Pokemon Shuffle

 3DS
User Score
6.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 143 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 49 out of 143
  2. Mixed: 56 out of 143
  3. Negative: 38 out of 143

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  1. kitsuneae
    Apr 1, 2015
    4
    As "Free to play" microtransaction games go, this one isn't the worst. It is possible to beat and catch most pokemon without spending anything. It is possible to earn the "cash currency" in game in limited amounts. As long as you're not looking for long play periods, it is possible to have fun. From there, the good things end.

    There are world contests and the winners are always either    As "Free to play" microtransaction games go, this one isn't the worst. It is possible to beat and catch most pokemon without spending anything. It is possible to earn the "cash currency" in game in limited amounts. As long as you're not looking for long play periods, it is possible to have fun. From there, the good things end.

    There are world contests and the winners are always either people who have won other global contests or paid lots of money to get all the EX stage pokemon. Those EX stage pokemon, by the way, are all timed levels that are harder than normal with some sitting at 15 second or less to win. The regular rounds start out reasonable but end up just plan unfair with the Wacky Workshop being the nastiest, unbalanced gameplay I have ever seen outside of intentionally brutal "masocore" games.

    Once you beat the pokemon, you caught it, right? Nope! Catching these pokemon requires that you had time/moves left, which often is impossible. This "you can beat but not catch" trick is where Shuffle hopes to rake in lots of money as a high catch chance never seems to be enough I have had it fail at 80% or higher catch rate on a regular basis. Even worse, some of the nastiest pokemon to catch are some of the weakest to use making the frustrating effort not worth it.

    The visuals are OK- very simple but they get the point across. The sound is horrible, however, with repetitive music and annoying sound effects. Play this one on mute! There are no 3D effects in this game.

    Yes, I have seen worse "Free to play" games, but I still can't recommend this as a game overall. Maybe it's ok if you just want to kill five minutes a couple times a day, but there are better, more fun games for doing that. Scrape some change from under the couch and buy one instead of playing this.    … Expand
  2. Arie
    Apr 3, 2015
    2
    From a player who grew up respecting Nintendo's sensibility, to me, this game is an all-time low.

    The playstyle is self explanatory; it plays like any Bejeweled ripoff possibly could, aside from your ability to completely overlook wherever each piece is located and move them in a free range of motion. You're limited to a certain amount of moves, and those moves are replenished via    From a player who grew up respecting Nintendo's sensibility, to me, this game is an all-time low.

    The playstyle is self explanatory; it plays like any Bejeweled ripoff possibly could, aside from your ability to completely overlook wherever each piece is located and move them in a free range of motion. You're limited to a certain amount of moves, and those moves are replenished via in-game currency bought with real money. Now, this would be fine with any game that was targeted toward a more adult audience (i.e. Game of War, Clash of Clans, Candy Crush, etc.) but, think about the target audience here.

    Little kids with too much time on their hands and probably not connected to a bank account with which to do as they please.

    The game is easy at its start -- you get a starter set of five hearts, which replenish one at a time after a span of thirty minutes. Five rounds in, you get a jewel. Five more rounds, you get another. After that, you're on your own, because, lo and behold, the notorious check-in button appears. Legendary Pokemon that you can catch become available. But, before you touch that continue button, keep in mind that this is a pay-to-play game, and, if gamers have learned anything from EA from their days of hashing out DLC, it's that we are always seen as wallets for the big bad boys of the gaming industry to stick their grubby hands in.

    Though, I had kept the completely innocent image of Nintendo in my head. They'd never do that! They saved the gaming industry from those who did that exact thing!

    I was wrong. Nintendo is doing exactly what screwed over the industry in '83. In order to even get through the fight with Rayquaza, I had to use all thirty moves (plus five more via a booster. And I had upped my attack as well), only to deal a third of damage to the damn thing. At any situation like that, an adult would be able to discern how much **** that is.

    Let's keep in mind that it's mostly kids playing this. Would an average kid not just grab his or her parents' credit card, load up on jewels, and grind the damn thing?
    They would. They **** would.

    Thanks, Nintendo. You might be the reason the industry is screwed over in the end.    … Expand
  3. bowyer
    Apr 3, 2015
    2
    The game is fun, but the constant attempt at getting money from microtransactions is upsetting. I would pay $10 for the full game, but I refuse to pay the microtransactions.
  4. rubin
    Apr 15, 2015
    0
    This is literally no different than 9000000000000 bejeweled / candy crush clones available on the app store. This particular game also includes an annoying RNG mechanic that sometimes makes you miss out on capturing the enemy Pokemon even if you ace the stage (!). If you played (and got bored of) at least one of those "match 3" games like me you will find 0 entertainment value in Pokemon Shuffle.
  5. Godlygamer
    Apr 11, 2015
    6
    This is Nintendo's first big attempt (Steel Divers: Sub Wars and Rusty's Real Deal Baseball are different stories.) at the free to play market, and...I'm gonna say it, Nintendo got greedy with this one. Basically, it's a Pokemon match-three game, but free to play. So, you have five hearts, and when you play a level, you lose one heart. It takes 30 minutes for 1 heart to regenerate (2This is Nintendo's first big attempt (Steel Divers: Sub Wars and Rusty's Real Deal Baseball are different stories.) at the free to play market, and...I'm gonna say it, Nintendo got greedy with this one. Basically, it's a Pokemon match-three game, but free to play. So, you have five hearts, and when you play a level, you lose one heart. It takes 30 minutes for 1 heart to regenerate (2 hours, 30 minutes for all of them to regenerate.) or you can use jewels to get them back. And that's when this game get's greedy with micro transactions. The most you can spend on a pack of jewels is around 55$. You can use jewels to get coins and hearts. Honestly, I haven't spent a penny on this game, and I never will. But, at least the game's not lazy. Their are 165(?) levels, and the game is updated regularly. On each level, you can get a rank depending on your score, and a chance to catch the Pokemon. (the catch rate is horrific, by the way) They also add daily Pokemon, events, expert stages. Overall, a good Pokemon puzzle game, but really greedy in micro transactions. (don't even get me started about the later mega levels...)… Expand
  6. Mesouse
    Apr 26, 2015
    0
    If you loved playing Candy Crush on your pretentious little iPhone your mommy bought you after your old one became obsolete mere weeks after it was released, then I promise you'll love Pokemon Shuffle. If you're a rational, intelligent human being, however, you'd best keep reading.

