Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity

 3DS
User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 188 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 79 out of 188
  2. Mixed: 61 out of 188
  3. Negative: 48 out of 188
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  1. Tielur
    Mar 24, 2013
    8
    So far this games has one big disadvantage, Text speed. Aside from that I'm really enjoying this game (mostly in a nostalgic kind of way). It doesn't feel as epic yet in terms of plot as the first game and it's not secret that the target audience is children. But if you can see past that it has mostly the same mechanics (with the addition of move leveling and hunger is changed to onlySo far this games has one big disadvantage, Text speed. Aside from that I'm really enjoying this game (mostly in a nostalgic kind of way). It doesn't feel as epic yet in terms of plot as the first game and it's not secret that the target audience is children. But if you can see past that it has mostly the same mechanics (with the addition of move leveling and hunger is changed to only effect specific dungeons) and really makes an attempt to enforce positive morals like how others should be treated and not giving up. For this reason I strongly recommend this game for children, but if you enjoy the series then give it a try.… Expand
  2. Archenoth
    Apr 6, 2013
    9
    Beautiful game.

    It looked great, and played very well for a roguelike RPG. The story was engaging, the music was fantastic, the characters were likable, and the environment was just purely whimsical. But that alone isn't what inclined me to rate the game like I did. But rather, because of the new things that were added to the game. Things like Paradise, a concept I wasn't entirely    Beautiful game.

    It looked great, and played very well for a roguelike RPG. The story was engaging, the music was fantastic, the characters were likable, and the environment was just purely whimsical.

    But that alone isn't what inclined me to rate the game like I did. But rather, because of the new things that were added to the game. Things like Paradise, a concept I wasn't entirely sure about at first until I learned of its full implications. You can manage it, clear it into different types of land, and build on as you see fit. You can upgrade shops, play minigames, train moves or farm berries and seeds. There are special shops that give you information in dungeons, and some that let you take part in draws with prize tickets similarly to how you can in Spinda Cafe in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky. It adds incentive to go exploring for materials long after the game finishes to give you a goal beyond simply "recruiting them all" and leveling everyone to level 100.

    As for the story, while usually Mystery Dungeon games usually have their fair share of clichés (But still are pretty impactful.), this installment has a very low quantity of them in comparison. Also the story is filled with emotion, so it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it also becomes surprisingly involving if you let yourself sink into the viewpoint of your character. The character development was well done and made many Pokemon really quite likable. (I even found myself liking Pokemon that I had never previously cared for.) The story actually may surprise you in more than one way.

    The music is upbeat for the most part, and very well done. It definitely adds to the environment and the story as it goes on. This will become especially evident closer to the end of the game. Some remixes of some older Pokemon Mystery Dungeon tracks also made it in there. (A good example being the mission complete music, which has a whimsical twist in it.)

    There are only a few complaints I really have with this game. One of them is the length of the game. It was much shorter than previous Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games, and the post-game was incredibly short compared to the post-game arcs. Two is the Pokemon count, it was pretty small compared to Explorers of Sky or even Red Rescue Team. And finally, the mechanics that were removed or added to make the game easier disappointed me. Things like how Pokemon get experience even when they aren't exploring, or the removal of hunger.

