Why You Should Always Explore Used Pokémon Save Files

screenrant.com:

Players who purchase used Pokémon games, like the classic Game Boy titles, should always make sure to check the game’s save file before erasing it and starting their own file. Pokémon games traditionally only support a single save file, although it’s possible to use multiple accounts on a single Nintendo Switch to get around this in titles such as Sword and Shield. Otherwise, players generally have to delete the prior save file before they can save a new one, and deleting the cartridge’s current save usually involves inputting a specific button command on the main menu, ensuring no one deletes their file accidentally.

The mainline Pokémon series’ “one-file” approach has helped the games feel like the players’ one-and-only adventure into the Pokémon world. This immersive element has come at a cost, however, forcing players to part with their initial save files if they want to try a Pokémon challenge run or replay the game. Players can often get attached to their save files, s0metimes making the decision to start a new game a difficult one.

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This also leads to forgotten files in older Pokémon games. These files may make their way into the hands of a completely different player if the original owner sells the game without transferring their Pokémon to Bank or Home and wiping their save first. Anyone who buys Pokémon games used should always make sure to check the save file that’s already there before deleting it and starting their own journeys. Each file tells its own story about the person who made it, from their choice of Trainer name and whether they use Pokémon nicknames or not, to other decisions they’ve made, such as whether they