Pokemon Y

 3DS
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1428 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 983 out of 1428
  2. Mixed: 222 out of 1428
  3. Negative: 223 out of 1428
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  1. wegie125
    Dec 3, 2017
    7
    This was honestly the first pokemon game I actually played for a while and the only one I felt like I ever enjoyed. Mostly because I got into the game because of my family and any game that we all play together I will actually invest time in because that makes it more competitive. This game had a lot to add that was later just copied over to other games which is why I feel this was theThis was honestly the first pokemon game I actually played for a while and the only one I felt like I ever enjoyed. Mostly because I got into the game because of my family and any game that we all play together I will actually invest time in because that makes it more competitive. This game had a lot to add that was later just copied over to other games which is why I feel this was the only one I thought deserved this high of a rating. Not much else other than that though. Story was pretty boring and I wasn't a huge fan of the 3d either… Expand
  2. Dsros96
    Nov 30, 2019
    7
    It is a good game with loads of new graphics, moves and mega evolution. The new Pokémon designs are very good. Only problem is that characters are plainer than usual and there is no post game at all.
  3. RustyDiamonds
    Nov 6, 2018
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pokemon Y has good graphics, new game mechanics, and 72 new Pokemon to bolster. But, digging in, how good is it, really?
    ~ ~ ~
    Difficulty:

    The difficulty in this game is pitiful. Gym leaders and Elite Four members present as much of a threat as the first few trainers you find at the beginning of the game. The champion of the Kalos Pokemon League was a grave disappointment. Diantha posed hardly any threat whatsoever, her Pokemon being weak and a cakewalk to get through.

    The wild Pokemon are not appropriately level-scaled. You'll be finding wild Pokemon much, much lower level than your own Pokemon almost immediately if you actually play the game how it is meant to be played. It makes it boring to get a lot of wild battles, instead of fun and challenging.

    ~ ~ ~
    Graphics:

    Graphically, this game is great for a 3DS game. The colours are bright and vibrant, making the world around you more vivid and believable, though it isn't all the way. It wouldn't have been too hard to animate some Pidgey or Fletchling flying around the open field areas, more Pokemon walking out in the open.

    The models for human and Pokemon characters alike are well done and the animation was executed nicely. The only issue I really have is that they aren't DOING things. For the most part, they just stand there, waiting for you to talk to or battle them. Again, this is referring to the believability of the appearance of the settings.
    ~ ~ ~
    Pokemon:

    As for the 72 Pokemon added in the sixth generation...they're okay. Nothing stellar about this rather small group(compared to regions like Johto and Hoenn) added in here. The starters are especially half decent. The Greninja line is really the only one to stand out and have great design put in.

    The legendaries are good, better than a lot of the others in their generation. By far, the best is Zygarde, which is sort of sad because it isn't even the main legendary in the game and is relatively easy to capture.

    Now for the other 60 Gen 6 Pokemon. Some of them are actually pretty neat, surpassing some Gen 5 Pokemon. However, most of them fail to impress with a lackluster design.

    ~ ~ ~
    The Region:

    Kalos is a well-made region itself. The sheer size of it is a testament to the effort put into its design and structure. Having the Prism Tower, this game's Eiffel Tower, as a gym was a neat touch.

    One big disappointment was the Battle Mansion. Taking out the added fun from the extra challenges in the different facilities of the Battle Frontier, such as the Battle Factory. In The Battle Factory, you would use Rental Pokemon to battle with instead of your own, adding a new degree of challenge to otherwise ordinary battles. Which is exactly why the Battle Mansion falls flat. It takes out the fun ideas and challenges of the Frontier, leaving you with an unimaginative, generic row of battles.
    ~ ~ ~
    New Mechanics:

    The movement was vastly changed, obviously, from the many previous iterations. It is slick and simply controlled by anybody. The grid is still present, making the movement more snappy and less realistic, but roller skates help with that. Not only providing a speed boost, they also do away with the grid whilst you are using them.

    Super Training could have been a lot better than mashing the Touch Screen to pop a giant balloon. After doing it a few times, it gets boring and repetitive, despite attempts to keep it entertaining. It's much more enjoyable and entertaining to EV train your Pokemon by battling in the wild.

    Poke Amie is a cute little addition to the Touch Screen-based area of the game. It contains 3 minigames that are calm and relaxed. You can pet and feed your Pokemon to raise affection. This is the only way to obtain a Sylveon without trading.
    ~ ~ ~
    Narrative:

    The antagonists of this game were not as well fabricated as the region they exist in. Team Flare has just not got the flare Team Galactic or Team Rocket do, nowhere even close. It does not help that their leader, Lysandre, is dull as well. The climax of the Team Flare section of the story isn't the best. You battle Lysandre a whole 4 times, which gets repetitive and boring due to the lack of change in his team between each battle, making the final battle against him after obtaining Yveltal less climactic.

    The post-game gets a bit annoying towards the end. See, after the first few battles with Essentia, once you do the final battle, she goes down to 2 Pokemon. Which makes no sense, since she had been gaining one Pokemon after each defeat. Unfortunately, it gets easier at the end of the post-game.

    --------
    Conclusion:

