Pokemon Shuffle Mobile

 iOS
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 28
  3. Negative: 4 out of 28
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  1. Turbodowg
    Aug 31, 2017
    7
    Pokemon Shuffle had the potential to be a fantastic game. On first playing I really really enjoyed it. After a few hours I was addicted. The premise is simple yet genius. Compete in head to head battles with Pokemon using a (candy crush) style mix and match game. Level up and collect and catch Pokemon. Sounds fun?

    It's fun until you slowly realise that an intrusive pay to win system    Pokemon Shuffle had the potential to be a fantastic game. On first playing I really really enjoyed it. After a few hours I was addicted. The premise is simple yet genius. Compete in head to head battles with Pokemon using a (candy crush) style mix and match game. Level up and collect and catch Pokemon. Sounds fun?

    It's fun until you slowly realise that an intrusive pay to win system hinders progress at Level 90. An impossible level unless you spend money on Jewels (ranging from 6 for 4.99 to 105 at a laughable 64.99). And that's where the fun ends. There is literally no way to win jewels, you have to pay for them. You can earn coins to buy extra moves and delay enemy special attacks but it takes forever to earn enough. There is no way to get past this level without hardcore grinding or spending real world money. So the quick bursts of fun stop and you will likely give up at this point.

    I very nearly gave up because if a game is designed that the only way you can beat a puzzle is to buy moves and specials then there is no game, there is no skill, your interaction doesn't matter. There may as well be a bot that plays it for you while debiting cash from your account.

    It's a shame because I would have paid a tenner for a full unlock of this game, I refuse to buy Jewels that run out. And I have no idea who would spend 64.99 on a mobile app. I paid less on the Witcher 3 and all DLC (one of the best RPGs ever made).

    Edit. So after days and days and days of grinding I finally got past level 90 (using extra moves I had grinded coins for). Now that my main party of Pokemon are high level the last 20 levels or so I have breezed through, so you can play without spending cash. So I'm back enjoying the game again with the knowledge that when a tough Pokemon appears I can grind to beat it. Still not perfect and the heart system is annoying (losing hearts even when you win and only getting 5 every 90 mins) but it's addictive, and a great puzzler, such a shame the micro transactions slow it down.    … Expand
  2. TheQuietGamer
    Dec 30, 2015
    9
    Match-3 games are a dime a dozen. It takes a lot for one of them to stand out from the crowd and to be worth playing, especially on mobile devices. Nintendo manages to succeed at both of these by applying mechanics from their Pokémon series to the well-worn genre.

    This is far more than a simple reskin of mobile games we've already played before. Yes, you are using the standard mechanics    Match-3 games are a dime a dozen. It takes a lot for one of them to stand out from the crowd and to be worth playing, especially on mobile devices. Nintendo manages to succeed at both of these by applying mechanics from their Pokémon series to the well-worn genre.

    This is far more than a simple reskin of mobile games we've already played before. Yes, you are using the standard mechanics of just matching like pairs (only this time with more freedom as you can move pieces all around the board instead of just being limited to what it right next to you), but more strategic elements from the Pokémon series are in play to give it more depth.

    For one thing every match you make helps you take down an enemy Pokémon (the overall goal of the levels). Knowing what Pokémon are most effective against your opponent is key. Once you beat the Pokémon you can attempt to capture it and use it to help you in later levels. The game really taps into that "Gotta Catch 'Em All" mentality that has been a staple of the Nintendo series for years. There's even a leveling system to get your captured Pokémon stronger for the battles ahead.

    For all of it's successes in blending the Pokémon and match-3 genres the game does have one rather huge flaw; the life system. The game is definitely free-to-play and you can make it through the entire game without spending a single cent. However the life system limits just how much you can play it at a time without spending money. It's not unusual for match-3 games to give you lives, but usually you only lose one when you actually fail to beat a level. In this game you lose one every time you attempt a level. It's an irritating and restrictive feature, but not one I found game-ruining.

    It's makes some other attempts to grab at your wallet with power ups, stronger Pokeballs, and the option to buy more moves if you've run out in a level. There is an in-game currency system to help alleviate some of the annoyances of the F2P model, but for the most part the biggest complaint is the irritating handling of the lives system. Yet, despite that issue I still found myself really enjoying the game.

    The Pokémon series does a lot to help bring new life to an overly crowded genre. It's got the addictive nature of the core series with the portable friendly nature of the match-3 genre. It doesn't completely reinvent the wheel, but it does enough different to make it among the best match-3 games out there. Irritations with the freemium model aside this is one mobile game worth playing. Especially for the Pokémon fans out there.    … Expand
  3. AJCk19
    Aug 6, 2021
    6
    A modern day Tetris Clone, with a Pokemon glossing and mobile game pay system. It is extremely addictive, fun, with a clean game design. But that is with any Tetris Clone and it also comes with the weaknesses. Of eventually becoming repetitive.