    Overall though, fantastic game. If you liked the previous games, you should totally pick this up. Also, if a Pokemon roguelike sounds appealing to you, this is a perfect place to hop on.    … Expand
  3. Novembre
    Apr 2, 2013
    9
    RATING: 8.5/10 I just finished the main game. GOOD: Absolutely gorgeous appearance/graphics. The dungeons are no longer little pieces of tile that all look the same. The models for the pokemon are fantastic, and the overworld is stunning. The 3D looks great here too. One of the best, if not the best, looking title on the 3DS IMO. Story and characters are as good as always! Story dragged onRATING: 8.5/10 I just finished the main game. GOOD: Absolutely gorgeous appearance/graphics. The dungeons are no longer little pieces of tile that all look the same. The models for the pokemon are fantastic, and the overworld is stunning. The 3D looks great here too. One of the best, if not the best, looking title on the 3DS IMO. Story and characters are as good as always! Story dragged on a bit here and there, and more kid-orientated than the previous, but it caters to everyone pretty well and the ending definitely made up for it. It's another tear-jerker. Music, although not the same rhythm-based, catchy tunes of the previous games, is gorgeous as well. The soundfonts blew my mind when comparing it to the old games, and there were some really, really nice tunes in there. NEUTRAL: Dungeon difficulty was lower than in past games. There wasn't really a difficulty curve, and the largest dungeon main-game is about 12 floors, a far cry from the 30+ floors of Blue/Red and Time/Darkness/Sky. The view for the screen is a bit more narrow and claustrophobic than the other games, but you'll get used to it. (Note, this does not necessarily apply to post game. I haven't played it yet). Main story is shorter than the previous two. BAD: Pokemon selection is limited. Long cutscenes (can get to be over 10 minutes long near the end), combined with slow text speed can cause the game to be a bit tedious at points (I want to dungeon, not sit here and read). Not being able to take more than one job request at once. OTHER: I haven't had time to check out the Magnagate dungeons. I haven't played any post-game. It appears as if there will be a lot, though, so I'll update it when I do. OVERALL: Very good and fun game. Although it's more kid-orientated, including less difficult dungeons, the story is as good as ever, the characters fun, beautiful music, and some of the best visuals I've seen on a 3DS to date. TOTAL UP TO NOW: 8.5/10… Expand
  4. xsilvermoonx
    Mar 27, 2013
    9
    If you keep in mind that the target audience is kids, this game is awesome. The graphics are beautiful. The story is really cute, and the characters are attaching. The gameplay is fun and addictive. I have to agree with the other reviews, the text speed is a negative point,
  5. steamcrusader
    Oct 16, 2017
    8
    Underrated! UNDERRATED!!! This Game Is bursting with sidequests, End-game content and Immersive story! Building paradise was an amazing long-term project, and while the game might be easy, the story is amazing and the bosses are great. Sure, I'm not a great fan of "discover a magnagate", but bonus levels are bonus levels. Building paradise and getting as many powerful partners as I can isUnderrated! UNDERRATED!!! This Game Is bursting with sidequests, End-game content and Immersive story! Building paradise was an amazing long-term project, and while the game might be easy, the story is amazing and the bosses are great. Sure, I'm not a great fan of "discover a magnagate", but bonus levels are bonus levels. Building paradise and getting as many powerful partners as I can is something I often come back to when bored, so consider this my choice for the mystery dungeon game with the best post-game. it gets some fun minigames too, but they do feel a bit watered down. (no pun intended for the starmie diving minigame)… Expand
  6. PMG
    Feb 20, 2014
    8
    I really like this game. For one the story has a huge twist that actually surprised me, and second this is not only one of the best loking pokemon games of all time, but also one the 3DS games that make the greatest use of the 3D. And the dungeon exploring was really fun. However there are a few things i don't like about this game. For one the fact that you can't speed up the text or skipI really like this game. For one the story has a huge twist that actually surprised me, and second this is not only one of the best loking pokemon games of all time, but also one the 3DS games that make the greatest use of the 3D. And the dungeon exploring was really fun. However there are a few things i don't like about this game. For one the fact that you can't speed up the text or skip cutscenes all together, make it a bit annoying when ever there is expesition, it tends to drag on. And second... ? I guess that is it. If your are a pokemon fan and like me like the pokemon spinoffs then this is a good game.… Expand
  7. RecipesW
    Apr 18, 2014
    10
    The game's great, it's useless to say anything else. In addition, it's one of the few games which begins after you finish it and you're never bored at all. Great, great great. Very good moves, buildings, deep story, Good End and of course, perfect visuals. By far the best mystery dungeon game ever played!
  8. Noobinator
    Jun 26, 2014
    9
    This game is absolutely fantastic. Like the other installments in the series, Gates takes you on a long, emotional journey that's easy to be immersed in and ultimately leaves you with a climactic ending and even a little teary eyed at the credits. Ryoma Nakamura, Keisuke Ito and Yasuhiro Kawagoe to a truly amazing job with the soundtrack, crafting a score between them that gets everythingThis game is absolutely fantastic. Like the other installments in the series, Gates takes you on a long, emotional journey that's easy to be immersed in and ultimately leaves you with a climactic ending and even a little teary eyed at the credits. Ryoma Nakamura, Keisuke Ito and Yasuhiro Kawagoe to a truly amazing job with the soundtrack, crafting a score between them that gets everything right, from the struggle of the final boss battle to the simple, memorable menu music. The graphics are fantastic on the 3DS, there are some great unexpected plot twists, and for (perhaps?) the first time in a Pokemon game (mini spoiler alert), we see a Pokemon directly murder another, introducing the theme of death in maybe the least subtle way yet. An incredibly enjoyable and an occasionally surprisingly mature story.

