Pokemon Legends: Arceus

 Switch
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3825 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,951 out of 3825
  2. Mixed: 388 out of 3825
  3. Negative: 486 out of 3825
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. MTGFatalis
    Jan 30, 2022
    9
    Great game. Very in depth pokemon experience. Reamly makes you feel like your the pokemon master. Just the visual could use some tuning. Pls fix the water combat and pokeball animation
  2. M3inKampfycouch
    Jan 30, 2022
    6
    Legends Arceus is an expensive tech demo through and through. Through the past several years in the transition from 2D sprite work to 3D models GameFreak's made the risky move of turning Pokemon into a console title. With that shift has come a noticeable drop in quality, particularly in the department which manages the compatibility between titles. Sword and Shield had a reduced PokedexLegends Arceus is an expensive tech demo through and through. Through the past several years in the transition from 2D sprite work to 3D models GameFreak's made the risky move of turning Pokemon into a console title. With that shift has come a noticeable drop in quality, particularly in the department which manages the compatibility between titles. Sword and Shield had a reduced Pokedex and rather sparse content and Legend's Arceus follows suit by delivering a really unique playstyle overshadowed by a game generally devoid of content. The ancient world of Sinnoh is bland and misses a lot of the diverse biomes that typically populate a Pokemon game on top of generally feeling empty as a whole. If you love Pokemon you'll probably still enjoy this game as I did but I can't shake the feeling this game should've released as a free demo with the team dedicating more time to fleshing out the world, the missions and the overall Pokemon experience. I'm not sure if GameFreak is just looking for a cash grab or has just grown plain lazy but Legend's Arceus will hopefully not set a precedent and is just paving the way for a much better game down the road.… Expand
  3. Dom007
    Jan 30, 2022
    4
    Man the graphics in this game are bad. Looks like a ps2 game. The gameplay is not fun.
  4. Rafastc
    Jan 30, 2022
    9
    This new concept of pokemon is wonderful. The Monster Hunter-Like style broght a new fresh Air to pokemon franchise. This game has a nice gameplay and a magnific soundtrack.
    I would recomend this game to every pokemo fab
  5. Fmedin01
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    Arceus is the game we’ve all wanted since we were little I’ve been playing for 20 years now and this is a refreshing and exciting take on the franchise.
  6. laloting
    Jan 30, 2022
    1
    es increíble que pusieran este juego a la venta con la baja calidad que tiene tanto en lo visual como en el gameplay, es obvio que lo único que quisieron hacer con este juego es aprovecharse de los fans (increíblemente ciegos) de pokemon
  7. Edubaal
    Jan 30, 2022
    9
    Good game, good mechanics, not very good graphics, but you’ll enjoy it anyway
  8. JohnnArmstrong
    Jan 30, 2022
    9
    I've never liked Pokemon games. After the tutorial I would always remove the game because I was bored. Technically Pokémon Legend Arceus is my first Pokémon that I have enjoyed in my life. I've played 20 hours and I'm still a long way from the game. It really is an advance to what Pokémon is. The graphics leave a lot to be desired, but that doesn't stop the game from being veryI've never liked Pokemon games. After the tutorial I would always remove the game because I was bored. Technically Pokémon Legend Arceus is my first Pokémon that I have enjoyed in my life. I've played 20 hours and I'm still a long way from the game. It really is an advance to what Pokémon is. The graphics leave a lot to be desired, but that doesn't stop the game from being very entertaining. If you are someone very focused on graphics; do not buy it. But if you are a fan of the games or wanted a change in the Pokémon saga; buy and play this game because I promise you won't be disappointed… Expand
  9. Slimef41
    Jan 30, 2022
    8
    The game is not perfect especially in the graphics but if you do look past the graphics it is one of the best Pokémon games and probably the best game this year. Also stay mad verlisify
  10. RensR
    Jan 30, 2022
    9
    Disclaimer: If you care a lot about graphics and not gameplay, this isn’t the game for you. Giving the game a 3 just because the graphics are lacking is shallow.

    I have been playing Pokemon since Diamond and Pearl on the DS, and this is the most fun I’ve had with a Pokemon game since. This is mostly due to the well structured gameplay loop. There are lots of ways you can approach    Disclaimer: If you care a lot about graphics and not gameplay, this isn’t the game for you. Giving the game a 3 just because the graphics are lacking is shallow.