    Its' best to play it in short sessions, unless you want to pay. Ultimately, it makes you want to play the Main Pokemon games after each session.    A modern day Tetris Clone, with a Pokemon glossing and mobile game pay system. It is extremely addictive, fun, with a clean game design. But that is with any Tetris Clone and it also comes with the weaknesses. Of eventually becoming repetitive.

    Its' best to play it in short sessions, unless you want to pay. Ultimately, it makes you want to play the Main Pokemon games after each session.

    UPDATE: once you get deeper into the game (like collect 150). The game gets really money hungry. To the point it makes you really angry. Still worth playing until you get to that point, then you probably should just drop it. (originally I gave it a 8; I'm now downgrading it to a 6).    … Expand
  4. Prominent531
    Sep 4, 2015
    0
    This game is fun but it doesn't want you to play it. You need to buy hearts to play and you only recharge one heart every 30 minutes. I am so disappointed. I would be willing to purchase the app outright for $4.99 as long as they get rid of the pay to play **** Do not let these money hungry companies play us like that, go to the play store and app store and give this **** game a **** review.
  5. smeargle05
    Sep 17, 2015
    6
    Like any match-three games, this relies heavily on RNG mechanics, but its different take where you can move tiles anywhere adds an element of strategy and planning. Compared to the 3DS version, the mobile version is much more tolerable because, well, the mobile is home to a slew of casual "on-the-go" games like this. If I had my 3DS on me, I'd much rather play a full-fledged game, but thisLike any match-three games, this relies heavily on RNG mechanics, but its different take where you can move tiles anywhere adds an element of strategy and planning. Compared to the 3DS version, the mobile version is much more tolerable because, well, the mobile is home to a slew of casual "on-the-go" games like this. If I had my 3DS on me, I'd much rather play a full-fledged game, but this suits well on the phone.
    Even though it has in-app purchases, you do not need to pay anything to play the game. It employs a mechanic where it gives you 1000 points (which is restored each month) that limits how much you spend so that you do not spend irresponsibly. Different purchases cost points and if you run out, you can't spend any more money until the next month.
    Personally, I find this more engaging that other games of the genre like Candy Crush because of the more polished visuals, tolerable music and gameplay mechanics despite the optional pay-to-win aspects that are plugged in. However, it is disappointing how the hearts system works: You replenish a heart every thirty minutes, but you use up hearts every time you play a stage irregardless of winning or losing the stage. But since you would most likely be playing this during your pass time or on the train, it may or may not matter.    … Expand
  6. SrPepe
    Jun 30, 2018
    7
    Esta bastante divertido pero como muchos otros peca en que a la larga se hace muy repetitivo.
  7. jakandjoe
    Apr 21, 2021
    7
    i love this game so much but it's buggy after you play a few level it kicks you out and says the game will close in 10 seconds it so weird.
  8. wentos
    Mar 30, 2021
    7
    Even though the game is basically dead and not getting updates anymore, it's still very fun. There's enough content to keep you busy for a long time. It's basically just another match-3 game but with some twists in the form of your Pokemon's abilities along with Mega Evolution. It's RNG heavy but at the same time there is a lot of strategy in it, especially in the later stages. I wouldEven though the game is basically dead and not getting updates anymore, it's still very fun. There's enough content to keep you busy for a long time. It's basically just another match-3 game but with some twists in the form of your Pokemon's abilities along with Mega Evolution. It's RNG heavy but at the same time there is a lot of strategy in it, especially in the later stages. I would never call it deep but it's certainly not mindless or "not a game."

    There ARE microtransactions in the game but honestly? They're not bad at all. I played this game on and off for three years and at no point did I ever feel compelled to actually spend money. I never felt like I had to in order to progress or even do well at a competition. To me that's the mark of a good mobile game and one that IS worth spending on. I think the entire time I played, I dropped around $10 and I probably would have spent more if it kept getting updates.

    It really is a great little way to pass time. The one reason my review score is kind of low despite all the praise I'm giving it is that if you don't want to spend money you basically have to grind for coins and it's boring. I mean, it's better than having to pay but it's still not exactly enjoyable. Having to waste your limited energy on Meowth is not fun, especially when you still have stages left and want to keep progressing through the game. But when you're NOT grinding, the game is very fun.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Most Discussed iOS Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
62

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. 3DJuegos
    Jan 25, 2016
    85
    A new match 3 puzzle game for mobile devices, a rip-off of the same eShop Nintendo 3DS game. Addictive gameplay but lacks innovation.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Nov 15, 2015
    65
    If you enjoy match-3 games, you can give Pokemon Shuffle Mobile a try. You’ll just have to bear with an awful tutorial. [11/2015, p.64]
  3. 148Apps
    Sep 22, 2015
    50
    This match-three puzzle game suffers from a poorly realized free-to-play structure and a lack of Pokemon spirit.
    Read full review
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