    Not without its flaws, the major issues I have with the game are its limited scope (there are less than 150 different Pokemon in the game), the text speed, which can be frustratingly slow, and the game's oversimplification (no hunger, no item shortcut). Much smaller issues include a perhaps slow introduction to the game, being limited to one request at once, and a much too easy final boss battle (that really doesn't do the story and music justice). Despite these issues, the game still gets a convincing 9, as you never really notice too much repetition in Pokemon encounters, and you get used to the text speed pretty quickly.

    Like the other Pokemon Mystery Dungeon installments, Gates might well be targeted towards six to eight year olds, but make no mistake - it doesn't matter whether you're 6 or 26 if you're willing to be immersed in a wonderful Pokemon fantasy story, you'll enjoy this game.    … Expand
  9. TrooperC
    Mar 25, 2013
    9
    Probably my favorite game out of the entire Mystery Dungeon series so far. The only disadvantage I have about the game is how tedious the text speed can be. So far, this game seems to be the most simplistic out of the other games in the series. Sometimes, I still want a challenge out of each dungeon. Once you have played further into the game, it seems like from my experience that it isProbably my favorite game out of the entire Mystery Dungeon series so far. The only disadvantage I have about the game is how tedious the text speed can be. So far, this game seems to be the most simplistic out of the other games in the series. Sometimes, I still want a challenge out of each dungeon. Once you have played further into the game, it seems like from my experience that it is still very enjoyable and casual to play.… Expand
  10. dante_finn
    Mar 25, 2013
    10
    This game has vibrant 3D Graphics and detailed enviroments.
  11. Matt1251
    Apr 11, 2013
    10
    Okay, I've completed the game. And let me just say, the story is the best out of the entire series. Sure, the final battle trolls you at first (You can't do anything). But after that, it just feels so satisfying to literally punch it in the face. In the FACE! Anyway, the music. Dare I say, this game has one of the best soundtracks in video game history. Ragged Mountain wasOkay, I've completed the game. And let me just say, the story is the best out of the entire series. Sure, the final battle trolls you at first (You can't do anything). But after that, it just feels so satisfying to literally punch it in the face. In the FACE! Anyway, the music. Dare I say, this game has one of the best soundtracks in video game history. Ragged Mountain was phenomenal for the FIRST DUNGEON, End of the Road Alternate Arrangement 1 was a great remix of the original, Great Spire was epic and tells you that you're near the end, and that... that ENDING!! I'm not going to go into full detail, but let me just say this. That ending is one of, if not the most emotional moment in gaming history. All this bumps my rating up to a ten. By far, one of, if not my favorite game ever.… Expand
  12. ZangooseSlash
    Jun 1, 2013
    8
    Pokemon gates to infinity is a decent addition to the mystery dungeon series. It has a good plot and great character development, but the game was severely lacking in content. There aren't many pokemon to befriend, 144 pokemon from what i've heard, and I only spent about 21 hours on the main story. The game is great, but the lack of content leaves you wanting a longer experience, and thePokemon gates to infinity is a decent addition to the mystery dungeon series. It has a good plot and great character development, but the game was severely lacking in content. There aren't many pokemon to befriend, 144 pokemon from what i've heard, and I only spent about 21 hours on the main story. The game is great, but the lack of content leaves you wanting a longer experience, and the DLCs fail to deliver.… Expand
  13. Tomaskovic93
    Apr 25, 2013
    9
    Great story, lots of work went into making the player feel the emotions of the characters in the game, i often found myself feeling similar emotions as a certain Quagsire in game (hmmm?) and often shed many tears of manliness at the story and situation throughout the game. only problem with the game is a relatively slow text speed but please don't let that discourage you from buying thisGreat story, lots of work went into making the player feel the emotions of the characters in the game, i often found myself feeling similar emotions as a certain Quagsire in game (hmmm?) and often shed many tears of manliness at the story and situation throughout the game. only problem with the game is a relatively slow text speed but please don't let that discourage you from buying this amazing game!… Expand
  14. AlphaReshiramHD
    May 6, 2013
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Gates to Infinity Review.
    Ok so let's get started shall we...