    The third entry in the Pokemon spin-off series known as Trozei, Pokemon Shuffle continues the series'    If you loved playing Candy Crush on your pretentious little iPhone your mommy bought you after your old one became obsolete mere weeks after it was released, then I promise you'll love Pokemon Shuffle. If you're a rational, intelligent human being, however, you'd best keep reading.

    The third entry in the Pokemon spin-off series known as Trozei, Pokemon Shuffle continues the series' classic formula of "match 3 severed pokemon heads to damage your opponents so you can capture them". In a terribly ham-fisted attempt at cashing in on the "Freemium" mobile game craze (which are known for using evil psych bull$#!+ to mentally rope players in so they only play for short periods without spending real-world money on virtual currency), Nintendo and Genius Sonority have proven that we, as consumers, are gullible sheep that'll shovel all our hard-earned money into anything with the Pokemon label slapped on.

    Gameplay-wise, Shuffle is nothing more than a dulled version of Pokemon Trozei with a pay-to-win atmosphere. By default, the player can only "save up" (by waiting 25-30 minutes!) 5 hearts, also-known-as "chances", which means that after playing 5 levels (or less if you have to retry any), the player must wait between 30 minutes and two and a half hours before they can play again, which brings me to the topic of microtransactions.

    As with all "Freemium" mobile games, Pokemon Shuffle comes with its own unique (yet equally generic) pseudocurrency, called "Jewels". Jewels can be used for buying more Hearts, buying coins (used for buying power-ups before each stage), and for buying an extra 5 moves in the extremely likely chance that the player fails the current stage. As of writing this review, Jewels cost a whopping $0.99 each, with the obligatory "discount" for buying in bulk, with an insulting mechanic that both prevents the player from having more than 75 Jewels, and making it so, even if , for example; the player has 50 and tries to buy the pack of 35, it's likely that they'll be charged without receiving a single Jewel. (As I currently refuse to support Nintendo by paying for their trash, I won't be buying any Jewels to test this theory out)

    Occasionally, Nintendo will unleash a special competition (in which the prize is an "exclusive" Mega Stone for whatever pokemon is involved) where your only chances of making it within the top 10000 are either:
    a) Spending money on coins and Jewels for power-ups to give you an unfair advantage over the penniless, smelly unfortunates,
    b) Being affiliated with Nintendo,
    c) Being Asian (no racism intended, it just stands to reason that they would have a home-field advantage),
    d) Playing the game all day, every day until your every move is perfect,
    e) Exploiting software glitches to hack your way into a qualifying position.

    Another thing worth noting is the Passcode system, which died the first day. As of writing this, the only passcode that exists has existed since the game's release, good for 2 free "Mega Start" items. The code expires on the 30th of this month (April), which means that either the passcode system will be gone for good, or good ol' Nintendo's been making players wait until that code expires before they release another.

    I personally suggest finding an exploit to hack yourself a handful of gems and coins instead of feeding Nintendo's $#!+ Shark.

    In short, just buy Pokemon Battle Trozei. It's only 8 bucks on the eShop, and it's probably a lot more fun than Shuffle. Then again, performing open heart surgery on an hour of sleep would be more fun than playing Shuffle for 5 minutes.    … Expand
  7. Z4ck0r
    Oct 6, 2015
    4
    Pokemon Shuffle is kind of addicting, but it's a rip-off. It takes two and a half hours for all five hearts to be restored, and say you want a mega Pokemon that is an event, you basically have to play non-stop, and even then you probably wont get the mega stone. If you are bored some day then I recommend this game, but otherwise I don't.
  8. Blazikenpwnsyou
    Feb 21, 2015
    1
    This game is a Pay-2-Play nightmare that Genius Sonority should have never made. You don't move Pokemon during combos, you have to wait for 30 minutes per heart, and you have to spend outrageous prices for gems to exchange for hearts and coins! This is an irreparable gash upon Pokemon's reputation, and it sickens me to even call this a Pokemon game. If you want to play a Pokemon puzzleThis game is a Pay-2-Play nightmare that Genius Sonority should have never made. You don't move Pokemon during combos, you have to wait for 30 minutes per heart, and you have to spend outrageous prices for gems to exchange for hearts and coins! This is an irreparable gash upon Pokemon's reputation, and it sickens me to even call this a Pokemon game. If you want to play a Pokemon puzzle game, play Battle Trozei instead. If you want to play a Free-2-Play game that does the model justice, play Rusty's Real Deal Baseball! Both have more value than this trainwreck. Shame on you, Genius Sonority, shame!… Expand
  9. BROstoise
    Mar 30, 2015
    0
    Damn. It looks like NIntendo has fallen victim to the global scourge of Free to Play gaming. They just had to get some of that sweet candy crush micro-transaction action. Thanks, capitalism.
  10. Crankthatsnes
    Mar 10, 2015
    2
    Cash grab for a mediocre puzzler. We have seen this type of math game before, and while the mega evolution is rather fresh, being able to only play 5 times for every 2 or so hours, unless you pay of course, makes the game not worth the download.
  11. sgotsch
    Feb 25, 2015
    8
    Took me some days to really appreciate that game. (Thank you heart system for taking out the grinding speed.)