    Pokemon Y is a decent game, good for those new to the series. Even then, they will probably enjoy older Pokemon games rather than this. Though they may like the low difficulty levels, the repetitive post-game and climax battles may cause them to get bored. Those looking for a compelling antagonist may wish to look elsewhere, as Lysandre falls terribly short.    … Expand
  4. JasonBB
    Nov 20, 2019
    5
    Story sucks (thanks god we had the great SM after this), difficulty is the worst by far in the series and the game feel unfinished. After all, those games are not as bad as people say, but are not the best entries.
  5. Wujman
    Aug 31, 2015
    7
    If you are a fan of how you actually needed to use tactics in the old Pokemon games then this is not for you, unless you just want to be told a story. You can easily strong arm through this game with your starter Pokemon. That's something you couldn't do with Pokemon Yellow, Pikachu would have died so many times it would have made the game not fun. On the other hand it is definitely a goodIf you are a fan of how you actually needed to use tactics in the old Pokemon games then this is not for you, unless you just want to be told a story. You can easily strong arm through this game with your starter Pokemon. That's something you couldn't do with Pokemon Yellow, Pikachu would have died so many times it would have made the game not fun. On the other hand it is definitely a good looking game for a handheld console and all of the Pokemon designs are pretty neat. Its not that bad if you can get over the annoying fact of how mind numbing easy it is.… Expand
  6. timthepunk
    Oct 19, 2015
    6
    I'm not going to say that old Pokemon games were better, because I love Pokemon White, along with HG/SS but this game really quite honestly bores me. The 3D is only really that useful in battles. I would have loved to have seen that when just exploring the world. The storyline has its ups and downs, but it kind of bored me. Probably the only real upside to this game would have to be theI'm not going to say that old Pokemon games were better, because I love Pokemon White, along with HG/SS but this game really quite honestly bores me. The 3D is only really that useful in battles. I would have loved to have seen that when just exploring the world. The storyline has its ups and downs, but it kind of bored me. Probably the only real upside to this game would have to be the online gaming aspect of it. Music is pretty great, and graphics are good. Overall, its a decent game, but not the best. I suggest trying out the game before you buy it, you may like it better than me.… Expand
  7. Hakros323
    May 1, 2016
    7
    While Pokemon X/Y aren't the worst games in the series, it's not the best either. I still enjoyed the game, though. I liked the leap the main series made into 3D. The characters models are great and the scenery is beautiful. Some of the new Pokemon are cool, even though they didn't made that many new Pokemons this time around, and the Mega Evolution is a great new addition to the battle.While Pokemon X/Y aren't the worst games in the series, it's not the best either. I still enjoyed the game, though. I liked the leap the main series made into 3D. The characters models are great and the scenery is beautiful. Some of the new Pokemon are cool, even though they didn't made that many new Pokemons this time around, and the Mega Evolution is a great new addition to the battle. The online is superb as well. My problem with it? Well, it seems a bit easy compare to the other games. No Pokemon games are truly challenging, but this game felt a bit...too easy. The music is a mix-bag, and the post game story is lackluster.
    If you're a hardcore Pokemon fan, this is a game you'll enjoy.    … Expand
  8. Dalium
    Aug 15, 2016
    6
    This game has great 3D animation in it. Overall the features and the new Pokemon are great. Though the EXP share makes this game WAY TO EASY!!! Plus there is next to nothing for post game. Going back to Pro's, the mega evolution's are cool and I like the mix of new and old Pokemon you can find throughout the region.
  9. Balorer
    Dec 21, 2016
    7
    Its a Pokemon game you know what you're getting into
    A new story with basically the same mechanics i enjoyed until i beat the Elite 4.
    The great flaw of the game its the post game which left almost nothing to players to do.
  10. xxxboilozxxx
    Mar 26, 2017
    7
    this is a great game it has its problems like other games the game is to easy with an xp share when you reach the champion I was around levels above here pokemon what I like about the game is the graphics and seeing are favourite pokemon in 3d I also like how you communicate with other friends its good would be a higher score if it as somewhat challenging.
  11. Kick454
    Apr 22, 2018
    6
    Meh, not the worst, but easily not the best Pokemon game. Mega Evolutions were the new thing brought from XY, and, well, they're just ok.

    Pros: + Region: Not a perfect region, but I most certainly liked running around Kalos for a while. + Variety: I mean, a freaking sword? Probably my favorite design despite being just swords and a shield in it's final form. Cons: - Mega    Meh, not the worst, but easily not the best Pokemon game. Mega Evolutions were the new thing brought from XY, and, well, they're just ok.

    Pros:
    + Region: Not a perfect region, but I most certainly liked running around Kalos for a while.
    + Variety: I mean, a freaking sword? Probably my favorite design despite being just swords and a shield in it's final form.

    Cons:
    - Mega Evolution: Why is it that we need to go full-on Digimon?
    - Story: Team Flare sucks. They're obnoxious and pointless filler (especially the admins), though not as bad as the next point.
    - "Rivals": BY FAR the worst of the franchise. They made an already unmemorable story even worse.
    - Soundtrack: Only song I like from the games is Lumiose City.