    This game by the name is another game from the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series (Duh)
    Ok the story line...
    Yeah if you played the last PMD Games,you already know:

    You are a Human
    You transformed in a Pokemon
    You meet your partner
    Save the Pokemon world
    You Dissapear
    and you come back....

    When you start the game,you already know that you need to do a...Wait,o yeah there is no Quiz for choosing your Pokemon now,that's how i like it!,but already a problem there is only 5 Pokemon that you can choose at the start of the Game,YES 5!!,such a let down from the last title,last PMD game had more than 5,i think it had 10 or 15...

    Also you already noticed that the Text goes incredibly slow,and there is no way to make it faster...
    anyways when you start the game off,you are probably notice improvements in graphics when you start the game off,This game looks Awsome,the dungeons just blew my eyeballs off...From pixelated dungeons this game if going in full 3D,and it looks incredible.The Pokemons now have full 3D Models and each of them looks incredible.

    Also another thing is that now some dungeons have Hub Worlds,in there,some Enemy Pokemon are roaming around,if you touch the you enter a battle,talking about battles,if you played other PMD Games do you remember how painfull it was to go the menu choose your Pokemon and then the attack?,not anymore,simply press L and choose your attack,thank god.

    There is no Hunger in the game in almost all the dungeons do,finally.And also the way of evolving Pokemon is different,the way you evolve pokemon in the game is by Leveling it up to a certain level or giving it a certain Item,exactly like a Main Game.

    In this game,you are introduced to the Pokemon Paradise,where you can build up facilities in the game as more as you progress,You can also level up the paradise by obtaining Paradise Points that you get from clearing missions.

    This games added a lot of awesome thing to the Mystery Dungeon Spin-off series,there are many new stuff that people that played the last PMD Games have noticed,I wish i could tell everything,but that's up to yourself...

    But how about thing that i Didn't like about the game?
    First:The Aftergame could have been better,in the last game,the after game was really important do,but here is really short do,you can complete it a few hours after completing the main game overall.

    Second:You migth already know it,is how many Pokemon you can choose at the start of the game,seriously 5?

    Third:The Text is really slow,and yes it can be that bad.

    Aaaand that's about it.
    Oh yeah this game also have DLC you can download,but i don't quiet thing is something you will waste your money for,there are just extra dungeons with certain stuff on them.
    Anyways guys,this game is overall a good game,the Music is awesome,the graphics are great,the Storyline like all PMD Game is sweet and finally is overall really fun to play in my opinion.BUT I quiet recommend this game to a Pokemon fan (Specialy younger fans),General Audience may fall sleeping playing this game,only fans like me,will have some certain enjoyment out of this game.