    I'm not spending a single cent on this game but with 135 stages cleared and 91 Pokemon caught, you don't have to pay to win. (Which is totally possible.) In fact the games offers lots of dephts for a match-3-puzzler. The Pokemon-types, the abilities Mega Evolutions and combo    Took me some days to really appreciate that game. (Thank you heart system for taking out the grinding speed.)

    I'm not spending a single cent on this game but with 135 stages cleared and 91 Pokemon caught, you don't have to pay to win. (Which is totally possible.)

    In fact the games offers lots of dephts for a match-3-puzzler. The Pokemon-types, the abilities Mega Evolutions and combo cascades are creating a solid gameplay. I'm especially liking that you can plan out your moves like you are playing chess due to the missing time limit.

    Winning the levels is super easy. The difficulty comes when you are planning to catch that Pokemon, because you need to finish with as many moves left as possible. At this part the consideration kicks in, pondering wether to spent your precious coins and jewels or save them for later.

    -> Collection Pokemon in a puzzler with casino like gambling in the background is fun! :) Don't let the Microtransaction-Phobiest troll you. Free fun - that's what it is.    … Expand
  12. Alletz
    Feb 24, 2015
    6
    This is a nice game to complement the Street Pass Mii Plaza, it is playable just for short periods of time if you don't want to spend any money. It would be good if you could spend 3DS play coins as an alternative.
  13. megusta1233
    Feb 20, 2015
    7
    The game is really enjoyable, but it's unfortunate you can't play it very long due to expensive 'jewels'. I'd say that you should play this game, but mind the micro transactions.
  14. Daveisonline
    Feb 19, 2015
    1
    Encapsulates the absolute worst type of pay model found in Smartphone F2P social games, and being on the 3DS.

    You're given 5 hearts which count as turns, and each take about 1-2 minutes to burn through, after you've exhausted your 5 hearts you can either wait 30 minutes to restore ONE, hunt for Streetpass hits, or buy more hearts. The fact that it has the Pokemon brand slapped all    Encapsulates the absolute worst type of pay model found in Smartphone F2P social games, and being on the 3DS.

    You're given 5 hearts which count as turns, and each take about 1-2 minutes to burn through, after you've exhausted your 5 hearts you can either wait 30 minutes to restore ONE, hunt for Streetpass hits, or buy more hearts.