    Overall, Pokemon X and Y aren't bad, but they aren't that good either and warrant a 6/10 from me.    … Expand
  12. TheAdminJJ
    Aug 21, 2019
    6
    A very good jump to 3D for the main series, but, with a boring history and characters without charisma. The post-game is a disappointment.
  13. Warbringer
    Feb 21, 2021
    7
    No postgame,the game needed more story hence why they were making Pokemon Z version but they scrapped it. Good game especially compared to the Gen 8 abomination aka Sword and Shield
  14. gamer69x314
    Aug 24, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. spoiler alert!
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    do you know?
    At the end of Y, Shauna showed up at the door and said she would trade me any pokemon, she asked me if I mind? I suddenly remembered that forest, this girl told me that she wanted to catch a pikachu but has not yet caught it, and I thought, why don't I catch one for her? but obviously it was a pointless saying by gamefreak, but I still brought that pikachu and when this girl said that, I gave my pikachu that I trained all the way to her without any hesitation And you know, maybe the kids forget very quickly, or should I say gamefreak is building characters that are really lazy and pointless? The beauty on the surface cannot hide the emptiness, but I still enjoy it, I love the game that I like has changed a lot and succeeded in a different way, you know it's just a small thing like that, I wish it wasn't just a profitable trade but the attention of the player to the enthusiasm and dedication of gamefreak, a player like me so happy, I'll end here. . I really want to play the game with enthusiasm so I stop here, that pikachu is not just an exchange for me, it's my farewell to the childhood that you gave me, thank you gamefreak.    … Expand
  15. Stillreviews
    Dec 19, 2020
    6
    Honestly I like Yveltal which is why I rated this game 6/10 instead of 5/10. I really don't like the difficulty its to easy I guess that this game is aimed at smaller kids who dont know anything about pokemon :/ The story is decent the graphics are fine but theres so much dialog and cutscenes I was lucky to get a shiny Froakie in 13 attempts if i did more I wouldve gave up as it takes 5Honestly I like Yveltal which is why I rated this game 6/10 instead of 5/10. I really don't like the difficulty its to easy I guess that this game is aimed at smaller kids who dont know anything about pokemon :/ The story is decent the graphics are fine but theres so much dialog and cutscenes I was lucky to get a shiny Froakie in 13 attempts if i did more I wouldve gave up as it takes 5 minutes per 1 attempt for hunting shiny starters anyway decent game.… Expand
  16. X-fushion
    Jan 10, 2014
    6
    I'm not a hardcore pokémon fan still I enjoyed this game a lot, the 3d models are good and Kalos is a well designed region I like this game, until I beat the elite 4.
    The biggest flaw of pokemon XY is the post game there's nothing left to do after you beat the elite 4, ok there's a mini detective story and capture 2 legendary pokémon but is very short, no vs seeker either so the only    I'm not a hardcore pokémon fan still I enjoyed this game a lot, the 3d models are good and Kalos is a well designed region I like this game, until I beat the elite 4.
    The biggest flaw of pokemon XY is the post game there's nothing left to do after you beat the elite 4, ok there's a mini detective story and capture 2 legendary pokémon but is very short, no vs seeker either so the only option is to face the same opponents over and over again in the battle chateau which gets very repetitive and boring. The Online is OK but I don't get why we need to register in order to do competitive matchs and wonder trade is just bad is completely lucked base and you can't see what pokémon you are gonna get in exchange so don be surprised if you trade a haunter and get in return a caterprie.
    Also no multiple save files or new game +, this game is in the 3DS a powerful handheld with SD support yet the game can't handle multiple save files? sorry that's a money grab tactic want to replay the story? sure you have 3 options:
    1 delete all your data so you can start over.
    2 purchase the other version you don't have
    3 wait for the pokébank to store your pokémons and transfer them to a new file , the only problem is that this 3DS app has an annual price charge.
    Pokemon XY is not a bad game but it's lacking in post game and not be able to replay the game just sucks.
    I recommend waiting for pokémon Z and see if they add extra content and features.    … Expand
  17. Pandacat1551
    Dec 3, 2019
    7
    Honestly, this game was pretty good at best. It definitely has to be the worst main line Pokemon game I've played, but it wasn't garbage.

    The visuals were okay. I just hate the fact all the characters and Pokemon are so stiff. Like, the N64 and Wii had Pokemon move way more. Also, I'd rather imagine a realistic render of my character talking and wandering around than see a 3d model    Honestly, this game was pretty good at best. It definitely has to be the worst main line Pokemon game I've played, but it wasn't garbage.

    The visuals were okay. I just hate the fact all the characters and Pokemon are so stiff. Like, the N64 and Wii had Pokemon move way more. Also, I'd rather imagine a realistic render of my character talking and wandering around than see a 3d model just... stare wirh no expression. The exp share for all Pokemon were nice. One thing I really didn't like was how easy it was. Due to the fact everyone was always around the same level as you, even without grinding, you never had to really train too much. You just kind of beat them. The gyms and elite 4 were a breeze. I beat them on the first try. Pokemon designs were good. World design was nice for a 3ds. Game freak definitely could've done better.    … Expand
  18. Kazek7
    Feb 11, 2015
    7
    This game graphically is a massive leap forward, and it probably took a lot of effort to bring all 700+ Pokemon into 3D. But is this the best Pokemon game ever released? NO. I've been playing pokemon for 14 years, and I've played through EVERY single generation, With no bias to the older games or the newer games.
    X and Y have the worst Story yet. The "rivals" Are incredibly irritating    This game graphically is a massive leap forward, and it probably took a lot of effort to bring all 700+ Pokemon into 3D. But is this the best Pokemon game ever released? NO. I've been playing pokemon for 14 years, and I've played through EVERY single generation, With no bias to the older games or the newer games.
    X and Y have the worst Story yet. The "rivals" Are incredibly irritating dumbasses that ask to battle you every 5 seconds. The story at times is so cheesy you just have to face plant into your desk. When you're supposed to feel some form of emotion for your "rivals" It just ends up making you laugh your ass off at how badly done the story is. Now what intimidating group of criminals do we get this time? Team.... Flare. Join them and be fashionable! Or you'll just be one of the many to die in a mass genocide. Seriously this is the worst criminal group in the franchises history. The game is filled with things that are meant to be surprising, But just absolutely FAIL because you know who they will be from the get-go by their looks. The leader of Team Flare is SO obvious, as is the Champion. I feel as if the story was meant for stupid people, or children under the age of 10. The game is WAY WAY WAY too easy to complete as well. This game can be done by casuals in less then 16 hours, thanks to the broken experience share. Even with the experience share off this game is not a challenge. The legendaries (No surprise) also are the weakest of the Franchise. Very little backstory is behind them, and the third one Zygarde whats the history of him? Why is he in a cavem monitoring the ground? Or, Why is he even in the game? It's almost as if Gamefreak had to design a third legendary. This games campaign is hands down the worst of the franchise. "oh its intended for children" is not a reasonable excuse, when even children hate the story mode.

