After experimenting with the Wild Area in Pokémon Sword and Shield, Game Freak is finally going fully open-world this time. You’ll have the freedom to explore a vast, natural landscape with full control over the camera. The usual cultivated routes are gone, although a long dirt path is visible in the trailer.

As with past games in the series, the gameplay is focused on catching Pokémon in the wild, training them up, and battling. Pokémon roam freely on the overworld, and players can aim and throw Pokéballs at them in real-time! An empty Pokéball will trigger a catch attempt if it lands near a wild Pokémon.

If you throw a Pokéball containing one of the Pokémon you’ve already caught, it will pop out and trigger a battle. The brief battle footage we’ve seen so far looks very similar to past games, but with a smoother transition and a more active camera. It’s unclear if you’ll be battling any other humans, but we see a full arsenal of six Pokémon in the player’s party during the trailer.

Stealth mechanics will also play a big role in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Players can crouch to sneak up on wild Pokémon and even hide in tall grass. There’s also a new dive and rollability, perhaps for ducking out of sight quickly.