User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 829 Ratings

User score distribution:
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  1. Jan 25, 2022
    8
    Has all pokemon from gen 1 to 7,ineresting theme and is pretty amazing how they tried something new with places like the gyms and how you earn these z crystles that can be used in battle unlike badages and has more content than modern pokemon games like gen 8 which is on the switch.
  2. Aug 25, 2023
    8
    Mucha gente se ha quejado de que la dificultad de este juego no es la mas alta de toda la saga, de que el hecho de que los pokémon, al cogerte cariño automáticamente, obtengan habilidades como asestar mas golpes críticos, resistir algunos golpes mortales con 1 PS o incluso esquivar algunos ataques sean cosas que bajen la dificultad, sea algo infantil, pero fuera de todo esto... El juego esMucha gente se ha quejado de que la dificultad de este juego no es la mas alta de toda la saga, de que el hecho de que los pokémon, al cogerte cariño automáticamente, obtengan habilidades como asestar mas golpes críticos, resistir algunos golpes mortales con 1 PS o incluso esquivar algunos ataques sean cosas que bajen la dificultad, sea algo infantil, pero fuera de todo esto... El juego es muy divertido y disfrutable.
    La historia está bien pero es algo mejorable y lo de los cristales Z no se siente una mecánica tan buena como lo fueron las megaevoluciones en la anterior generación. Eso ya me queda claro, lo que no me queda para nada claro es el porque hay mucha gente que opina que esta versión es inferior siendo que añade cosas muy buenas como el team rocket en el postgame entre muchas otras cosas que también me parecen puntos positivos para el juego.
    En conclusión, está claro que este no es el mejor juego de pokémon, pero igualmente es una muy buena y disfrutable opción para jugar.

    7.9/10
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  3. Dec 2, 2019
    7
    I really really disapprove the Ultra Biests, they seem like one of these fake pokemon games on your mobile phone.
    This is my personal opinion, but I also don't like the Alola region with the islands and their design.
    Music is okay (besides the Trainer music), Game Freak can do waaayyy better. If you already have Sun or Moon, then dont buy these games, they're just not worth it, besides
    I really really disapprove the Ultra Biests, they seem like one of these fake pokemon games on your mobile phone.
    This is my personal opinion, but I also don't like the Alola region with the islands and their design.
    Music is okay (besides the Trainer music), Game Freak can do waaayyy better.
    If you already have Sun or Moon, then dont buy these games, they're just not worth it, besides your an exceedingly huge Alola fan.
    But all in all its a Pokemon game which also has its good features and aspects
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  4. Nov 23, 2017
    7
    Graphics Desings 10/10, Story 5/10, Music 10/10, (New) Mechanics 9/10, (New) Characters 10/10.

    Im like every one. I love all Pokemon Game, Pokemon games are all 10/10... BUT. This game have the same story like Pokemoon Moon with a certain diference, feels like big change, but i tell the truth, isnt something like that. Im an pro VGC player and Pokemon VGC18 will come crazy, but i like
    Graphics Desings 10/10, Story 5/10, Music 10/10, (New) Mechanics 9/10, (New) Characters 10/10.

    Im like every one. I love all Pokemon Game, Pokemon games are all 10/10... BUT. This game have the same story like Pokemoon Moon with a certain diference, feels like big change, but i tell the truth, isnt something like that. Im an pro VGC player and Pokemon VGC18 will come crazy, but i like to play pokemon for story too. Is too bad to have the same story development in less a year, something like a expansion for the story and a update for the original game, Pokemon Moon and Sun, im sure works better than this Pokemon Game. 40$ is too much.
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  5. Nov 13, 2019
    7
    Definitely and improvement from Moon in some areas but unfortunately suffers from most of the same issues and new ones.
    Positive notes include: more Pokemon variety for the regional dex, new pokemon, minimal but improved character arcs, new characters with interesting designs, few but new details added in old areas, new interesting mini games.
    Negative notes include: Same watered down
    Definitely and improvement from Moon in some areas but unfortunately suffers from most of the same issues and new ones.
    Positive notes include: more Pokemon variety for the regional dex, new pokemon, minimal but improved character arcs, new characters with interesting designs, few but new details added in old areas, new interesting mini games.
    Negative notes include: Same watered down difficulty, long tutorials and cut scenes, constant hand holding and interruptions during the main story, very lineal progression, rotom dex is even more annoying in this game constantly nagging you to heal your mons or save the game and giving you advice about things you already know, new photo studio feature that is completely useless and a waste of time, new characters with knee deep back stories, new areas that are basically glorified hallways, and very little end game.