    So the campaign is terrible. X and Y make up for it with the large leap in graphics, easy level grinding after beating the game, and Vastly improved Multiplayer system. The multiplayer is much more balanced, and it's much easier to get into playing this game competitively then before. If it weren't for the Massive leap in graphics, and the very very well done multiplayer system, X and Y would be in trouble. X and Y is no doubt better then Black and White, But they land as the second worse title for this franchise.    … Expand
  19. connor34
    May 20, 2017
    5
    Disappointing compared to the originals and way to easy. In my opinion the Pokemon games get worse each game. It's not terrible and X and Y have a lot of good points such as the game looking great. However in my opinion the positives just don't outweigh the negatives enough for me to love this game. Again I enjoyed playing it but it was still incredibly disappointing.
  20. JohnCapala
    Jan 2, 2020
    6
    Not the worst, but meh. The game at the end is fun, but story is dull. It's better than Sword and Shield, but is not the best thing out there. If you're looking for a good Pokémon game this is not the case.
  21. waterwaterwater
    Oct 13, 2013
    6
    I don't really understand the flood of 10's these two games have received. For me, all the small problems add up to at least a couple points being knocked off. Most of the reviews read like they just copied and pasted advertisements for the games before they even had a chance to play it. First, the framerate issue is something that really could have been polished a bit before release. MyI don't really understand the flood of 10's these two games have received. For me, all the small problems add up to at least a couple points being knocked off. Most of the reviews read like they just copied and pasted advertisements for the games before they even had a chance to play it. First, the framerate issue is something that really could have been polished a bit before release. My second issue (which is probably directly caused by the first) is that the 3-D effects are only available in a very small part of the game and even then it is barely noticeable. I could live with these things because the game is very pretty overall. My main concern with the game is that the developers have really missed out on what pokemon is to a lot of people. Those of us who started with red and blue are adults now. Why for the love of Pikachu is there not a simple difficulty option that simply makes enemy pokemon have slightly more health and do slightly more damage? The game is VERY easy which translates to boring for many of us. If you have not started your first game in X or Y, I will suggest to you to NOT turn on the EXP share for the entire game; it is overpowered. Also, why do we get two starter pokemon now? When I heard I would be able to choose from the classic starters I thought there would be an option to choose from 6 at the beginning of the game. This is not a real issue, to me it just hurts the flow of the beginning of the game. I have some more little things but as I said all of them individually do not ruin the game, they just all pile on and leave it with a bunch of bruises. I will play the game two or three times but it will be no where near the multiple year obsession red was to me. If you like pokemon you will probably find enjoyment in either X or Y but don't expect to be drooling at the mouth. It is clear the game formula needs some updating because being able to change my clothing and get a haircut in Paris was just a PR stunt.… Expand
  22. Ernste
    May 13, 2014
    7
    COMMENT TO THIS GAME
    -Weird story as always
    -Fantastic graphic and brand new system (EV training become much easier)
    -Online battle
    -NO competitive rival
    -Short story
    -Low level elite 4

    OVERALL
    -GOOD GAME BUY IT
  23. ElCappuccino
    Oct 12, 2013
    6
    On the face of it, this is the most immersive Pokemon game ever, the brilliant 3D graphics, music and attention to detail all contribute to it. But there are a lot of key issues that are overlooked by a great many people about these new Pokemon games, firstly many of the characters are completely unnecessary, are extremely forgettable and add little to the story, while in previous PokemonOn the face of it, this is the most immersive Pokemon game ever, the brilliant 3D graphics, music and attention to detail all contribute to it. But there are a lot of key issues that are overlooked by a great many people about these new Pokemon games, firstly many of the characters are completely unnecessary, are extremely forgettable and add little to the story, while in previous Pokemon games, you had a single challenging rival who you grew to hate and grudgingly respect, now you have a group of annoyingly upbeat friends who for no good reason take a shine to you and do little but pad out the story and spout exposition.

    Many of the towns are forgettable as well with very repetitive, uninspired design unlike previous games where all the towns had clear cut atmospheres and music, now they are all alike with few distinguishing features. The map is very simple and contrived in the sense that it is essentially a large circle that "railroads" you around with little to no freedom like you had in previous Pokemon games where the route was very much more nonlinear and so were far more interesting.

    The game UI is very much improved however over previous games with a very streamlined experience as opposed to a half dozen menus, there are only a couple now, but the whole social element with many faces and names appearing at the bottom of the screen is very distracting and unnecessary but it is a minor issue that I personally don't like.

    The game is fairly poorly optimized for the console as well, in many places the frame rate will tank very noticeably breaking immersion and the 3D features are very limited and will often destroy the frame rate in battles, if it hadn't already dropped enough. This surprised me because it's the first Pokemon game to suffer from such an issue while despite all the effects in the DS Pokemon games they always kept a consistent frame rate.

    This Game is also noticeably easier than any previous Pokemon game, It was only several hours into the game that I suffered even my first feint and I have yet to suffer a loss, your "rival" if she can be called that doesn't pick the type that's super effective against yours but quite the opposite, the "rival" now picks the Pokemon that you're super effective against, breaking precedent in the series. It's far easier to level up than in previous Pokemon games not only because of the addition of a very Overpowered Exp Share at the start of the game (it now gives Exp to the entire party) but also because the game doesn't scale nearly as much as it's predecessors, by the time most of my party were level 30 or so I was still facing level 20 enemies and until the 3rd gym I one-shotted virutally all the gym leaders and trainers.

    This game has a bare-bones story, if not weaker than previous Pokemon games with the extremely nonthreatening named "Team Flare" not "Team Fire" or "Team Blaze" but "Team Flare", why not "Team Ember" or "Team Singe", the story is weaker in the sense that the Enemies are so much more nonthreatening that previous games, hell Team Magma and Team Aqua wanted to dry and flood the world respectively, but Team Flare do little to rise to that level of destruction. The story also follows the contrived and silly plot of "Mega evolution" because they realised how shallow the plot was and decided to instead of make it just a feature, a plot device which is boring to say the least and I found myself skipping most of the text.

    In conclusion this game is revolutionary for Pokemon, it's adds an amazing amount and the battles are reminiscent of the those in Pokemon Stadium in that for the first time it's full 3D which is something I've wanted since Pokemon first began. However DO NOT be won over by pretty environments and new features, because underneath it's pretty exterior is a bad (even for pokemon) plot, terrible characters, jagged frame rates, lack of challenge, extremely linear gameplay and a fairly "eh" overall experience. If this game were released in the same art style (i.e in 2D) as previous Pokemon games it would have been Critically panned and that you must keep in mind.    … Expand
  24. Redz0ne
    Oct 20, 2013
    5
    As a standard pokemon game on it's own, it's decent enough. The story is a familiar trend that many seasoned pokemon fans will remember, the battle system is nicely updated and the overhaul of the graphics themselves are a welcome change to the series.

