Clocking in at three minutes, the debut trailer for Pokémon Winds and Waves showcases much more than just the new regional starters and returning creatures. If you weren’t paying close attention, you might have overlooked a brief cameo by a series icon: the Pokémon Center nurse. The pink-haired professional, famous for restoring your party’s health at no cost, sports a refreshed look that deviates from her classic aesthetic.
This version of “Nurse Joy” — the affectionate fan moniker — retains her signature white attire but adopts a distinctly tropical flair. She is seen sporting a sun hat, a sun-kissed tan, and what appears to be a ponytail. However, given the profile view in the footage, it remains to be seen if her iconic looped pigtails are still part of the design.
Image: Game Freak
Notably, the Pokémon Center itself utilizes an open-air structure, mirroring the design introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. While it’s unclear if this is the universal standard for the region, the game’s emphasis on vast wilderness and an open-world format suggests these outdoor stations will be a frequent sight for weary travelers.
There is also speculation regarding whether these medical attendants will vary by location. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the series introduced localized variants of the clerk who were unique to their specific environments. Depending on the area, nurses displayed different skin tones, eye shapes, and styles. However, as a spin-off, Legends often has more room to experiment than the mainline entries; Scarlet and Violet, for instance, maintained a consistent look for Nurse Joy throughout the base game.
That said, even the Paldea region shook things up eventually. The DLC for the previous generation introduced a more modern, “Gen-Z” iteration of the character in Kitakami, who seemed largely indifferent to her professional duties. This particular healer ditched the uniform and was frequently seen scrolling through her phone. “This nurse joy in Kitakami was playing Candy Crush while my Jigglypuff needed reviving,” one fan joked on social media in late 2025.
With the anime already establishing the existence of male Pokémon Center nurses, Winds and Waves has an excellent opportunity to further diversify the cast. Ultimately, as long as she keeps my Gecqua in fighting shape, Nurse Joy is free to embrace whatever style she chooses.
Source: Polygon