    The fact that it has the Pokemon brand slapped all over it trying to entice children to play is even more dishonest. Shame on you Nintendo for doing something like this.    … Expand
  15. Devide
    Feb 20, 2015
    0
    Exploitative game that should have never been released on Nintendo hardware. Very disappointing. Mobile is where this should end up. Also to those playing it, if you happen to spend coins on a great ball and the capture fails press home button and restart the game, you'll keep the coins that way.
  16. Alluminn
    Feb 25, 2015
    8
    Honestly, it's what you get in a modern-day FTP game. Yeah, it has micro-transactions to keep playing - so do the vast majority of professionally-produced free games. You have hearts that are used each time you play a level (versus in games like Candy Crush in which you only lose a life when you fail to complete a level), so you can really only play 5 levels in one sitting. Once you beatHonestly, it's what you get in a modern-day FTP game. Yeah, it has micro-transactions to keep playing - so do the vast majority of professionally-produced free games. You have hearts that are used each time you play a level (versus in games like Candy Crush in which you only lose a life when you fail to complete a level), so you can really only play 5 levels in one sitting. Once you beat the level you have a chance to catch the Pokemon, with your odds going up depending on the fewer moves you used. It is essentially Candy Crush: Pokemon Edition, and going into it knowing that you'll enjoy the game for what it is. Most of the assets that went into making the game looks to have come from Pokemon: Battle Trozei, and the game itself is essentially a toned-down version of Battle Trozei, so right from that you can tell not a lot of manpower was diverted from other projects to make this game a reality. It was enjoyable, but if you want something without all the microtransactions then just fork up the $8 to buy Battle Trozei.… Expand
  17. Drigo_Elder
    Feb 25, 2015
    9
    If you are one of the new generation gamers borned in the recent games era and not played the portable games of the GB, GBC and GBA era, you will HATE this game... But, if you playing Nintendo portable games since Game Boy this game is perfect. Unlike to the new common sense, portable games don't need to be very complex with a deep Hollywoodian history, the only mission of them isIf you are one of the new generation gamers borned in the recent games era and not played the portable games of the GB, GBC and GBA era, you will HATE this game... But, if you playing Nintendo portable games since Game Boy this game is perfect. Unlike to the new common sense, portable games don't need to be very complex with a deep Hollywoodian history, the only mission of them is entertain you in the bus or trains,and Pokemon Shuffle is very competent to do this. Well, it's Candy Crush without Candy.… Expand
  18. stako
    Feb 22, 2015
    6
    As someone who is used to the way the mobile market of freemium games work, I really must admit by addressing the first three official reviews here with only one question: What were you expecting?
    But let us be fair - understanding something, agreeing with it and liking it are three extremely different things that every serious critic should comprehend.
    Pokemon Shuffle randomly popped up    As someone who is used to the way the mobile market of freemium games work, I really must admit by addressing the first three official reviews here with only one question: What were you expecting?
    But let us be fair - understanding something, agreeing with it and liking it are three extremely different things that every serious critic should comprehend.
    Pokemon Shuffle randomly popped up unto my 3DS home screen as an advert for the game. As I tend to the needs of my inner child and thus - Yes, I still play and love Pokemon, I went to download it straight away without expecting too much.
    Being a 3DS freemium game, I knew I should expect cynical microtransactions. They are terrible enough as it is on iOS and Android, but Nintendo is even more notorious with their ridiculously high prices on almost anything. To address this straight away - the offered transactions are with a ridiculously high monetary value, while the gameplay value they apply to is 1/10 of what you should be receiving. Nintendo have indeed outdone themselves. However - I've put more than 7 hours into the game and I did not once need to buy something to advance.
    Let's start anew - the game has a very polished look, even though it might be too childish at times. It retains the style introduced in Pokemon X/Y. I am not a big fan of these baby colors, but I don't mind them either. The main graphical difference that is of significance is the look of the Pokemon. Even though I understand why they have to be represented simply by their heads (because they are spherical I suppose), I don't understand why isn't there any type of full-body model included - when fighting against a said Pokemon, for example, or when browsing them. It would have made for a much better experience. Other than that, for what the game is, it looks very nice.
    The sound is cool. Sound effects are crisp, though silly in the same childish way. There is a multitude of musical themes that the player will listen while playing. I prefer to play with the sound off. While the music design isn't terrible, it isn't what I would call good music.
    Gameplaywise - there are a lot of things everyone would like to see included. The lack of any context or story is a bit annoying, so is the extreme similarities between the different types and species of Pokemon, no to mention some very illogical things. But with this being a free game I will judge only what is present. And that is a very clever and challenging match-3 puzzle game. Some stages are way too easy, others - very hard. At times the game feels like part of the winning strategy is to actually use the "optional" power ups. Something that I find to be a little strange is the hint system - 9/10 times, if you follow it absolutely, you will inevitably win. Sometimes it doesn't work, but too many times it did. The most annoying part of the game is that it expects you to know why a certain pokemon is stronger or weaker against another. Even I - someone who has played Pokemon games before, can't understand this at times. But this, as you might have guessed, calls for a lot of farming to catch more and more Pokemon, so that you might counter other types (though this feels more scripted than it should). See, every presented stage is a battle against a Pokemon. You have a move limit within which you must defeat the said Pokemon via matching your chosen team of Pokemon (usually consisting of 4). If you manage to do this, you will be given the opportunity to catch the Pokemon you battled, but the % of you being successful at it depends on how many moves you used. The less you've used, the higher the chance. Which calls for more farming, because Pokemon can still level up, which is a huge grind - loads of Pokemon, most of which you will need, slow leveling. It isn't a smooth ride. But given the fact that gameplay is not demanding, yet it's challenging and fun - once you free your mind of the concept of replaying a stage 50 times, you tend to enjoy it none the less. But here is where the real problem sets in - there is a timer. You have a maximum of 5 plays, you lose 1 every time you play a stage and it takes 30 (!) minutes to recharge it. This, in my opinion, is too much. 15 minutes would have been sufficient, this way you almost don't get to play. But you can always buy some crystals to buy more plays, which is the point, I guess.
    Furthere than that, the game also offers Expert stages, where you have no move limit, but a time limit, and Special ones which offer a special Pokemon for a limited time with a battle with special conditions.
    Overall, the game is fun. It is not a bad game, though it needs to be more user friendly. However, since I have downloaded it, I've not closed the thing. Between work, study and life, I always find 5-10 minutes to play a bit, close the 3DS, keep it in my pocket until the next break and repeat this. I am sure it will eventually get old, due to the insane timer, but for a free game - you have nothing to lose.    … Expand
  19. Killzonegaming
    Mar 12, 2015
    7
    This game is pretty much a mediocre mobile game.
    So what? It's a mobile game. Not everyone wants to crap out 500$ for a Iphone to play some Candy Crush. This game's microtransactions can be ignored, and you have a fun puzzle game.
  20. osueboy
    Mar 7, 2015
    6
    The game is fun, as every other puzzle game, this is not something relevant, its the same mechanic we already know from hundreds other match 3 games, what sets it apart is that you play with pokemons and you collect them, level 'em up and has all the strategic feeling of any other pokemon game, pick super effective pokemons and everything will be fine. that being said... Comparing thisThe game is fun, as every other puzzle game, this is not something relevant, its the same mechanic we already know from hundreds other match 3 games, what sets it apart is that you play with pokemons and you collect them, level 'em up and has all the strategic feeling of any other pokemon game, pick super effective pokemons and everything will be fine. that being said... Comparing this game to candy crush you will be really angry when you spend hearts even when you win, you have a 30 minute counter that you can empty in 10 minutes, that leaves you with a really limited game time. unless you pay and to be honest i would rather pay 10 usd for this game an unlock it all, or any other puzzler than spend 5 dollars for 5 gems that will give me 1 hour of game time. To gain value this should give special rewards for the main pokemon games, as the manaphy game did before... now paying only for stones... why bother.… Expand
  21. CharizardWWE
    Jun 28, 2015
    10
    I really like this game. I know it only have 5 lives but i really like the idea of extra lives. There are some levels that are difficult and i like that.
  22. SirKirbyThe4th
    Feb 20, 2015
    7
    It's free, what would you expect? Anyways, this is a decent puzzle game that is way more in-depth than you think. The best part is you can select any 4 Pokemon in you collection to battle. The worst part is those "hints" that tell you where to put what pieces where, & they are usually not the best decision.
  23. Lagamedog
    Mar 3, 2015
    8
    What can I say, this is a f2p game but does not force you to pay. One part that I like about this game is that you do not have to capture a Pokemon to continue to the next level. If you like Pokemon then you might like this if you like f2p games that don't make you pay to win.
  24. Uddermode
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    I have to give this game a 10 because I just love it so much. I have played 70+ hours without spending any money. The people who complain about this games must not be able to get past level 5 or something. I have caught every pokemon except for 2 so far and it only took in 1-3 tries. If it wasn't for the life limit I would never stop playing and so for that I'm grateful.