    However, given that this game has some rather nasty bugs to them (the save-game corruption glitch when you save in certain towns) and    As a standard pokemon game on it's own, it's decent enough. The story is a familiar trend that many seasoned pokemon fans will remember, the battle system is nicely updated and the overhaul of the graphics themselves are a welcome change to the series.

    However, given that this game has some rather nasty bugs to them (the save-game corruption glitch when you save in certain towns) and the lack of 3D in the overworld all serve to bring this title down significantly. A deeper analysis of the system shows that when the 3d effect is on and in battles, the game engine doesn't seem to like rendering it and as such there are noticeable flickers from the frame-rate drop which leads me to believe that the reason of "we wanted it to be beautiful" doesn't seem to hold much water. This is not surprising given that there IS a cultural issue here in that it's often that you'll have someone say something untrue if it would lead to them not losing face amongst their peers... and since Pokemon has a global impact there is a giant amount of pressure on the developers to save face. However, all that said the more likely reason why 3D was disabled was that these other clues noticed make me believe that the game's engine was poorly optimized. There is a ray of hope here in that it is now possible to patch games post-release but for a game to suffer from these difficulties and with such a high-profile franchise such as Pokemon, this could be the stinker in the series for failure to live up to the buzz that was generated during development.

    Still, it's a decent game in and of itself so it's not a total wash but the failings here are a bit too hard to overlook. It's a shame because the 3DS needs some solid franchises to help solidify it's presence in the gaming market as the game's library has and still remains it's most pernicious negative.

    Gameplay, well, it's pokemon. And it's end-game content is about on par with the other games... so, it's not really anything new or spectacular since the 3D effect being off most times leaves one wondering why they even bothered with the 3D in the first place.    … Expand
  25. Chuggowitz
    Oct 14, 2013
    5
    While a visually stunning game, this iteration of Pokémon has many outstanding faults. The aforementioned stunning visuals are not paired with an equally stunning camera, which often spins around for no reason, and in the case of the central city, manages to confuse the player. The user interface has been dumbed down and made even less usable than in black and white, this gamesWhile a visually stunning game, this iteration of Pokémon has many outstanding faults. The aforementioned stunning visuals are not paired with an equally stunning camera, which often spins around for no reason, and in the case of the central city, manages to confuse the player. The user interface has been dumbed down and made even less usable than in black and white, this games predecessors. HeartGold and SoulSilver, two remakes, have had the best user interfaces to date, and both were promptly forgotten by The Pokémon Company. The new Pokémon are often inventive and interesting, though many are just down-right awful. The difficulty level spikes perceptibly after the sixth or seventh gym, leaving you to grind unnecessarily for quite some time on victory road before attempting the Elite Four. This inconsistent level-design leaves you frustrated for multiple hours. Though many will laud this game for its visual splendor and new art direction, I cannot see that as a redeeming factor. The new towns and characters are also with little point and much frustration. The new scientist is annoying, the new villain and his team are ridiculous, and your characters friends are a bunch of hand-picked cliche's. Even many of the new graphically impressive towns are forgettable, the aforementioned main city being the exception due to its annoying nature and design. For me, this game is a clear case of style over substance, leaving much to be desired from Nintendo's first attempt at a fully realized 3D Pokémon on a flag-ship hand-held. I love Pokémon, I take out the original once a year, pop it into my GBC attachment for my N64, put on Dodrio mode and beat it in one sitting. I have played and loved every game since (even Black and White, somehow), but this is a vast disappointment. The Pokémon Company had the chance to make their opus, their masterpiece, a defining game for a generation of gamers waiting for one of their most beloved series to come into the 21st century, except all we are left with is a poorly designed game that may show that Gamefreak is losing its touch.… Expand
  26. masc
    Oct 28, 2013
    7
    I played Pokemon X now for about 100 hours and can summarize my experience like this: It is a nice game with great visuals for a Gameboy game and especially for a Pokemon game but it could have been much better if it wasn't for the far to easy difficulty and a few inconsistencies when it comes to the user interface.

    I played every Pokemon game from day one until today. Pokemon X/Y is    I played Pokemon X now for about 100 hours and can summarize my experience like this: It is a nice game with great visuals for a Gameboy game and especially for a Pokemon game but it could have been much better if it wasn't for the far to easy difficulty and a few inconsistencies when it comes to the user interface.

    I played every Pokemon game from day one until today. Pokemon X/Y is the easiest of all! It is just a cakewalk. I do not understand why they did not offer a difficulty setting. The only thing one can do is make the game a bit more challenging by not using the new XP-Share. The new XP-Share gives all Pokemon in the party the same XP as the fighting Pokemons base XP and not like in the older games where just the Pokemon who was holding the XP-Share got a part of the XP the fighting Pokemon got. I in fact recommend every experienced Pokemon player to not use the XP-Share.

    Another thing I did not like is the fact that the game got delivered with a show stopper bug that could occur after saving the game in certain areas of Lumiose City! However Nintendo released already a patch for that. First time for me that I had to update a Gameboy game. I guess the good old times now are gone on this gaming platform as well where one could get a game and expected it just to be nearly bug free. I do not count in minor bugs.

    Beside that I had some minor issues with the user interface. For example in some menus one can not use the shoulder buttons to switch pages even so they are not used for anything else at that moment.

    I still appreciated Pokemon X/Y a lot, but it could have been so much more!    … Expand
  27. Falcus
    Nov 17, 2013
    7
    A big step forward in the Pokémon series in terms of visuals, but key components that made other Pokémon games great are lacking. The lineup of Pokémon is rather weak, and although the region is very nice-looking, the storyline does not delve deep enough into the Kalos legends (or the legendary Pokémon mascots). The sound quality is amazing but the music itself is extremely repetitive andA big step forward in the Pokémon series in terms of visuals, but key components that made other Pokémon games great are lacking. The lineup of Pokémon is rather weak, and although the region is very nice-looking, the storyline does not delve deep enough into the Kalos legends (or the legendary Pokémon mascots). The sound quality is amazing but the music itself is extremely repetitive and and is nothing special. The game is also much too easy, though the lack of tutorials is a very welcome addition. The post-game could use some work as there's not much to do other than the Looker Bureau side quests.