    I will give this game an 8.5 out 10 stars.
    I Wish i could tell more but that's up to you when you get it.    … Expand
  15. Aquaris475
    Jul 5, 2013
    9
    I love the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. so when this title was announced, I was stoked. And when I got it, I played the best game in the Mystery Dungeon series, and even Pokémon overall. The story of the game is pretty lighthearted, and may have been aimed for kids, but I still found it enjoyable. this game's ending was also one of the few times where I cried at the ending. the gameplayI love the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. so when this title was announced, I was stoked. And when I got it, I played the best game in the Mystery Dungeon series, and even Pokémon overall. The story of the game is pretty lighthearted, and may have been aimed for kids, but I still found it enjoyable. this game's ending was also one of the few times where I cried at the ending. the gameplay is the same, but adds some new things to make gameplay faster. for example, instead of scrolling through menus to use moves, you can now just hold down the right trigger and press A,B,X,Y to use that respective move. it's tweaks to the gameplay like these that make the game much better. the graphics are really nice. they may just be my favorite graphics on any game. The music is really great. I found myself humming these tunes, and while some tracks are forgettable, I find this to be one of my favorite game soundtracks. but what I found to be the game's best part was, surprisingly, character development. I found myself caring for these characters, and was happy when they were, or sad when they were. I don't think I've cared much for characters like these since the Walking Dead: the game, and that's saying A LOT. Overall, Gates to Infinity is a worthy title to the 3DS library. the plot may be lighthearted, but the gameplay, while simple, is great, and combined with great music and character development, this makes it my personal favorite Pokémon title, and one you should definitely check out.… Expand
  16. Thomas988
    Aug 12, 2013
    9
    This game is beyond fantastic. I enjoyed every minute from the beginning to the end. The plot was incredibly action-packed and I kept asking myself what was going to happen next. My only complaint about this game though are the extremely difficult boss fights.
  17. Zebuala
    Nov 17, 2013
    10
    I have fallen out of love with the Pokémon series in recent years but then I downloaded the demo of this game from the eShop. The story was great, and for me the game play was fantastic with much improvement from the GBA Pokémon Red Rescue Team. The demo was so good I bought the game the day after completing the demo. I do not want to give too much away but I would definitely recommendI have fallen out of love with the Pokémon series in recent years but then I downloaded the demo of this game from the eShop. The story was great, and for me the game play was fantastic with much improvement from the GBA Pokémon Red Rescue Team. The demo was so good I bought the game the day after completing the demo. I do not want to give too much away but I would definitely recommend anyone to at least try the demo from the eShop as I would not want someone to buy the game if they do not like the game play. I have 67 hrs played on this game with the story complete but with much left to do. If you like this type of game play I could not recommend this game enough, however if you do not like the game play, no matter how good the story is you will not like the game and then you should not get it. In my opinion this is a great game that did not get great reviews but has a great story that has made me once again a fan of the Pokémon series.… Expand
  18. srx
    May 2, 2021
    8
    I'll say it first, this is a good game. The characters are some of the best in the series, and the story was predictable but fun. My favorite partner/protag dynamic of the whole series and I actually teared up at the end. 8/10, knocking off points for what others have already criticized it for: lack of playable characters, lackluster gameplay mechanics, etc. Soundtrack absolutely bangsI'll say it first, this is a good game. The characters are some of the best in the series, and the story was predictable but fun. My favorite partner/protag dynamic of the whole series and I actually teared up at the end. 8/10, knocking off points for what others have already criticized it for: lack of playable characters, lackluster gameplay mechanics, etc. Soundtrack absolutely bangs like the rest of the series tho.… Expand
  19. FixR
    Jun 22, 2020
    8
    To be honest, improving or even matching the quality of the cult classic Explorers games was going to be a tall order. And while Gates to Infinity doesn't fall flat on its face, it doesn't live up to its series' legacy.

    While its gameplay is still improved from previous entries, its soundtrack incredible, and its characters believable and real, the graphics aren't the same quality,    To be honest, improving or even matching the quality of the cult classic Explorers games was going to be a tall order. And while Gates to Infinity doesn't fall flat on its face, it doesn't live up to its series' legacy.

    While its gameplay is still improved from previous entries, its soundtrack incredible, and its characters believable and real, the graphics aren't the same quality, coming with a shift to 3D and an ultimate lack of polish. In addition, the story, while not bad, doesn't hold up as well, and only around a quarter of the Pokémon around at the time are even in the game (plus a severely reduced starter selection), leading an already somewhat repetitive dungeon formula to get more repetitive by facing the same few enemies without a lot of difference throughout the entire campaign.