    I have been playing Pokemon since Diamond and Pearl on the DS, and this is the most fun I’ve had with a Pokemon game since. This is mostly due to the well structured gameplay loop. There are lots of ways you can approach battling and catching Pokemon, and this freedom really defines the entire game. Instead of pressing a button to run away from a battle, you can just actually run away. You can move during a battle giving you any perspective you’d like. Once you get past the tutorial, you are free to explore a large area with lots of danger and excitement. Besides that, every mechanic implemented is streamlined to perfection. The gameplay is a much needed and revolutionary step in the Pokemon franchise. The gameplay earned itself a 10/10.

    A valid point of critique is that the graphics are lacking. Don’t get me wrong, there are some moments where the game looked pretty, but overall it’s very very mediocre. The textures are often compared to the Wii era, and let me tell you, they’re not far off. Furthermore, there is the usual pop-in of trees and rocks which isn’t always noticeable, but is very jarring when you do notice it. Luckily the Pokemon themselves do not pop in as heavily, they are usually seen from further away at the expense of a lower frame rate. The pop in has been improved from earlier titles like Pokemon Sword and Shield. Overall the graphics leave a lot to be desired. Though it does add enough to game overall, therefore I rate this department a 6/10.

    I was pleasantly surprised by the sound design in the game, though I didn’t expect anything else from the GameFreak veteran Go Ichinose. The soundscapes in Legends Arceus take the immersion to a new level for the series. The world of Pokemon has never felt more alive. My favorite sounds are those of the player movement. Rolling, sprinting, crouching in the grass, throwing a pokeball. I am a massive fan of this amount of detail. The soundtracks in the game are subtle, and reminds one of Zelda Breath of the Wild. There are some beautiful renditions in there of older soundtracks of the Sinnoh region, one of my favorite being Jubilife Village. The games sound earned itself a 10/10.

    People asked for better animations, and they got it. There are a lot of new animations for the Pokemon themselves, the moves, the NPCs and much more. GameFreak outdid themselves in this department. It’s really the little things that sold me on the animations. Pokemon actually make eye contact, the trainer can be seen showing actual emotions. After a heavy battle, the player often wipes off some sweat. The player can get hit by a Pokemon’s moves and you can see the player retreat a Pokemon to their pokeball. Sure, they’re small things but it’s never seen before in the Pokemon franchise, a recurring theme in Pokemon Legends Arceus. There are some moments where GameFreak could’ve done more, or better said; at least something. The game still fades to black in cutscenes where two characters are supposed to interact with each other, which just comes across as lazy. It’s an easy technique to avoid animating something, and for real time events that’s acceptable. However, we are talking about cutscenes here. GameFreak’s cutscenes are outdated, and it’s sad they didn’t improve them for this game. There are lots of things to love in the animation department, but it’s not perfect. Therefore the animations are a 9/10 for me.

    To conclude, Pokemon Legends Arceus is a game worth your time. Whether you are new to the franchise or a veteran. Everything combined, this game is a 9/10.    … Expand
  11. PurifierUnit
    Jan 30, 2022
    5
    IGN Italy's review is the most accurate critic review of this game. That reviewer understands how to analyze game systems and how they interact with one another, instead of just being mindlessly wowed by an open world with a few genuine improvements to the traditional Pokémon formula. And there really are some improvements. They simply seem to have been made without any considerationIGN Italy's review is the most accurate critic review of this game. That reviewer understands how to analyze game systems and how they interact with one another, instead of just being mindlessly wowed by an open world with a few genuine improvements to the traditional Pokémon formula. And there really are some improvements. They simply seem to have been made without any consideration whatsoever for how they affect the rest of the game.

    Let's start with the good. Non-random, seamless battles are great. Want to get into a fight with a wild Pokémon? Toss out one of your own Pokémon near it and bam, you're in battle. No loading screen, no battle transition effect, just instantly in battle mode, and you're still free to move around at will while the battle is going on -- see it from any angle, even get hit by the attacks if you're careless with where you stand.

    Don't feel like battling? You can catch Pokémon without being in battle now, which is great. Not all of them, mind you, but some of them.

    These are the two main alterations Game Freak made to the traditional formula. They're good ideas. Unfortunately they have some noticeably bad knock-on effects, which it seems Game Freak either didn't notice, or compensated for in rather amateur ways.

    Previous Pokémon games had the luxury of hiding all Pokémon in tall grass, and (outside Sword & Shield) never actually showed them in the wild. This means the presence of the Pokémon is part of the player's suspension of disbelief. They're there and they totally have all the behaviors listed in the Pokédex, but you just never see them. Legends Arceus, on the other hand, shows the Pokémon in the wild. And they just...stand there and wander around a bit. They don't live in the world. They have no homes, they have no behaviors, they don't interact with one another -- they simply exist and wait to be caught or fought. This, much more than the obvious visual-fidelity issues, makes the world feel lifeless and oddly empty.