    Look this game    I have to give this game a 10 because I just love it so much. I have played 70+ hours without spending any money. The people who complain about this games must not be able to get past level 5 or something. I have caught every pokemon except for 2 so far and it only took in 1-3 tries. If it wasn't for the life limit I would never stop playing and so for that I'm grateful.

    Look this game isn't groundbreaking and it isn't even the best match-3 puzzle game out there. This is a game to play while you on the toilet or on a bus and need to kill a few minutes. It is a game for the pokemon fan. I am a huge pokemon fan and I'm addicted to this game.    … Expand
  25. MattLo
    Feb 20, 2015
    7
    Game is basically a Pokemon version of the mobile game "Best Fiends". It's a fun little game to play when you're just looking for something to take about 10 or so minutes. Sure the game has micro-transactions but really the only thing that limits is how much time you spend playing. You aren't being charged to obtain better Pokemon. You can get all of them without paying a cent. DefinitelyGame is basically a Pokemon version of the mobile game "Best Fiends". It's a fun little game to play when you're just looking for something to take about 10 or so minutes. Sure the game has micro-transactions but really the only thing that limits is how much time you spend playing. You aren't being charged to obtain better Pokemon. You can get all of them without paying a cent. Definitely recommended for any fans of the "match 3" genre.… Expand
  26. xveganroxx
    Mar 19, 2015
    0
    There's a fun game hidden somewhere in here, but it costs hundreds of dollars to play. It costs $1 for about 4 minutes of play. $60 could buy you a brand new AAA title, or it could buy you four hours of this. That's two or three days of reasonable play time max.
  27. Beastprogamer
    Apr 26, 2015
    5
    I realized that I've gone TOO far with my last review. This game is fun but has to be the worst Pokemon game next to Rumble U. The graphics are okay. The gameplay is fine. The alternate stages suck. This is a free game and I would go ahead and download it if you like Candy Crush and Pokemon together. If you don't like Pokemon games, you are silly as J Bieber.
  28. EnderDragon
    Feb 20, 2015
    10
    I wish you had more than 5 moves max, but other than that minor complaint, this is a really fun game overall. A lot of people hate micro transactions, but they are never required to do anything in the game. Love the puzzle aspect and I enjoy Pokémon spin-off games. Think Candy Crush, but with Pokémon aspects to it.
  29. LeviBlank
    Feb 22, 2015
    9
    If you have ever logged onto FaceBook or viewed any app store of any kind, you probably have heard or played a “match three” type of game (Candy Crush, Bejeweled, etc.) I get like fifteen requests from random people everyday on FaceBook to play these types of games. I’m sick of it, to be honest. Don’t get me wrong, I have tried all of these games out. I have played them all up to the levelIf you have ever logged onto FaceBook or viewed any app store of any kind, you probably have heard or played a “match three” type of game (Candy Crush, Bejeweled, etc.) I get like fifteen requests from random people everyday on FaceBook to play these types of games. I’m sick of it, to be honest. Don’t get me wrong, I have tried all of these games out. I have played them all up to the level where I get stuck and can’t advance without bashing my head on the door. I have sat around in public and heard middle age ladies **** and moan about how they “can’t get passed level 178 on Candy Crush.” Even popular video games like “Evolve” have companion apps centered around this model.

