Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon

 3DS
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 339 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 262 out of 339
  2. Mixed: 40 out of 339
  3. Negative: 37 out of 339
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  1. Kimura
    Nov 25, 2015
    5
    Honestly, I was afraid of getting the game, of course because of Gates to Infinity, and after beating the game, I unfortunately would probably not recommend this game to anyone, at least not until it's down in price. The story is nearly exactly the same as Gates to Infinity with a tiny touch of Explorers of D/T/S.
    The main thing I like about the game is the connection system, and of    Honestly, I was afraid of getting the game, of course because of Gates to Infinity, and after beating the game, I unfortunately would probably not recommend this game to anyone, at least not until it's down in price. The story is nearly exactly the same as Gates to Infinity with a tiny touch of Explorers of D/T/S.
    The main thing I like about the game is the connection system, and of course being done with the silly story. It is funny at times, and has references to past games, but those are the best things it's got going for it.    … Expand
  2. Thieverpedia
    Jan 13, 2016
    5
    I've been a fan of this spin-off series for a while and have given every game a chance. Granted, some parts I griped about, but I'm always about giving something a chance before I judge it.

    Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon continues the trend of making things easier for newer players to get into, but I feel the series should have continued with the trend of reaping the rewards from our    I've been a fan of this spin-off series for a while and have given every game a chance. Granted, some parts I griped about, but I'm always about giving something a chance before I judge it.

    Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon continues the trend of making things easier for newer players to get into, but I feel the series should have continued with the trend of reaping the rewards from our hard work. With this game, I still feel as if we haven't got a proper sequel to Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky. It's like a spin-off of a spin-off to me. IQ still hasn't made a return for us to work hard on ourselves and was replaced by a system in the next two games that simply couldn't compare to it, the fourth slot for our party members was removed and reserved only for clients, the whole recruiting system was replaced by recruiting clients, some party members might be busy so you can't use them all the time, and the story started to seem fairly bland near the end. The worst of it all for me had to be the constant hand holding that the game does to make some things not a challenge at all.

    Don't get me wrong, though. There are plenty of reasons why this review is "Mixed" and not "Negative." Things I enjoyed were team attacks, the excellent soundtrack, and the game actually challenging me in other areas. Before, I could demolish any Pokemon myself in just a couple attacks. Now my team has to help me defeat wild Pokemon. No longer do they get torn apart like they're paper. They challenge me to come up with a new strategy for every Pokemon. While I somewhat disliked having to use other Pokemon because some party members were busy, I enjoyed the game encouraging me to try new things and changing my strategy around depending on who was with me, and those 5 presets for party members were fantastic. I also enjoyed not requiring my teammates to be in my party to gain experience. I enjoy grind, but 700+ Pokemon can get a bit excessive to train.

    My personal verdict? Like Gates to Infinity, this is a decent first game to play if you're just starting out playing Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, but long-time fans of the game will find themselves disappointed once more as they still don't have a proper sequel to their beloved Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky..    … Expand
  3. alienators
    Nov 24, 2016
    6
    Best one in the series is darkness. This one is just a poor rehash of darkness but at least it has better graphics. It's not bad, its just a disappointment because I had imagined it being so much more than just a poor remake.
  4. RobertTheGreat
    Apr 26, 2018
    6
    Gates To Infinty Failed Me. I Played It And I Enjoyed It, But I Was Hard For Me To Get Through Poliwrath River, And I Need More Time To Get Through It. When I Started To Play The Game I Chose To Be Riolu And My Partner, Mudkip. This Game Was Good But I Need To Do Better At Going Through The Game.
  5. XxWolfxX
    Aug 16, 2016
    7
    This game is okay, but the box art is just terrible, at least the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Gates of Infinity has 3D Box art, and obviously the older Pokémon Mystery Dungeon has the same as Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon box art, but it's more neater than Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, what's up with the Mega Sceptile pose? And with the Pokémon designs with it? And why it is so many of them?This game is okay, but the box art is just terrible, at least the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Gates of Infinity has 3D Box art, and obviously the older Pokémon Mystery Dungeon has the same as Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon box art, but it's more neater than Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, what's up with the Mega Sceptile pose? And with the Pokémon designs with it? And why it is so many of them? I don't know, it's just disappointing.… Expand
  6. ernchii
    Mar 14, 2017
    6
    First, the good things about this game. I love the world that the game has built. It was fun to meet and interact with all kinds of Pokemon. More often than not, they have great personalities. I would say that meeting all these Pokemon was the most fun thing about this game. I had a lot of fun playing through the story, just talking to them was enjoyable and made me grow an attachment toFirst, the good things about this game. I love the world that the game has built. It was fun to meet and interact with all kinds of Pokemon. More often than not, they have great personalities. I would say that meeting all these Pokemon was the most fun thing about this game. I had a lot of fun playing through the story, just talking to them was enjoyable and made me grow an attachment to certain characters. Especially in main line Pokemon games, you don't really get to see the Pokemon much aside from battles. In this game however, you see their emotions, their faces lighting up and laughing, it is really refreshing and made me view them more as living things. The world is colorful and bright, and fun to be in.

