Pokemon Scarlet

 Switch
User Score
3.4

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 3197 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 755 out of 3197
  2. Mixed: 290 out of 3197
  3. Negative: 2,152 out of 3197
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  1. ToChoPals
    Dec 6, 2022
    10
    Performance issues otherwise they are best pokemon games gameplay and storywise
  2. Brandoge2
    Dec 6, 2022
    8
    Great game, unpolished on release. If the graphics and performance issues were smooth on release would be much more well received.
  3. AzuraFeraligatr
    Dec 6, 2022
    6
    The game itself was extremely entertaining, being able to roam where I felt and being able to watch the Pokemon in the overworld was enjoyable to me. This was the first Pokemon game I have finished since the Ruby/Sapphire remakes, excluding Arceus.
    I found playing the game in handheld mode helped make a lot of the bugs less noticeable and i was able to play the game and enjoy it well    The game itself was extremely entertaining, being able to roam where I felt and being able to watch the Pokemon in the overworld was enjoyable to me. This was the first Pokemon game I have finished since the Ruby/Sapphire remakes, excluding Arceus.
    I found playing the game in handheld mode helped make a lot of the bugs less noticeable and i was able to play the game and enjoy it well enough. Playing on my 4K Samsung TV was out of the question however. All flaws where on full display and caused me headaches.
    If not for the bugs and the inability to play in docked mode, this would be a 9/10 game for me. The open world is a massive step up for the series, but the lack of scaling detracts from this improvement.
    Overall, I rated this game a 6 because I did have a lot of fun playing the game, although it could have been improved with level scaling to give it a more "choose your own adventure" feeling. The flaws in the game are unacceptable and i shouldn't be limited to playing in Handheld mode just to get a good gaming experience.    … Expand
  4. Alexander135
    Dec 7, 2022
    3
    Pokemon Scarlett is a game that seems to have been made by passionate programmers/artists/designers, but rushed and released unfinished. You will buy it because it's Pokemon, but the product is of overall low quality. The open world is beautiful, the battles are enjoyable, the gym leaders interesting, the story multifaceted and engaging. All of this is tarnished by poor performance.

    There    Pokemon Scarlett is a game that seems to have been made by passionate programmers/artists/designers, but rushed and released unfinished. You will buy it because it's Pokemon, but the product is of overall low quality. The open world is beautiful, the battles are enjoyable, the gym leaders interesting, the story multifaceted and engaging. All of this is tarnished by poor performance.

    There is a plethora of bugs. I'll break down the bugs into three categories below.

    Unavoidable & understandable: there are many times where the game slows down. For the minor instances these are understandable as many Switch titles have difficulty maintaining an ideal frame rate due to limited hardware. Additionally, distant characters will appear at varying levels of choppiness. Say you are next to a character, they move smoothly, you move 15 steps away and they are moving at 12fps, you move even further and now they are moving at 3fps. These are annoying and feel unpolished, but I could understand these being necessary to establish a smooth frame rate.

    Immersion breaking: there are several scenes, notably in school, where the obvious choppiness of the characters moving at only a few frames per second, distracts and detracts from the immersion of the game and diminishes the gameplay experience. If this was an intentional feature, they should have used pre-rendered videos rather than a live display. Here you are learning about math and these robotic children around you keep jittering around. Another issue is the at times extreme slowdowns. I've had the game freeze for several seconds, I've moved at far less than half of normal speed for 5-10 seconds, I've had cutscenes display improperly due to not rendering correctly. These are unacceptable and we are owed them being fixed.

    Game breaking: I've had several instances where loading screens never load. I enter a city, I'm looking at a blank loading screen, a minute goes by, then five, then ten. I have to close the game and relaunch it to play it. Additionally, seemingly at random times, the game will crash. This can be: mid battle, when running around, when entering a new area. It doesn't happen often, but I've never had a Switch game experience crashes like this. Something is not right.

    The story is pretty good overall, but poorly executed. Early on in the game you are given three main paths to pursue. All of them are necessary overall to advance, but you can do them in different orders. There is Team Star to pursue and beat to take down their bases, There is the option to pursue the Titans (which unlocks new areas to travel to), and lastly there are the gym leaders.

    One area that the game lacks is direction. It seems like they wanted the game to be open and more free than previous Pokemon games, which is great, but they also have linear elements to the story which prevent this. Example: early in the game you are presented with two options: travel West and earn gym badges, or travel East and pursue Titans. This is misleading though. Both directions contain both titans and gym leaders of undisclosed difficulty. I chose to go West, and encountered higher level gym leaders. I got a few gym badges, then came back to head East only to encounter a gym leader with Pokemon nearly 20 levels under me. In no way was it suggested that I should start with the Eastern gyms. While it's great that you have some freedom in the order that you battle the gym leaders, the lack of direction provides an unnecessary hurdle. If the intention was to have a game where you wander wherever you please and battle whatever gym you came across, then the gym leaders should have dynamic levels. Say that the first gym will have Pokemon lvls (10, 10, 11, 12), the second gym has Pokemon lvls (14, 14, 16, 16), this should be the levels of the Pokemon no matter who you fight. If your second gym is the Ghost leader, or the Fighting leader, or Normal leader, all of their Pokemon would be the difficulty that a second badge should be. If they wanted the game to be open but varying in difficulty depending on where you go and when, they should have given clues as to what path leads where. I do like the game overall, but it was delivered in a very poor condition to consumers. It's a game where I feel in six months it will have many issues ironed out, but I disapprove of the business model of "release a broken title and hopefully fix it later".