    Other than that, it's a stellar addition to the Pokémon series, its formula relatively unchanged. The addition of the Player Search System makes for quick, accessible online play. Mega Evolution introduces a new layer of strategy in the Pokémon universe.

    In short, Pokémon X and Y could definitely be a lot better, but Pokémon fans should enjoy it all the same. It clearly marks a new era for Pokémon and whatever remakes are to come will certainly improve on this impressive foundation to a more beautiful world.

    CORE GAME: 6/10
    PRESENTATION: 6/10
    VISUALS: 8/10
    SOUND: 7/10
    GAMEPLAY: 9/10
    LASTING APPEAL: 9/10    … Expand
  28. Khinhazzard
    Dec 11, 2013
    7
    The online chat feature surprised me. What I liked about Pokemon XY above all is the improved online Battle It is a great strategy game overall. But I think needs a lot of update for customization a larger region for pokemon to catch and as well as improvisation for Pokemon Amie. The Pokemon Amie mini-games is very tiresome.
  29. Zyxqpa1999
    Dec 30, 2013
    7
    This game is essentially the same as any other Pokemon game, except with stupid foreign kids talking about pok-emon. The game is too easy and plays too slow; it takes 10 seconds to capture a Pokemon, and if it fails, you have to redo it. Overall, the Fairy Type is a dumb idea, because it changes the basic composition of past generations. If it played like Black/White 2, it would be a 9 or 10.
  30. Derduru
    Jun 28, 2016
    5
    Where shall i begin boring villains except leader, boring rivals, games to easy they just keep giving you pokemon, gym battles arent fun anymore back in the day you had to grind and catch losts of useless pokemon just to cause status condition because they kept spamming potion's i miss the old days no am not a genwunner i just feel like this isn't pokemon anymore you know oh yeah prosWhere shall i begin boring villains except leader, boring rivals, games to easy they just keep giving you pokemon, gym battles arent fun anymore back in the day you had to grind and catch losts of useless pokemon just to cause status condition because they kept spamming potion's i miss the old days no am not a genwunner i just feel like this isn't pokemon anymore you know oh yeah pros pretty graphics but it keeps snapping back to 2d… Expand
  31. DolphinReviews
    Jul 20, 2022
    5
    It's a very mediocre game overall. Probably the most okay Pokémon game there is. There's nothing wrong about it, it just isn't all too special. The jump to 3D was appreciated and desperately needed.
  32. DarthSidious63
    Mar 27, 2015
    6
    Graphically Pokemon X/Y is the best but two things hold it back. That is lack of Pokemon and the ease of gym battles.. As for lack of new Pokemon it is apparent that GameFreak has ran out of ideas for new varieties but what gets me is the ease of the battles. It is about time that GameFreak put a skill level for newcomers and expert players.
  33. rushiosan
    Nov 16, 2014
    6
    I swear I tried so hard to like this game. Black/White was amazing. Their sequel was kinda "okay, it's not bad", with lots of post-game content and countless monsters to catch, but this one... well, I'd say it's boring at its best. The main story isn't attractive, the characters are dull, town, routes and the pacing between gyms is very, very bad. It's the first Pokémon game that II swear I tried so hard to like this game. Black/White was amazing. Their sequel was kinda "okay, it's not bad", with lots of post-game content and countless monsters to catch, but this one... well, I'd say it's boring at its best. The main story isn't attractive, the characters are dull, town, routes and the pacing between gyms is very, very bad. It's the first Pokémon game that I actually had to force myself to finish.

    Technically, there are some serious issues that weren't (and I doubt they will) corrected yet. First is the lack of 3D support outside battles and cutscenes, second is the frame rate drops and horrible lag issues during battles (specially horde, team and legendary pokémon battles). There's no excuse for these. Even Zelda: ALBW delivered a very smooth gameplay at 60fps even with the 3D turned on - and it also has lots of stuff going on at the same time in the top screen.

    On the bright side, the game implemented a smart use of multiplayer functionalities on lower screen. Period. The other two options are extremely pointless and irritating. We could at least have a world map down there, or maybe a quick slot for HM moves, whatever, ANYTHING would be far more useful than gimmicks to play/pet with your Pokémon. Well, at least early EV training makes everything easier.

    I hope the OR / AS remakes correct half of the issues X / Y had. The franchise needs a proper installment on 3DS system.    … Expand
  34. YoutubeTGW
    Feb 21, 2014
    7
    I love the cutscenes and how you can customize your character and buy clothes. I notice the pokemon center doesn't have a trade system. The poke bank came out for a free trial just to trade pokemon in X and Y ONLY after the free trial you have to pay $5 a month. Thats really disappointing even black and white 1 and 2 had a transfer system to get your pokemon from previous games likeI love the cutscenes and how you can customize your character and buy clothes. I notice the pokemon center doesn't have a trade system. The poke bank came out for a free trial just to trade pokemon in X and Y ONLY after the free trial you have to pay $5 a month. Thats really disappointing even black and white 1 and 2 had a transfer system to get your pokemon from previous games like platinum, while this one doesn't have have a way to do that. I like how the game evolved from a pixel game to this cinematic version. Other then having to pay money to trade pokemon between X and Y its great. I'm also disappointed about how short this game was it only took a short time to finish, that includes all the gyms and the elite four.… Expand
  35. Nightdatsu
    Feb 10, 2014
    6
    Pokémon is now back in full 3D, can I add. "Finally"?

    It's been a long time since we saw our friendly little creatures in the Pokémon universe in 3D visuals, however is it to late now? I would say No, but it's was close. The overall appeal of the 3D visuals is stunning, makes the battles that you do in the game a lot more pleasing to the eye witch helps a ton on the monotonous moments    Pokémon is now back in full 3D, can I add. "Finally"?

    It's been a long time since we saw our friendly little creatures in the Pokémon universe in 3D visuals, however is it to late now? I would say No, but it's was close.
    The overall appeal of the 3D visuals is stunning, makes the battles that you do in the game a lot more pleasing to the eye witch helps a ton on the monotonous moments of the game.