    I downloaded Pokemon Shuffle (free on the 3DS eShop) having no idea what it was going to be. I knew that it was free, so my hopes were not high at all. While the tutorial was spoon feeding me a genre that I was sick of, something felt nice. It felt like my mother’s home cooking. Something just felt right to me. The cute and catchy aspect of Pokemon was overpowering the annoying aspects of this genre. I started to feel what those middle age ladies were feeling all along. I was hooked after about twenty minutes of playing.

    This game has the same concept as every other “match three” game. Except with this one, you can catch Pokemon and use them to your advantage in an RPG style team system. You get to level your Pokemon individually, while using their abilities to your advantage against wild Pokemon and trainers. The different effectiveness of your Pokemon plus the newer “Mega Evolution” system adds a refreshing depth and strategic element to an extremely bland genre of games. While going through the main step by step progression through the game, you have special and expert events going on where you can catch more rare Pokemon. Don’t be fooled though, the more exotic the Pokemon, the harder the challenge.

    After you battle the Pokemon, you get a chance to catch the them. While attempting to catch a Pokemon, you are given a “Catchability Meter.” This is a feature that shows you the percentage that you have to catch the given Pokemon, and adding more depending on your bonuses in the match. I personally wish this feature was implemented into every single Pokemon game. If you fail to catch the Pokemon on the first try, you are given a “Great Ball” chance, which costs in-game currency.

    This game is fun and extremely addictive. It leaves me to ask one very important question, why has Nintendo not put this game onto iOS and Android marketplaces?! I would spend hours on my phone playing this game. Seeing the success of games like it, Nintendo would be moronic to only keep this game on the eShop. I’m sure it will make tons of money due to in-game purchases, but I can’t see too much money outside of Japan. If this was on the Google Play and Apple Store, there is an unlimited amount of money to be made. When I am playing my 3DS, I don’t want to spend too much time on a game like this. I want to be playing full length games that I payed thirty or more dollars for. I just really think that Nintendo dropped the ball there. Other than that, this game is very fun and I plan to play more of it when I can.    … Expand
  30. ErickMallaco
    Feb 24, 2015
    10
    jogo viciante , mesmo com o limite de vida consegue ser viciante. jogo com dificuldade media. Agora nao sei oq falar mas tipo o jogo e DE GRAÇA entao e foda!!!!
  31. fabio00
    Feb 22, 2015
    10
    This is a wonderful game that is a great spin-off to the main series.
    Although is free you can pay for more attempts but it´s not necessary because you can wait to get more.
    You don´t really have to pay.
    Also, I love the mega evolution song!
  32. Joakojm
    Feb 26, 2015
    10
    Very addictive game it is fun and it is not necessary to spend a penny if you have a strong heart and cold mind jajajaja xDD
    Purist ones will hate this game by using a big franchise in F2P model but like Mario Kart 8 dlc, Nintendo takes advantage of it and brings quality and fun!!
  33. mrsushi64
    Feb 19, 2015
    8
    It`s a fun game and very challenging sometimes, but have some problems, but they will fixed later with a new up-grate. Is a very fun game and free to play.
  34. bobbyman46
    Feb 25, 2015
    7
    This game is really, really far from perfect. The timer and the microtransactions are a huge turn off. However, it does serve as a fun little distraction for a bit of time. I find a lot of enjoyment in catching certain pokemon that only have a 10% catch rate though.
  35. Aozz101x
    Mar 15, 2015
    7
    Pokemon Shuffle is an ok free to play game but limits on what you do on the game itself,
    this is one pokemon game that i enjoy it's best but could do better.
  36. ilikecamperz
    Feb 22, 2015
    7
    Certainly addicting and great but only if you had earn Jewels more commonly instead of buying a bunch for more than the cost Majora's mask 3D, Also hearts? Dumbest IOS mechanic ever!, But still fun and addicting a little harder than what I expected.
  37. LinkcarioX
    Mar 9, 2015
    9
    Is a very addctive game, is very enjoyable, but, I don't like the idea of Buy jewels with real money, and you have very few hearts, besides you need a lot of jewels to enjoy the game at 100%.
    However is a good game.
    If you are a Pokemon Fan, and you like the puzzles games I recomend you this game.
    Sorry is If have misspellings, but my english is not very good.
  38. Jill_Sandwich
    Mar 25, 2015
    9
    Level 105, haven't spent a dime on it. Sofar all of the negative feedback on this game is from people who haven't played it, or people who gave it a bad review solely because of Microtransactions "on principal." Only the most impatient & poor-in-strategy will actually buy hearts. Frankly, using the shop items feels like cheating; catching them on your own with no "assistance" feels moreLevel 105, haven't spent a dime on it. Sofar all of the negative feedback on this game is from people who haven't played it, or people who gave it a bad review solely because of Microtransactions "on principal." Only the most impatient & poor-in-strategy will actually buy hearts. Frankly, using the shop items feels like cheating; catching them on your own with no "assistance" feels more rewarding.

    The wait time for a complete refill is only half an hour, half the length of any other game with time breaks. After you use your 5 hearts, you only have to wait 5 minutes for the 6th before the half hour break. By then, you will already have been playing for a half hour. Other games with time breaks don't give you anything close to that much time of solid gameplay until you ht a time wall.