    Unfortunately, the repetitive and boring gameplay is what hinders my enjoyment of the game, which is troubling. The dungeons are uninspiring, and I find myself actually hoping to quickly exit the dungeons because, well, they were /that/ boring. Of course, that is just a matter of taste, it would be rather hypocritical to criticize repetitive gameplay when the main line Pokemon games have stuck to the same formula for years. However, I just cannot bring myself to finish the game because it is such a drag to play through. Yes, I have not even gone halfway through the game, maybe about 10 hours in tops? Yet I am already unmotivated to continue playing.

    Maybe one day I will restart the game and give it another chance, seeing that many herald this Mystery Dungeon game as one of the best in the spin-off series, I think that alone should be incentive for me to give this game another shot. But for now, I think I will stick to the main line Pokemon games.    … Expand
  7. MonkiReviews
    Mar 12, 2017
    7
    Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games aren't as great as I wanted it to be. The games Pokemon are spectacular, but that doesn't make it. The gameplay is the boring part, it isn't that fun.
  8. joehi1
    Dec 12, 2017
    6
    Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon does deserve some points for managing to make an acceptable entry into the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon franchise after Gates to Infinity, however acceptable is the only way to describe it. Sadly Super Mystery Dungeon lacks a well-written story that could possibly have the worse story of this series of spin-offs. While the gameplay stays the same and the visualsPokemon Super Mystery Dungeon does deserve some points for managing to make an acceptable entry into the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon franchise after Gates to Infinity, however acceptable is the only way to describe it. Sadly Super Mystery Dungeon lacks a well-written story that could possibly have the worse story of this series of spin-offs. While the gameplay stays the same and the visuals are looking good, the Mystery Dungeon formula really needed more of an overhaul, and the new implementation of recruiting Pokemon to your rescue team is lackluster at best. You go out on a specific mission to rescue these Pokemon or help them, then these Pokemon that are way above your level join you, and the games difficulty curves so that you essentially have to rely on these high-level partners if you want to get through the game without a lot of grinding. Super Mystery Dungeon failed to revitalize the franchise like Time and Darkness on the DS did, and because of that the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon spin-off series may lie dormant forever, and no S.O.S mail will be available

    Cons
    No fundamental changes except awful implementation of recruiting system
    Worse Story of the Mystery Dungeon franchise
    Main characters feel useless    … Expand
  9. HenryDrago
    Apr 22, 2018
    6
    Interesting the way of recruiting allies, the dungeons are cool, but very repetitive, difficulty unbalanced, in some moments is very easy another very difficult, the story is not so well developed or captivating, shallow characters.
  10. IkOzael
    Aug 23, 2021
    5
    Like the previous games, this one has it's charm in a few places. Half the reason I play games of the series is because of the story, so that's what I'll mostly talk about. Sorry if this is a bit of a messy critique.

    The story was OK, but it ain't nothin' special (like most Pokemon stories, game or not). You're a human with boring plot-induced amnesia... again, you meet partner a bit    Like the previous games, this one has it's charm in a few places. Half the reason I play games of the series is because of the story, so that's what I'll mostly talk about. Sorry if this is a bit of a messy critique.

    The story was OK, but it ain't nothin' special (like most Pokemon stories, game or not). You're a human with boring plot-induced amnesia... again, you meet partner a bit later, make a team to go on adventure with your memory, beat the current villain of the week... That's one way of puttin' it, but I'll go into detail. I'll refer to the player character as Silas and the partner as Sparkles for reasons. I won't put this behind a spoiler 'cause there ain't anything worth not spoiling.

    The tone was too childish. The "story" was more focused on goofy **** and tryin' to get a giggle outta kids than tellin' a decent story. Everything is just empty filler until the Bittercold 2 gets brought up. Crucial parts of the story don't really get explained like the protagonist's amnesia with it apparently bein' done to him twice.

    Dark Matter sounded neat in concept, but it was more or less already done in Gates to Infinity with the Bittercold (though it's still a breath of fresh air from the obvious "villain" Pokémon each game had prior to GtI). It having sentience doesn't do a thing for it when it has a few minions and seeks to destroy the world like the Bittercold in Gates to Infinity. Anyway, in the end, Sparkles disappears instead of you which is just for subversion and the epilogue which brings her back is all over the place. I could respect the idea of Sparkles disappearing, but it you know that's just a set up for more filler. Pointless filler at that when you KNOW she'll be back in a bit, but hey we need an epilogue chapter. Silas is just kinda left out as a main part of the plot too.