    The overall plot of the game is bland and feels like a kindergarten put it together, I don't know if they made it as a joke or it was a serious idea. The concept is in style, witch the plot is that a group of people want's to kill all Pokémon in the world by using a huge machine, where fashion is the goal.
    In the aftermath of the game I was curious if they where making this to insult Peta's latest accusations on how people are trained to mistreat and kill animals through Pokémon. One can wonder.

    Now the most important factor to a game like Pokémon, how much different is it from the previous installment and how how much of an improvement is the game compared to previous titles. Pokémon X and Y lacks some of the old time charm as nostalgia goes but they have sure answered the calls of the more competitive players, witch is a good thing.

    Training your Pokémon is easier, more fluid then ever before witch is the biggest improvement since the last title.
    There are some new 3D functions that looks like a way to appeal to the casual gamers with mini-games and a mode where you can pet and feed your Pokémon, almost like a Tamagochi witch is a really nice function for the more non-competitive players. Post Game as it's called have always been a big role in the Pokémon franchise and sadly this lacks it a lot, same for replay value.

    After you are done with beating the Elite Four the game itself is pretty much dead, yes you can gather the last items, level up your Pokémon for competitive but the story arc itself and the challenge of Elite Four is non-existent , as nothing changes and that can be a drag.

    The connectivity of the game is great and somehow the best in the franchise, it feels like I'm back with a game boy pocket trying with a cable to trade Pokémon with my friends out in the yard and that is really well done. All you have to do is to use the internet functions to trade randomly or with friends within a couple of seconds. It's smooth and fun.

    How does the Pokémon look in each generation is an important factor of Pokémon, it's a vital question for most fans of the series, can it be that the 3D visuals clouds our judgement?
    Probably to an extent, there are not many new Pokémon in this game compared to previous titles and a few of them are really lacking when it comes to it's 3D appeal, some of the Pokémon does look the same overall and the pix-elated arms and legs of some Pokémon can be really bland.

    When you play through the game for the first time you will probably notice that most Pokémon you encounter is actually not new ones, witch is a big disappointment overall.

    Pokémon Y get's the job done as Pokémon goes but I do think the staple of the series need a overhaul soon as it's getting old and repetitive. I give Pokémon Y an 6/10    … Expand
  36. IronDarkrai
    May 17, 2014
    7
    Pokemon X and Y are the first main series Pokemon games that are 3, as Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD got to it first. The game does have some amazing graphics for the 3DS, as this game looked as good as Kirby: Triple Deluxe. The story was very meh in my opinion, with the villain team's leader was much more interesting than the villainous team, with them being, quoted from a videoPokemon X and Y are the first main series Pokemon games that are 3, as Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD got to it first. The game does have some amazing graphics for the 3DS, as this game looked as good as Kirby: Triple Deluxe. The story was very meh in my opinion, with the villain team's leader was much more interesting than the villainous team, with them being, quoted from a video review, "GLAM NAZIS." The Pokemon were inventive sure, but the small quantity did turn me off. it was a good game, though it did lack a non-box art trio, having barely any legendary Pokemon to catch, any the Battle Spot literally just being legendaries. Though it was still decent. but that is one dingbat's opinion.… Expand
  37. DemonSlayerNate
    Jul 21, 2014
    7
    The jump to 3D... is ok. It's story isn't that good. Mega evolution breakes the game. However the new pokemon are awesome, and the graphics are great. All in all a mixed bag.
  38. aasecr14
    Nov 18, 2014
    6
    Pokemon Y is the 6th generation of Pokemon games. With new 3D sprites and gameplay, Pokemon has never looked better. But it seems like Nintendo has dumbed down these games to appeal to a younger audience. I personally thought this game was much too easy. Even breeding for IVs, which was unknown territory for me before Pokemon Y, became easier than ever. I did enjoy the game, but it fellPokemon Y is the 6th generation of Pokemon games. With new 3D sprites and gameplay, Pokemon has never looked better. But it seems like Nintendo has dumbed down these games to appeal to a younger audience. I personally thought this game was much too easy. Even breeding for IVs, which was unknown territory for me before Pokemon Y, became easier than ever. I did enjoy the game, but it fell short of my expectations for a legendary series such as Pokemon.… Expand
  39. Trey82
    Feb 28, 2020
    5
    Not bad for the first entry into 3ds, but the worst pokemon game, 'adjusted for inflation'.
    I mean if you take the quality-of-life features out of it, by inflation.
    The 'friend' group that you have is awful compared to all the others. (Not a high bar to reach, but there ya go.) The amount of pokemon included with the game is great. But why? Every, EVERY time they add another 150ish    Not bad for the first entry into 3ds, but the worst pokemon game, 'adjusted for inflation'.
    I mean if you take the quality-of-life features out of it, by inflation.

    The 'friend' group that you have is awful compared to all the others. (Not a high bar to reach, but there ya go.)
    The amount of pokemon included with the game is great. But why? Every, EVERY time they add another 150ish pokemon to a game, they nerf and rebalance the game. While this is understandable, it really shines in some games, more than others. PokemonXY has some great newer generation pokemon, and the rest is now hundreds, HUNDREDS of mediocre pokemon that lost THAT much more reason to use 'em.

    The story is awful, and the writing is worse. Did they try to create more of a bad guy? Yes. Which means a harder fail. It makes for pretty good memes about awful speeches, though.

    The french aspect to the game means plenty of bourgeoise nonsense, which is fine... until you play some of the better regions. Ulola (Hawaiian) region is AMAZING, compared to XY. I'm partial to New York / Unova, but whatevs.

    Now all of this is fine, but what really gets me is the pacing of XY. Pokemon games are notoriously bad at pacing, you might reach and get the first lvl20 badge while your party has level 25s... but then find yourself getting the lvl40 badge and you dont even have any lvl 30s in your party. HOW DOES THIS WORK?!
    Ahem, but anyway.. the story and the diffiulty progression arent just OFF, they are 'off' as in.. there are long stretches of road with few trainers or any story.. no great pokemon to catch.. just filler areas.
    There are story areas that slow the game to a halt while you go watch a fireworks show or investigate what team undeveloped is doing over in Paristown or Fleur De Lisville.