    I liked the level variety & the detail put into it, & the varying scale of difficulty. Give-or-take on the music; one level did have some harsh high pitched bells. Play it when you're drinking your morning coffee, just before bed, or in the bathroom, on the bus, etc.    … Expand
  39. AJCk19
    Jul 16, 2021
    4
    It is much easier to lose your data on 3ds, because how strict Nintendo's DRM practices are. I wouldn't recommend this version. If you value your game saves and hard work.
  40. Tbone413
    Apr 16, 2015
    8
    This game is actually really fun. It doesn't get too addicting, but I still love it. Although this is not my favourite genre of games, this is definitely one of the best match-three puzzle games I've played. I would recommend downloading this game since it's free and fun.
  41. Bgakaze
    May 12, 2015
    9
    This game is simple,enjoyable, and i've been playing it for 2 months already. I've everything the game can offer (until now) and didn't spend a cent. It's more difficult than it appears and some levels are nearly impossible to pass or to get an 'S' (If you get an 'S' in all main levels, you unlock more special levels).

    'Check In' everyday for 500 coins, and get dailies, in weekends a    This game is simple,enjoyable, and i've been playing it for 2 months already. I've everything the game can offer (until now) and didn't spend a cent. It's more difficult than it appears and some levels are nearly impossible to pass or to get an 'S' (If you get an 'S' in all main levels, you unlock more special levels).

    'Check In' everyday for 500 coins, and get dailies, in weekends a special level with Meowth can give you some more coins, this way you don't have to spend money buying gems. If you do this you can acquire easily 10k coins per week.

    I'm giving these tip's, because the only drawback of this game is the expensive micro transactions, if it were a little more accessible (like pokemon rumble world) it would be great.    … Expand
  42. BaganLeleo
    May 3, 2015
    6
    While it isn't a good game by any standards it's fun for what it's worth, also the micro transactions aren't necessary to have fun with this game, just don't go in expecting to play for 8 hours straight.
  43. pacouranga
    Mar 23, 2015
    6
    At its core, a decent puzzle game. Freemium model very poorly implemented as progress, and fun, are both stilted and slow.

    Reducing the Hearts timer to 5-10 minutes would be a smart change; as it stands each Heart (heart = one attempt at a level) takes 30 minutes to regenerate and they max out at 5. In later levels this means you may only clear one or two levels (or less, if you're    At its core, a decent puzzle game. Freemium model very poorly implemented as progress, and fun, are both stilted and slow.

    Reducing the Hearts timer to 5-10 minutes would be a smart change; as it stands each Heart (heart = one attempt at a level) takes 30 minutes to regenerate and they max out at 5. In later levels this means you may only clear one or two levels (or less, if you're trying for the brutal, Trozei-esque Expert levels) and are then faced with TWO AND A HALF HOURS before you've regenerated.

    Another fix: let players buy coins with Play Coins. Or better yet, tie in the pedometer so 1 step = 1 coin! Coins are a rare commodity without spending real money, and besides checking in once a day for 500 coins, there are no reasonable ways to earn them. 500 coins per day while even the most modest power-up costs 300; other power-ups range in the mid-to-high thousands.

    Finally, offer an "Ultra ball" 3x or 4x catch modifier for one gem or even a handful of coins. I'd be more tempted to spend money on gems if a gem could virtually guarantee catching some of the harder pokemon that average out to 10-15% catch rates. Spending 2500 coins (an almost week-long investment, remember?) to bump an 8% to a 16% is plainly not worth it. I would be way more inclined to shell out coins or even a gem for a 24 or 32% chance.

    One last small complaint: streetpass is currently borderline worthless. It very occasionally gives a few coins, but not enough to make it worth taking up a streetpass slot when far better games with far better SP uses exist. Show our SPs on the map! Maybe reveal where their current team's mons are on the map! Anything would be a nice change.

    And that's really the gist of Pokemon Shuffle's model: any change would be a good one.    … Expand
  44. andrewmyles2
    Apr 12, 2015
    2
    It's not free-to-play, it's a bloody pay-to-win. Lack of options is appalling: it's impossible (it seems) to turn off very silly tips showing up every now and then. Apart from that, it's a fun game.
  45. njlwag
    May 22, 2015
    10
    This game is pronominal. It is so much fun! Its free, time consuming, and competitive. During Lunch time at school all of my friends and I sit around playing Pokemon Shuffle all getting mad and yelling at our 3DS because of how hard the game is.
  46. Naikado
    Jun 26, 2015
    3
    For a free-to-play casual game, this one starts out pretty cute and simple. Microtransactions exist, and while this is the first of multiple Nintendo-released microtransaction games and that in and of itself is kind of terrifying, the game is perfectly beatable without spending any cash. To a point, at least.

    The game has a great many faults; it has a ridiculous difficulty curve,    For a free-to-play casual game, this one starts out pretty cute and simple. Microtransactions exist, and while this is the first of multiple Nintendo-released microtransaction games and that in and of itself is kind of terrifying, the game is perfectly beatable without spending any cash. To a point, at least.

    The game has a great many faults; it has a ridiculous difficulty curve, offering pathetic reward for overcoming unrealistic challenge later in. A great many of the game's levels require countless attempts to beat without spending jewels or coins, and even then so can be a bit hit and miss, usually coming down to some degree of luck. The gameplay itself is shoddy at best, though has enough ties to Pokemon to merit the branding. It also has the hideous attempt cooldown that basically emulates the game taking itself hostage, trying to siphon away your cash. The buyable content is also unreasonably expensive, and I'm glad I never wasted any money on the game.