    I wanna talk about humans for a bit... Stop with the human-turned-Pokémon protagonists. That **** has run dry already. Try something else. How about pure Pokémon protagonists for example? The humans were never anything special in any of the games anyway although that could've been the case in Super Mystery Dungeon if they cared to write it like that. Literally any Pokémon could do what these random humans do. There's a looot of story potential with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, but I'm speakin' from more of a comic series standpoint.

    The way I kinda wanted to write SMD for a future comic was Silas havin' abilities that would be integral to the overall plot. These abilities would stem from origins as a reincarnation of the human who fought Dark Matter long ago. That's among other potential changes like Sparkles dreaming of helping others by becoming an Expedition Society member, her also not being related to Mew, and whether or not Dark Matter is the main antagonist. Considering the dialog near the end of the game with Celebi explaining the Harmony Scarves, I think reincarnation would've been an interesting concept, but, like I said, I'm speakin' from more of a comic adaptation standpoint instead of a gameplay one on that. Honestly, SMD's story is on par with Sword & Shield's story which is on the money when compared to that dustbin anime. In short, Super Mystery Dungeon needs one hell of a rewrite.

    The gameplay is a little worse in some areas. Instead of havin' four party members, it's now three which I don't know why it was changed, but it was unnecessary. The game is also very stingy with exp. an' with how strong the enemies are, especially the bosses, it feels arbitrary. Arceus forbid you run into a Monster House. You could also beat the game and barely hit level 30. If you're mindlessly trying to brute force your way through dungeons, then you'll most likely get obliterated, so managing items is crucial.

    The only thing Super Mystery Dungeon did was add all Pokémon in the game and that's what most people will praise it for. At this point, I'm not that interested in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon anymore beyond Super Mystery Dungeon inspiring me to make a fan comic series of it and a follow-up series to it one day which I already have a lot of ideas for.    … Expand
  11. Pokemon_Trainer
    Jun 10, 2019
    5
    I am a massive Pokemon fan and I have been for over a decade, but I've got to say, the Mystery Dungeon games aren't a patch on the usual Pokemon game formats. Whilst Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon soon becomes a little tiresome and leaves you wondering "where is this actually going? what am I meant to be doing?", at least it is interesting playing from the perspective of a Pokemon!
  12. Toasttt
    Mar 26, 2022
    6
    meh .
  13. Dewom
    Apr 9, 2022
    5
    Para mi este juego perdió totalmente el norte de lo que (en mi opinión), hacía que los anteriores se sintieran tan bien. Todo el tema de que constantemente te traten como a un (literalmente) bebé/crío, me parece tira por la borda la epicidad de los anteriores. En los primeros mystery dungeon tenias tu propia base y salías en aventuras con tu compañero a por todas, o tenías tu zona dePara mi este juego perdió totalmente el norte de lo que (en mi opinión), hacía que los anteriores se sintieran tan bien. Todo el tema de que constantemente te traten como a un (literalmente) bebé/crío, me parece tira por la borda la epicidad de los anteriores. En los primeros mystery dungeon tenias tu propia base y salías en aventuras con tu compañero a por todas, o tenías tu zona de operaciones totalmente ambientada como el gremio...seguias siendo un pokemon "pequeño" pero se te trataba igual que al resto, solo que tenias menos experiencia de combate y aventuras.

    En este simplemente vas a clase y parece que tengas 7 años durante todo el juego, no me enganchó en absoluto la narrativa ni los personajes. Los gráficos no son el buen pixelart anterior o la versión pulida de DX, es un 3D bastante pocho en mi opinión, no creo que le quede nada bién.

    Es sistema de reclutado me parece innecesariamente extraño y aburrido en parte...incluso mucho más dificil de explicar en lo que sería contexto del mismo mundo en si.

    No creo que esté suspendido pero es bastante aburrido y la historia deja bastante que desear, increíble que tenga más nota que exploradores del tiempo/cielo.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best 3DS Game of 2015
3
#3 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2015
1
#1 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 44
  3. Negative: 2 out of 44
  1. CD-Action
    Jun 29, 2016
    75
    A very decent Mystery Dungeon game and the best Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. [06/2016, p.66]
  2. NZGamer
    Mar 21, 2016
    75
    Great in sprints, but tedium might put off players looking for deeper experiences.
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  3. games(TM)
    Mar 16, 2016
    60
    Fans of the Mystery Dungeon series will know what to expect from this latest offering: its new additions aren’t radical enough to ruin what makes it fun or, crucially, fix what makes it monotonous.
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