    Out-of-battle catching speeds up the game to an insane extent. If you could catch everything without fighting it, the game would be over extremely quickly, and Game Freak needed to not let that happen because of the large number of people out there who equate Time Spent with Money Value. It seems Game Freak has implemented two "solutions" in order to prevent the game's runtime from being drastically shortened.

    First, Pokémon fall into three categories: friendly, skittish, and aggressive. Friendly Pokémon can be caught out of battle with no special requirements; just throw a ball. Skittish Pokémon can be caught out of battle, as long as they don't see you first (they'll run away). Aggressive Pokémon cannot be caught outside battle whatsoever, and must be fought and captured in the traditional manner. Game Freak has made MOST Pokémon aggressive. They made a super convenient change to the formula and then set things up to force you through the traditional formula anyway, for the most part.

    Secondly and far more damningly, the Pokédex requires multiple catches, multiple victorious battles, multiple observations of Pokémon move use, and other checklist items such as "catch without being seen", before a dex entry for a specific Pokémon will be "complete". There really is no reason or justification provided for what amounts to repetitious busywork; it seems obvious that this is another "solution" to the problem of "we made playing the game faster and more convenient, but we need to keep them playing for roughly the same amount of time as before". Catching is faster now? Require a lot more catches instead of just the traditional one-and-done. Battling is controllable now, and not at all randomized? Require a specific number of battles for each Pokémon so the player HAS to fight them multiple times anyway. And worse, virtually everything in the game revolves around dex completion, which never gets any more interesting or complex over time. Sidequests ask for complete dex entries outright, or for things you do to complete dex entries. The main quest also requires dex entries. It's a one-note game loop.

    Game Freak could have done much more interesting things with its good core changes. Make the Pokémon appear to really live in the world. Require the player to observe and record their behaviors: what they eat, where they live. Use the Switch as if it is the dex itself (similar to how BotW treated the tablet as an actual in-game device), and permit the player to directly record dex info, perhaps with fill-in-the-blank fields and a selection of pre-written answer options. In a game where the dex is so central, interesting things to do with the dex seem like a no-brainer. Unfortunately Game Freak settled for "just make them do the usual stuff, but way more". The end result is a decidedly repetitive, lackluster game. I hope Game Freak figures out where it went wrong here, as it really isn't hard to see the holes.    … Expand
  12. Bach2Zach
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    By far one of the most enjoyable Pokémon games I’ve played, going all the way back to Red and Blue. I do miss having a lot of trainer battles, however, the new mechanics introduced in the game and the story have made the game very enjoyable. I hope they can continue off of this game and make more with the new features that were introduced.
  13. Purplefoglight
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    This is, by far, the greatest Pokémon game ever made. I really hope they continue the trend of doing corresponding Legends games for each existing generation.
  14. Osterzone
    Jan 30, 2022
    9
    If you growth playing pokemon you will like it so much. Don't pay attention on the comments of the haters. Graphics are not so important here.
  15. Racsoul
    Jan 30, 2022
    9
    Here we have a very good game with the twist of a gameplay we've been waiting for. World is interesting and progressive with the story but also gives you enough freedom to do as you please. Very recommendable.
  16. BuffMantis
    Jan 30, 2022
    2
    Low effort slop from the highest grossing franchise in the world. Plays and looks like a unity asset flip
  17. Rengoku
    Jan 30, 2022
    0
    Best Pokemon ever without any doubts.
    - It's beautiful graphics almost made me cry.
    - The "open-world" looks so full of life, incredible detailed, textures made with love.. Lots of Pokemon having interesting interactions between them. - Story and mechanics are the best of the franchise so far. - So many things to do. Catch the same Pokemon again, again and again. And craft. - So many    Best Pokemon ever without any doubts.
    - It's beautiful graphics almost made me cry.
    - The "open-world" looks so full of life, incredible detailed, textures made with love.. Lots of Pokemon having interesting interactions between them.
    - Story and mechanics are the best of the franchise so far.
    - So many things to do. Catch the same Pokemon again, again and again. And craft.
    - So many love put into the animations.
    - Very cheap game. Only €60?
    - Etc.