    Over all a comfortable and predictable 3D Pokemon game experience that left me with no desire to keep playing after finishing the main campaign.
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  6. Feb 21, 2021
    7
    Gifted from a friend,the game that brought me back to Pokemon. Could have done a better job though,too much handholding,game is extremely easy
  7. Feb 15, 2022
    7
    The content is pretty good, but returning to the special version thing after the way superior sequel concept from gen 5 is really disappointing.
  8. Jan 30, 2022
    6
    just moon but worse. the "additions" are more like detriments, they ruined what good alola had without fixing any of the shortcomings
  9. Dec 19, 2017
    6
    Not a great game, not a bad game, but one thing is obvious, the extra content added into the game isn't all that it was made out to be. I certainly don't hate them all, but for the most part they are boring, the story changes really aren't that great, and even though it's supposed to be a new game of the same old story, I honestly think you're better off playing the first one, because theNot a great game, not a bad game, but one thing is obvious, the extra content added into the game isn't all that it was made out to be. I certainly don't hate them all, but for the most part they are boring, the story changes really aren't that great, and even though it's supposed to be a new game of the same old story, I honestly think you're better off playing the first one, because the best parts of the story, are taken out of this game. It's still fun because it's Pokemon, but do yourself a favor and don't buy this game, the original Pokemon Moon is better if you're in it for story. Expand
  10. Jun 7, 2018
    6
    I wanted to give this a better review, I really did but I cannot. The game is near identical to Pokemon Moon with not enough changes to warrant buying the game if you own Moon/Sun already. If you are still going to buy one of the games, by from the Ultra series as it has a bit more in it than regular Moon/Sun. Also, hope you love hand holding because there is plenty of it in this game
  11. Sep 9, 2019
    6
    Cut scenes can drag on and there's no gyms just island challenges, great if you enjoy it but I prefer gyms
  12. Jun 11, 2021
    6
    It really didn't change a lot, it's really no different from the previous games and just made the battles more harder, so it's not worth buying If you already played the sun and moon games since you're basically playing the same thing again, but this game is fine if you didn't though.
  13. Oct 2, 2021
    6
    This game is overall the same as sun and moon with small changes here and there that do not make the playthrough specially refreshing. The beginning is tedious and too long, I like to refer to it as an hour+ long tutorial. Throughout the playtrough I'm constantly forced into long dialogue sections inbetween new areas/towns, it's annoying. You still can't skip cut scenes and there's way tooThis game is overall the same as sun and moon with small changes here and there that do not make the playthrough specially refreshing. The beginning is tedious and too long, I like to refer to it as an hour+ long tutorial. Throughout the playtrough I'm constantly forced into long dialogue sections inbetween new areas/towns, it's annoying. You still can't skip cut scenes and there's way too much dialogue, most of it is the same as the last game so it's really really boring to sit through. So the major con of this game is all the dialogue and cutscenes. As for the difficulty, it's an improvement over the original games. Expand
  14. Nov 17, 2018
    5
    It barely improves anything over the original Sun and Moon, but still makes them obsolete. The story is somewhat worse but the pokémon availability is larger as usual in these improved versions. It comes of as an artificial game, with artificial improvements, a forced linear storyline, badly animated cutscenes and a childish feeling to it (Black and White, X and Y were entries that didn'tIt barely improves anything over the original Sun and Moon, but still makes them obsolete. The story is somewhat worse but the pokémon availability is larger as usual in these improved versions. It comes of as an artificial game, with artificial improvements, a forced linear storyline, badly animated cutscenes and a childish feeling to it (Black and White, X and Y were entries that didn't feel so childish). The world-building in Alola is great though. Good designs for new monsters, the concept of Ultra Beasts and Regional variants are welcomed additions to the world of pokémon. Seeing old faces from previous games is always appreciated. Overall, Alola is a nice region but with a badly executed storyline, too easy, and this ultra version barely changed any of those problems. Acceptable at most. Expand
  15. Nov 22, 2017
    5
    The game starts off the same as the predecessor with an incredible opening score that sets to tone for the game. The game's world is jaw dropping from its use of vibrant colors and additional sprites to make it come to life. The trials are slightly different from the previous games, becoming much harder and a little more fun. Unfortunately, this is where the games starts to fall off theThe game starts off the same as the predecessor with an incredible opening score that sets to tone for the game. The game's world is jaw dropping from its use of vibrant colors and additional sprites to make it come to life. The trials are slightly different from the previous games, becoming much harder and a little more fun. Unfortunately, this is where the games starts to fall off the rails. Pokedex now fires up and takes a quick snapshot whenever a new Pokemon shows up. at first this was cool, but it's just super annoying as the game goes on. There are enough new things in the game that make it a phenomenal remake of the previous game, sun and moon, however due to it being released one year later and for all intensive purposes being the same exact game which has a few tweaks here and there I'm giving this a low score sense we just played this game last year. Nintendo should have released this game this year instead of releasing Sun and Moon last year. For those who are new to Pokemon or skipped sun and moon this is a phenomenal Pokemon game. Expand
  16. Apr 11, 2018
    5
    This game is overall the same as sun and moon with small changes here and there that do not make the playthrough specially refreshing. The beginning is tedious and too long, I like to refer to it as an hour+ long tutorial. Throughout the playtrough I'm constantly forced into long dialogue sections inbetween new areas/towns, it's annoying. You still can't skip cut scenes and there's way tooThis game is overall the same as sun and moon with small changes here and there that do not make the playthrough specially refreshing. The beginning is tedious and too long, I like to refer to it as an hour+ long tutorial. Throughout the playtrough I'm constantly forced into long dialogue sections inbetween new areas/towns, it's annoying. You still can't skip cut scenes and there's way too much dialogue, most of it is the same as the last game so it's really really boring to sit through. So the major con of this game is all the dialogue and cutscenes. As for the difficulty, it's an improvement over the original games. I had a bad team with no fire type and it made things harder for me personally, i turned off the exp share and turned it back on once i had 6 pokemon in my team and i've been the same level as enemy trainers. The legendary battle is the hardest part of the game, surprisingly.

