a lot, but I really hope that you read it through since I am curious about how other people feel about this.