    It's a must buy. No other Pokemon game achieves this perfection.    … Expand
  18. Thilo
    Jan 30, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Das Spiel inklusive von den neuen Fängen überzeugt…nur die Grafik ist schlecht…die Pokemon Animation sind mega und es macht spaß die Höhlen und weiten Wiesen zu erkunden… Expand
  19. Holden89
    Jan 30, 2022
    7
    Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a bold new step by Nintendo and Gamefreak that would have been outstanding several years ago. PLA does a great job of making you feel like you truly exist in the Pokemon world and does a good job immersing the player through all of the new mechanics it presents.

    Catching new Pokemon is more dynamic than it has ever been before. You can choose the old route:    Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a bold new step by Nintendo and Gamefreak that would have been outstanding several years ago. PLA does a great job of making you feel like you truly exist in the Pokemon world and does a good job immersing the player through all of the new mechanics it presents.

    Catching new Pokemon is more dynamic than it has ever been before. You can choose the old route: start a battle, weaken the enemy, then attempt to catch them, or you can utilize the open world and items you have at your disposal to distract, feed, or even stun them and simply throw the ball. It is even possible to use this method to catch "Alpha" pokemon unaware and capture them without need of a battle.

    There is an all new crafting system as well. While it is quite simplistic it does get the job done. I found myself going out into the wild simply to gather materials for crafting. Action to reward. Basic. Good job. The game also goes a solid job offering newer, more powerful items as you progress to make it seem like you're actually improving as a member of the survey corps.

    Story wise, it's what you'd expect from a Pokemon game. Solid enough, keeps your attention for the most part, but nothing remarkable. There's no "wow" moment in the story nor are there any moments that elicit much of an emotional response. Towards the end I was skipping dialogue because I just wanted to "play the game".

    The battles themselves are largely the same. The ability to run around was interesting for the first couple of battles but after that I forgot you even could and stopped doing it altogether. There's no real reason to move around outside of seeing different angles. Pokemon don't randomly target the player character in battle and as long as you don't stand directly between the Pokemon fighting you're safe from harm. Some status conditions did get updated which felt long overdue.

    Now, the bad...

    The game looks terrible. The game runs terribly. Unacceptably awful for a full fledged console game in 2022. Jagged edges, frame pacing, models popping in and out of existence, and several graphical glitches plague the game and severely hurt the score. It is either time for Gamefreak to find a new game engine or for Nintendo to find a new developer. This does not cut it. To be clear, I like the art style they tried for. It could have been a very aesthetically pleasing appearance but it just isn't. It is ugly and is very poorly optimized. The retail price of $60 does not reflect the amount of polish put into this game. Very disappointing presentation for Pokemon on the Switch. Again.