    I liked the new selection of pokemon though, i was really happy to have a mareep/ampharos in my team again, its one of my favorite pokemon ever. I felt like there was a lack of fire types though, besides marowak and salazzle. Also, the catchrate for necrozma is 255. Which means it has the same catchrate as route 1 pokemon, lol.

    I highly recommend this game if you HAVE NOT played sun and moon yet, but if you have, then don't bother.
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  17. Dec 6, 2019
    5
    For a game that has 'ULTRA' on its title, it is not nearly as impressive as the adjective would mean in relation to the regular versions, in fact, it is even worse! They changed the quite good story, for one that doesn't make sense at all, and they introduced so little things that the game felt like a bad DLC. The worst in the series by far.
  18. Aug 1, 2023
    5
    OMG this game leaves a lot to be desired. The attempt at a 3D is a freaking joke
  19. Dec 3, 2017
    4
    Ultra Sun ist disappointing. Way too much dialogue so you cannot even enjoy the cities and routes. Thumb gets tired from keep on pressing the B button. The menu is confusing, the gym leader system terrible, the Pokemon nothing new. Compared to Pokemon X/Y this is no improvement, except for the graphics which are the only impressive thing. It takes way too long to get into the real game.
  20. Jul 31, 2020
    4
    if we compare to other Pokemon games, is not as good at others, game freak is taken a dangerous direction, is bored in most parts of the game, and the only chance from moon, is a post-game mini-game to catch Pokemons, a bad version of Pokemon Cristal battle tower, and a unnecesary change to moon history.