    Despite a ton of glaring problems and an undeniable cheapness, the game is fun and enjoyable without spending money; however, if you're looking for a satisfying experience, you should forget about Shuffle; you'll never go ten minutes without feeling like you're being shaken down for money.    … Expand
  47. Digibutter64
    Jun 3, 2018
    6
    A fairly accomplished puzzle game. There's some new stuff here if you've played similar games before, but the microtransaction "free-to-play" format leaves a sour taste in my mouth (the microtransactions aren't as bad as some other games though).
  48. Dari-kun
    Dec 18, 2015
    10
    This game is really addictive and fun. I especially love the Live Competitions. Pokemon Shuffle is a great game because it has a time limit between obtaining new plays, making it an ideal game to jump to and take a break while playing other games or when you're on the go. New material is added weekly and it is such a simple yet difficult game, simple to play, difficult if you want everyThis game is really addictive and fun. I especially love the Live Competitions. Pokemon Shuffle is a great game because it has a time limit between obtaining new plays, making it an ideal game to jump to and take a break while playing other games or when you're on the go. New material is added weekly and it is such a simple yet difficult game, simple to play, difficult if you want every pokemon. It is one of the best puzzle type games I've ever played. I super recommend it, i have friends that aren't really into pkmn playing. A must have for fans of the series.… Expand
  49. EpicLadySponge
    Jun 7, 2016
    5
    A basically pay-to-win game that use tutorials that get seriously annoying (Yeah, Amelia, I'm looking at you.) and microtransactions that are required to beat the game. Worth playing once, but not a second try.
  50. GamecubeLover
    Jul 28, 2016
    5
    Pokemon Shuffle isn't anything special and it is your generic and usual tetris clone but pokemon type but this time the game is close to mediocre so yea.
  51. Foxcek
    Jun 4, 2019
    0
    It seems to me that this part of the Pokemon game is the worst. Made in haste. In General, this game was intended for Android and iOS smart phones. But this game as it can get into the eShop on the Nintendo 3DS! Thank you that it is free and you do not have to pay for it both on smart phones and on the portable Nintendo 3DS console. A typical game in the style of Pokemon. I am shocked thatIt seems to me that this part of the Pokemon game is the worst. Made in haste. In General, this game was intended for Android and iOS smart phones. But this game as it can get into the eShop on the Nintendo 3DS! Thank you that it is free and you do not have to pay for it both on smart phones and on the portable Nintendo 3DS console. A typical game in the style of Pokemon. I am shocked that this greatest company has made such a shameful and worthless game! 0/10… Expand
  52. Biggleboi
    Jul 15, 2020
    2
    This game is just candy crush with a fresh coat of paint but what makes Candy Crush better than this piece of crap is that Candy Crush is an original project Pokemon Shuffle is lazy and is just Candy Crush i'd like to say more but there's nothing else
  53. Toasttt
    Mar 26, 2022
    5
    meh .
  54. AlexMakesToast
    Nov 23, 2022
    3
    Shuffle = 3/10
    ............................................................
  55. Albeirito
    Sep 4, 2023
    6
    Tu típico juego de móvil, estilo candy crush, en el que, a diferencia del susodicho juego, dependes mucho mas de la suerte que en el candy crush.
    Os lo voy a resumir por completo: Hay muchos niveles en los que tienes que capturar pokemon y usarlos para capturar a mas pokemon con ese sistema parecido al candy crush.
    Evidentemente, necesitas conectar mas de 2 neuronas a la hora de jugar,    Tu típico juego de móvil, estilo candy crush, en el que, a diferencia del susodicho juego, dependes mucho mas de la suerte que en el candy crush.
    Os lo voy a resumir por completo: Hay muchos niveles en los que tienes que capturar pokemon y usarlos para capturar a mas pokemon con ese sistema parecido al candy crush.
    Evidentemente, necesitas conectar mas de 2 neuronas a la hora de jugar, porque si haces los suficientes movimientos estúpidos acabas perdiendo (lo cual es bastante difícil, ya que el juego te marca cual es el mejor movimiento que puedes hacer según la IA, en todo momento).
    Luego está el modo de extras, el el que dependes un poco menos de la suerte y mucho mas del ingenio que tengas a la hora de jugar y los buenos movimientos que hagas tú en el tiempo limite que se te asigna.

    6.0/10    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Best 3DS Game of 2015
6
#6 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2015
41
#41 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 16
  3. Negative: 4 out of 16
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 20, 2015
    50
    If you have the patience of a saint and like the pick-up-and-play experience, Pokémon Shuffle might be perfect for you. If you don't like the idea of being nickel-and-dimed to experience puzzling at a normal pace, this game's sure to get your blood boiling. [Issue #14: Old vs. New – March/April 2015, p.24]
  2. NZGamer
    Apr 13, 2015
    45
    Simple gameplay hamstrung by freemium features.
    Read full review
  3. SpazioGames
    Apr 8, 2015
    55
    An unfair business model sucks out all the enjoyment that Pokemon Shuffle can grant if played in very short bursts.
    Read full review
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