    And MEGA EVOLUTIONS OMFG they suck. Absolute garbage temporary evolutions that, at worst.. arent sufficiently explained via the story, and at worst turn great pokemon into barely powered-up versions of themselves that still dont address their typematching and weaknesses. I didnt like Z-power, either.. but at least it didnt try to replace proper evolution! Powering up a move type is far better.
    Weak region, weak story, weak balancing, 3d effect barely used on 3d systems, framerate issues, weak pacing, no post-endgame stuff. Whatever you guys enjoy this game will be replaced by the next game you play. Try Sun/moon and sword/shield.. you'll never go back to XY, again.
    (Hell, even ORAS or BW12 is more streamlined and accessible, outside of water regions or confusing cities)    … Expand
  40. fanmadeendings
    Feb 15, 2022
    7
    A bit bland, but definitely fun main campaign, yet a really lackluster post game. There was a lot of novelty in seeing all the pokemon in 3D for the first time, but after this game, pokemon games unfortunately lost their visual distinctiveness
  41. Flounder
    Apr 1, 2022
    6
    Dieses Spiel verdient Punkte dafür, dass es das erste 3D-Pokémon-Spiel ist, und großen Respekt dafür, dass jedes Pokémon ein neues 3D-Modell ist, plus die erstaunliche Zugabe von Megas, aber zur Hölle, das Spiel ist so schmerzhaft einfach und langweilig, alle Charaktere haben wie immer ein großartiges Design in pokemon aber haben die keinen charme oder persönlichkeit, die interessantestenDieses Spiel verdient Punkte dafür, dass es das erste 3D-Pokémon-Spiel ist, und großen Respekt dafür, dass jedes Pokémon ein neues 3D-Modell ist, plus die erstaunliche Zugabe von Megas, aber zur Hölle, das Spiel ist so schmerzhaft einfach und langweilig, alle Charaktere haben wie immer ein großartiges Design in pokemon aber haben die keinen charme oder persönlichkeit, die interessantesten konzepte des spiels sind für insgesamt 3 sekunden drin… Expand
  42. LordJazbin
    Apr 19, 2021
    5
    Great jump to 3D! But... Meh in almost every other aspect. Pokémon designs are great this time around, region is good and customization too but: Story is as bad as before, similar to Diamond and Pearl bad storytelling. The level curve of these games are on pair with Gold and Silver being the worst in the franchise but this time making the game awfully easy, postgame is almost inexistentGreat jump to 3D! But... Meh in almost every other aspect. Pokémon designs are great this time around, region is good and customization too but: Story is as bad as before, similar to Diamond and Pearl bad storytelling. The level curve of these games are on pair with Gold and Silver being the worst in the franchise but this time making the game awfully easy, postgame is almost inexistent just like in Sword and Shield.… Expand
  43. HildaSimp5
    Mar 4, 2022
    5
    Pokémon XY are a severe downgrade from B2W2 in just about every way. The new Pokémon are fairly underwhelming and lame (Except Sylveon). Character designs are bland, 3D was interesting for a while, but i hate it now. Its taken away all the charm from sprites and i wish they would just go back to 2D.
    Music is alright i guess and Mega Evolution was a fantastic addition, much better than Z    Pokémon XY are a severe downgrade from B2W2 in just about every way. The new Pokémon are fairly underwhelming and lame (Except Sylveon). Character designs are bland, 3D was interesting for a while, but i hate it now. Its taken away all the charm from sprites and i wish they would just go back to 2D.
    Music is alright i guess and Mega Evolution was a fantastic addition, much better than Z moves and those awful big Pokémon of gen 8.
    Its feels like they cut corners everywhere too. Next to no postgame either.
    The story is immensly lame and has been told better through the anime and Adventures manga.
    This generation marked the beginning of Pokémon's decline and has continued since    … Expand
  44. albegres
    Feb 9, 2022
    6
    64/100
    Compared to the previous one it's such a disappointment. It feels half finished sadly
  45. Cinept
    Mar 7, 2022
    6
    6/10. One of my favourite mainline Pokemon games. Mega evolution was a cool concept, the 3d felt really cool as a child. As a child, really conveyed the sense of adventure. However, does not hold up great today.
  46. Toasttt
    Mar 26, 2022
    7
    meh . .
  47. TheDuner13
    Aug 6, 2022
    7
    ta bnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
  48. AlexMakesToast
    Dec 16, 2022
    7
    Y = 7/10
    ..................................................................
  49. amonium
    Feb 1, 2023
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The story was not great, legendaries felt out of place, not even talking about the graphics. Pokemon designs were just fine. Would not recommend a new player to play this game to be honest.… Expand
  50. Cer2xrafa
    Aug 7, 2023
    6
    El peor de la saga, fácil y poco memorable, su mayor pecado es el regalar 4 pokémons casi obligatorios para completar la aventura, se pierde el factor RPG por completo, pero el trabajo de los modelos 3d es bastante decente.
  51. Triblue
    May 21, 2023
    7
    Très sympa. C'est un Pokémon classique mais un Pokémon est toujours sympa et amusant.
  52. Raveny
    Aug 2, 2023
    6
    This game was ok it was easy but like the fun and bad kind of funny. But i didn’t like that every gym leader has 3 Pokémon and every E4 member has 4 Pokémon which makes sense but come on Nintendo that’s to easy we’re not 5 year olds

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best 3DS Game of 2013
5
#5 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2013
6
#6 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 69 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 69
  3. Negative: 0 out of 69
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Mar 11, 2014
    86
    The definitive version of the game, but some evolution would be nice. [Dec 2013]
  2. Merlin'in Kazanı (Turkey)
    Jan 30, 2014
    90
    3D Visuals transformed the classic Pokemon approach in a good way. Online capabilities are top notch, this new generation will really make Pokemon fans happy.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    Dec 13, 2013
    90
    The best Pokemon game since Gold and Silver. It’s worth buying a 3DS. [13/2013, p.76]
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