    All in all, I greatly enjoyed my experience and will likely playthrough the game several times. I know in this world of hyperbole and dramatics a 7 seems like a low score. It's not. This was a fantastic step in the right direction. Ball is in their court to improve upon it.    … Expand
  20. Aurawhisperer
    Jan 30, 2022
    6
    The game is promising, but not really worth a full $60. The graphics are poorly optimized still - Sword & Shield actually looks better. No promising change on the battle system with exception of you as the trainer moving around - thus, taking out the multiplayer was completely unnecessary. Dumbed down to 242 pokes in the region, which may upset alot of other trainers. Catching mechanicThe game is promising, but not really worth a full $60. The graphics are poorly optimized still - Sword & Shield actually looks better. No promising change on the battle system with exception of you as the trainer moving around - thus, taking out the multiplayer was completely unnecessary. Dumbed down to 242 pokes in the region, which may upset alot of other trainers. Catching mechanic lacks potential - cut the middle man between traditional & Lets Go. Stealth mechanic is poor - better off just catching on foot or battle. Story is an average Pokemon story, with minor grim tales. Abilities & Natures no longer a thing, but EVs/IVs are still in the game despite no competitive battles.… Expand
  21. Tuffturtle
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    This is format I'd like to see for future Pokemon games, freedom to explore, no tedious walking through grass and constantly encountering Pokemon. The effort point system is miles ahead of the old system, changing moves on the fly in the menu is amazing. The only downside is that it can be hard to see some Pokemon from a distance. Also moving forward we should go into a more voice actedThis is format I'd like to see for future Pokemon games, freedom to explore, no tedious walking through grass and constantly encountering Pokemon. The effort point system is miles ahead of the old system, changing moves on the fly in the menu is amazing. The only downside is that it can be hard to see some Pokemon from a distance. Also moving forward we should go into a more voice acted approach for these games because it can seem a bit quiet.… Expand
  22. PeterZander
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    Pokémon Legends Arceus is the greatest surprise for me in the last years of playing Pokémon. I expected a game with small content, horrible graphics and a middle quality-gameplay. What i got was a lot of content, graphics that are okay and a gameplay that has a higher quality than i could dream of. I really hope that we'll get a second part in a few years, because i didn't feel such a joyPokémon Legends Arceus is the greatest surprise for me in the last years of playing Pokémon. I expected a game with small content, horrible graphics and a middle quality-gameplay. What i got was a lot of content, graphics that are okay and a gameplay that has a higher quality than i could dream of. I really hope that we'll get a second part in a few years, because i didn't feel such a joy while playing pokémon for at least the last ten years.… Expand
  23. CasualG1
    Jan 30, 2022
    9
    A breath of fresh air for the franchise, and by far the best Switch pokemon game.
  24. smogg1975
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    A perfect example of Pokémon and it’s what I wanted after seeing the first episode of the anime. Even with the technical limitations of the Switch it expands the series in a great new direction and sets a roadmap for the future.
  25. itsRindo
    Jan 30, 2022
    9
    This is a pretty great game honestly. After the cute but shallow Let's Go games and the AWFUL Sword/Shield games this is very refreshing. It has a very addicting gameplay loop, everything is fast and snappy and besides the first hour the game lets you play pretty freely. Graphical issues aside (mostly in docked mode, handheld looks pretty good) I fully recommend buying this if you're anThis is a pretty great game honestly. After the cute but shallow Let's Go games and the AWFUL Sword/Shield games this is very refreshing. It has a very addicting gameplay loop, everything is fast and snappy and besides the first hour the game lets you play pretty freely. Graphical issues aside (mostly in docked mode, handheld looks pretty good) I fully recommend buying this if you're an old Pokemon fan that fell out of all with the recent games.… Expand
  26. roychen
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    I enjoyed it very much, I love all the changes they made to this new Pokemon game. Best Pokemon game in the last ten years!
  27. Forketta95
    Jan 30, 2022
    5
    A solid baseline for the future, but the game lacks of some fundamentals features. The story and the graphics are really terrible, but overall the game is funny. For a future chapter, with several improvement, I could think to give a better score, but as today the game is still under the 6
  28. Xroud
    Jan 30, 2022
    4
    It's an ok pokemon game, but it's not a good game. The world feels empty, graphics are outdated and pretty inconsistent, the story and characters are weak even for a pokemon game and once the novelty wears off the gameplay loop is really repetitive. This game really needed more time in development to create a world worth exploring and to refine all the new ideas, but right now this feelsIt's an ok pokemon game, but it's not a good game. The world feels empty, graphics are outdated and pretty inconsistent, the story and characters are weak even for a pokemon game and once the novelty wears off the gameplay loop is really repetitive. This game really needed more time in development to create a world worth exploring and to refine all the new ideas, but right now this feels like a precursor to a great game and definitely not worth the price tag.

    If you enjoyed the games before or have a strong connection to the franchise you'll likely enjoy it and appreciate the changes, but it's probably not winning over new fans. Hoping they actually take the time with the next one and run with the new ideas because it could make for a genuinely amazing game.    … Expand
  29. DeLuigi
    Jan 30, 2022
    0
    I don't recommend it to anyone.
    All nice ideas to renew the brand, but none done well.
  30. jluis859
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    Best game of pokemon by far, this is a great change for franchise, we have to support this type of big changes and not destroy it with ridiculous ratings without non sense.
Page:

Awards & Rankings

41
#41 Best Switch Game of 2022
2
#2 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 118 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 102 out of 118
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 118
  3. Negative: 0 out of 118
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 30, 2024
    80
    Definitely not a bad game. It handles its mechanics perfectly, and as long as it doesn't try to talk at you, you'll enjoy it. It's the first step on the road to new games with Pokémon on the cover, and the good sales could be the main reason to continue similar work and experimentation. [Issue#317]
  2. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Oct 19, 2022
    85
    Acreus came out just a few months after Diamond & Pearl remake. Isn’t that too soon? Actually, no. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the most innovative, revolutionary, and maybe simply the best Pokémon game of the last decade. [Issue#259, p.48]
  3. Nintendo Force Magazine
    May 13, 2022
    90
    This really does feel like a big step forward for a series that famously plays things safe, and I'm excited to see where the franchise will go next! [Issue #58 – March/April 2022, p. 72]
See all critic reviews »