    is unnecesary, moon was good, why make me pay again for a worst version.
  21. Jun 22, 2021
    4
    An enhanced and better version of Sun & Moon. It's so similar to the first set of games that it makes them redundant. Considering the content, it's just like a remake with slight changes, some new additions. It's basically fixing a pretty mid Pokemon release and making it a little more interesting.
  22. Oct 30, 2022
    4
    43/100
    Pokémon Ultra Moon adds a significant amount of new content to the original Moon, with a richer Pokémon selection, new areas that expand on the original lore, a surprisingly fun and polished new surfing minigame, new challenges and overall a decisively higher difficulty making for a much more engaging experience. Massive changes were made to the narrative as well, ultimately making
    43/100
    Pokémon Ultra Moon adds a significant amount of new content to the original Moon, with a richer Pokémon selection, new areas that expand on the original lore, a surprisingly fun and polished new surfing minigame, new challenges and overall a decisively higher difficulty making for a much more engaging experience. Massive changes were made to the narrative as well, ultimately making it notably worse. As much as the new characters and plotpoints introduced have potential they're sorely underdeveloped and introduced quite haphazardly, and the greater scope of the new storyline often awkwardly clashes with the more intimate story told in the original game as some important scenes of character development have been entirely removed, leaving the whole narrative feeling somewhat disconnected. Nevertheless, a new grandiose story episode was added after the main campaign, which creatively builds on the new concepts introduced to craft a surprising narrative with nostalgic returns that perhaps doesn't take itself seriously enough, but still functions as an extremely fun postgame content and a nice celebration of past narratives. Decisvely better than the original, Ultramoon still greatly suffers from its terribly bland level design and the series' somewhat repetitive gameplay.
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  23. Jun 12, 2019
    3
    It treats you like you have never even played pokemon before so much handholding and stupid cutscenes, I do not want to take photos of my pokemon or go surfing on some pokemon back and do cool flips just let me play pokemon without forced minigames or pointless cutscenes worst mainline pokemon games and gen hopefully next generation is better than this. Edit: Worst mainline game but IIt treats you like you have never even played pokemon before so much handholding and stupid cutscenes, I do not want to take photos of my pokemon or go surfing on some pokemon back and do cool flips just let me play pokemon without forced minigames or pointless cutscenes worst mainline pokemon games and gen hopefully next generation is better than this. Edit: Worst mainline game but I guess it would be good as a child's first pokemon game maybe. Expand
  24. Nov 17, 2017
    3
    As a veteran Pokemon player as well as someone who played the original Sun for 100 hours, Ultra Moon has left me unimpressed. While it is objectively the definitive Gen 7 experience, it can hardly be considered a Director's Cut that combines the best of the original games like it's predecessors Crystal, Emerald, and Platinum did before it. Because the USUM experience is split between twoAs a veteran Pokemon player as well as someone who played the original Sun for 100 hours, Ultra Moon has left me unimpressed. While it is objectively the definitive Gen 7 experience, it can hardly be considered a Director's Cut that combines the best of the original games like it's predecessors Crystal, Emerald, and Platinum did before it. Because the USUM experience is split between two games, players will still experience version exclusive Pokemon among other things including clothing options. (I can't buy a red shirt in Pokemon Ultra Moon? Really?)
    This game, like others of the same formula, is a nearly cut-and-paste clone of Sun and Moon for the majority of the game with only minor additions sprinkled in every now and then. As someone who was unimpressed by Sun and Moon, I was hoping that this game would be able to change my mind about Generation 7. No such luck. Just like the games before it, USUM suffers from excessive hand-holding and you can barely walk 5 steps in any direction without an NPC stopping you to talk or to explain painfully obvious tutorials.
    This game still has all the charm and fun of a regular Pokemon game but, just like the original Sun and Moon, it lacks freedom and the never-ending tutorials and cutscenes left me with a bad taste in my mouth. If you didn't like SM, steer clear of this one. If my issues with SM didn't bother you, you'll probably enjoy this game.
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  25. Mar 9, 2019
    2
    he spends at least half the time in cinematicas and giving you useless tutorials, even with 7 generations with the same, just horrible
  26. Mar 2, 2021
    2
    There were a few changes from sun and moon, but not enough to warrant a brand new game. Still just as insultingly simple and childish as sun and moon. Also z crystals are lame
  27. Nov 17, 2017
    1
    This game is a direct clone of the original Sun and Moon game for about the first 20 hours of play time. It then divulges into a convoluted spin off plot that leaves you feeling very poor about your $40 game purchase. Lack of new pokemon, lack of a new story, and lack of a different gym leader system make this one of the worst pokemon game purchases I have made in quite a while. If youThis game is a direct clone of the original Sun and Moon game for about the first 20 hours of play time. It then divulges into a convoluted spin off plot that leaves you feeling very poor about your $40 game purchase. Lack of new pokemon, lack of a new story, and lack of a different gym leader system make this one of the worst pokemon game purchases I have made in quite a while. If you find value in the wormhole system to let you get shiny pokemon, or the after story plotline; that would be the only thing I could use to try and sell you on this game. So far, I feel this is a pretty poor cash grab by game freak. Expand
  28. Nov 17, 2017
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game does NOT worth 40$ for those who have played Sun or Moon Before ! An entire year of wait for just a tiny DLC of the Original game. And, Oh my... The Music of the 7th gen is one of the Most TERRIBLE thing i have seen in a video game ! (Still not worst than Sonic Boom).