    Overall, the game's still got its quality, but it's easily the low point of its series.    … Expand
  20. Tri9322
    Dec 9, 2020
    9
    A really good game! The story is pretty good, and while follows the same basic structure as the other mystery dungeon games, it still feels unique and fresh. The gameplay is fun but can be pretty easy, even at the final boss. There is also a lot of unskippable dialogue, like a lot a lot. The music is phenomenal, honestly some of the best game music I've heard in a while. The graphics areA really good game! The story is pretty good, and while follows the same basic structure as the other mystery dungeon games, it still feels unique and fresh. The gameplay is fun but can be pretty easy, even at the final boss. There is also a lot of unskippable dialogue, like a lot a lot. The music is phenomenal, honestly some of the best game music I've heard in a while. The graphics are great and every Pokémon has lots of reaction sprites and just amazing 3D models. The paradise building is really fun and gives all the dungeon crawling a real sense of progression and reason to do it. The story is also really good as I mentioned before. Overall, a really fun game.… Expand
  21. a2cc
    Aug 24, 2021
    9
    This game is probably my favorite game of all time, and for good reason, it's an amazing game that I would recommend for anyone looking to get into the Mystery Dungeon series, or just roguelikes in general.

    The gameplay in Gates to Infinity is almost identical in terms of user interface and controls to every other PMD (Pokemon Mystery Dungeon) game, which isn't a bad thing as it means    This game is probably my favorite game of all time, and for good reason, it's an amazing game that I would recommend for anyone looking to get into the Mystery Dungeon series, or just roguelikes in general.

    The gameplay in Gates to Infinity is almost identical in terms of user interface and controls to every other PMD (Pokemon Mystery Dungeon) game, which isn't a bad thing as it means if you've learnt the controls of one game, you've learned them all for the most part. If I could describe PMD's gameplay, it's like a combination of chess, any mainline Pokemon game, and a standard roguelike, which if you don't know is a genre that's 3 main elements are permanent death, grid based movement, and random floor generation (although PMD doesn't have true permadeath in most cases, as you can get rescued and revived even if you run out of revive items). All of those elements combined creates this very fun (for the most part) and at times very challenging but fair (FOR THE MOST PART) gameplay style that I haven't seen pulled off nearly as well in any other series. As for what in specific is good about the gameplay in Gates to Infinity in specific, the major things are that it's the easiest and therefore most accessible game in the series, and that in my opinion leads to a (AGAIN FOR THE MOST PART) very fun playing experience throughout, I rarely found myself annoyed at a part of the game.

    As for the story, this is the best part of the game, hands down. I'll try not to spoil it, but I'm just gonna say it is THE best video game story I've played so far, and just for the story alone I recommend picking this game up, but combine it with the excellent gameplay and you have an amazing game.

    Now I do have a few gripes with the game mainly that for full party stat changes, either buffs or debuffs, level ups, and just events where more than one text box related thing at once is happening, each party member or each stat in the case of level ups has a text box pop up separately for them, and they don't happen simultaneously, so it's pretty slow in that regard. Also, I wont say which boss but in the last bit of the game, one of the bossfights (not the final boss mind you) is WAY harder than anything else in the main story.

    Other than those few gripes I had with the game, it's an amazing game and a game I can highly recommend to ANYONE.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best 3DS Game of 2013
13
#13 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2013
16
#16 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 46
  3. Negative: 9 out of 46
  1. GamingXP
    Sep 16, 2013
    71
    Building the paradise up is so motivating, that you beat the dungeons over and over again, even though they are repetitive.
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  2. The Digital Fix
    Jun 10, 2013
    50
    Unless you must play every Pokemon title you’re probably better off simply waiting for the release of X and Y later in the year.
    Read full review
  3. XGN
    Jun 9, 2013
    65
    If you like to read your way through a game this is something for you. If you don't this could be an agonising adventure. It is a cute game to keep you busy till Pokémon X and Y come into view.
    Read full review
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