    So this game have like almost NOTHING New : Just Two more Legendaries and a story that have changed just a bit and this game is so disgustingly easy ! (Just like Sun and Moon) Team Rainbow Rocket is pretty much the only good NEW thing about this version.
    But in the end, i just realized how Lazy GAMEFREAK are for the Fans right now. Always aiming for young audience only and Never making a Pokémon Game for Adult ! (And i mean by that, taking the game more seriously, i don't mean sexuality or extreme violence). But everyone is going to buy it, because ITS POKÉMON of Course !

    In the End, i really wish they were less a lazybones and start making a Revolutionary Pokemon like i always dreamed about it. But this game show me how FAR we are from this. Please do NOT buy this game. They don't deserve your money.
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  29. Nov 17, 2017
    0
    Just purchased this game last night. I have been playing it a lot. It doesn't seem very different and I'm not sure I could offer this to anyone who has played Sun or moon. I'm not seeing a ton of differences so far and it feels like a chore to get to a point where there might be differences in the gameplay.
  30. Feb 28, 2018
    0
    This game is very disappointing for people that played the originals, which were also very disappointing. Despite having time to make this game better it instead is still filled with frame drops and has the same slow and tedious gameplay. If you're looking for a good Pokemon game then go play OrAs
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 55 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 55
  2. Negative: 0 out of 55
  1. Apr 2, 2018
    80
    Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon is still fantastic, especially since the original was a major shake-up to the decades-old Pokémon formula. The update may be overly samey to someone who has already played Sun & Moon, but it does improve upon the base game in several ways. The new version is a must for newcomers to either this current generation or to Pokémon in general.
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Feb 16, 2018
    80
    Pokémons improved in a visual and gameplay way. Devs could let go the monster management, but otherwise the changes are definitely for the better. If you have a weak spot for Pokémons, this is your game. [Issue#282]
  3. Feb 15, 2018
    91
    Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are the definitive versions of Generation VII. Fans that already made the trip to the Alola region might find that it takes a while to get to the juiciest new additions to the game, but diehard Pokémon fans and those that held off on Sun and Moon will find a lot to enjoy. The games are truly robust experiences, and the new additions help flesh out a game that was already quite strong. I could detail more about the story changes and enhancements, Mantine surfing or Team Rainbow Rocket, but not much else needs to be said. This is a terrific Pokémon experience that has only gotten better.