    If you are not in a hurry to get this title, I suggest you wait until they iron out the bugs so that you can have a nice gameplay experience.    … Expand
  5. TeMor
    Dec 6, 2022
    4
    New Pokemon's design are so good, and it has good story. But some characters will restrict your alternative, though this is open world, and so stressful.
    Furthermore, as many say, there is so many bugs, and sometime your Switch will be crashed. Probably this game is so heavy than Switch assumed.
    If bugs are fixed, it may be good game.
  6. Namiman03
    Dec 7, 2022
    9
    I love the gameplay and array of new pokemon. There is lots to do and the music at the bops at certain points. The framerate is admittedly a problem but it doesn't ruin the experience too much imo. Best story in a pokemon since a long time.
  7. MaiThang
    Dec 7, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pokemon Scarlet is the game I dreamed of playing as a little girl. Marred by technical issues that the internet has blown out of proportion, the open world breathes new life into a franchise that had long gone stale, along with some of the best new pokemon designs in generations. On top of all that, the smaller-scope story and exploration of the theme of finding one's own meaning in life gives the story staying power that Pokemon games generally don't have.… Expand
  8. ZeldaXLove95
    Dec 7, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Dont listen to the reviews play the game yourself, then decide. ✨ its an amazing open work experience, with pokemon reimagined in a refreshing way that also pays homage to the old school mechanics of the original pokemon adventures many of us have grown up with and love.… Expand
  9. cHughes
    Dec 7, 2022
    7
    An encapsulating story filled with lovable characters creates an utterly fantastic campaign, followed by the best ending sequence of the Pokémon series to date makes Pokémon Scarlet an extremely enjoyable experience for Pokémon fans. This is in addition to a wide array of fantastic new Pokémon designs and new ‘Paradox Forms’ which are a great idea to switch up the norm. Unfortunately, thisAn encapsulating story filled with lovable characters creates an utterly fantastic campaign, followed by the best ending sequence of the Pokémon series to date makes Pokémon Scarlet an extremely enjoyable experience for Pokémon fans. This is in addition to a wide array of fantastic new Pokémon designs and new ‘Paradox Forms’ which are a great idea to switch up the norm. Unfortunately, this game is let down by the frustrating performance issues which are inescapable when playing, from the Windmill in Artazon to Pokémon lagging in the wild, the game is extremely hard to watch and is not as pleasing to the eye as Pokémon Sword and Shield.
    This being said, Pokémon Scarlet is a fantastic of example of how to structure a main series Pokémon game, but also of how important the performance of these games are. Overall however, the game is extremely enjoyable and is a worthy addition to the series.    … Expand
  10. MeterSmash2022
    Dec 7, 2022
    0
    The conversation surrounding this game shouldn't be about whether it's "Fun" or not, it's about the utter disrespect to the loyal Pokemon fan base by releasing an unfinished, rushed and buggy product, it's completely broken. Under there, there's a good game, I saw a lot of potential here but it's ruined by the performance and how ugly the game looks. If the Switch is capable of moreThe conversation surrounding this game shouldn't be about whether it's "Fun" or not, it's about the utter disrespect to the loyal Pokemon fan base by releasing an unfinished, rushed and buggy product, it's completely broken. Under there, there's a good game, I saw a lot of potential here but it's ruined by the performance and how ugly the game looks. If the Switch is capable of more impressive games, why did Gamefreak do the bear minimum here? Hell, Arceus was more stable and looked better than this, and that shouldn't even be a compliment since that game looked extremely bad.

    Overall, I am completely disappointed, I could look past Arceus' issues and still have a great time, but this? This is pushing it, have more respect for the consumer, and to blind fanboys have some respect for yourselves, don't support this lazyness or defend it, you are all pathetic.    … Expand
  11. Oreon
    Dec 7, 2022
    2
    Best bug and glitch of the Pokémon franchise with a dash of game. I don't know the audacity of this developers to push the game for release. Absolutely no respect for its fanbase.
  12. Doggus
    Dec 7, 2022
    0
    This, is not how to make a game, is joking for everyone who spend 60$ and time for this thing called "games".
    The openworld is fake because you need to fully upgrade the koraidon (or miraidon), the only skill useful for exploratory purposes is unlocked much further on, there is nothing to explore in fact after the first aerials at 100% you will follow the path that is not there anyway it    This, is not how to make a game, is joking for everyone who spend 60$ and time for this thing called "games".
    The openworld is fake because you need to fully upgrade the koraidon (or miraidon), the only skill useful for exploratory purposes is unlocked much further on, there is nothing to explore in fact after the first aerials at 100% you will follow the path that is not there anyway it is nothing to explore.
    the plot is trivial, the characters seem fake with only one mood, the gameplay remains what it was in the previous chapters, with a hint of difficulty, very easy...    … Expand
  13. LyshXD
    Dec 8, 2022
    0
    este juego es una mierda, enserio es infumable, está rotisimo pero aunque no tuviera bugs es un juego de mierda, enserio es mas divertido no jugar a nada que jugar este insulto a los fans de la saga.
  14. Armynd
    Dec 8, 2022
    0
    It makes Pokémon Arceus a good game if we compare it, They sold us a beta for $60
  15. WahleeBoi
    Dec 8, 2022
    0
    The graphics are absolutely terrible.Please take your time and release optimised games from next time
    .Its such a downgrade from Legend Arceus
  16. Reez96
    Dec 8, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Die grafic im spiel ist eine Katastrophe und die glitsche sind auch müll pokemon kassirt nur geld wegen die marke.… Expand
  17. Rooster93
    Dec 9, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Add an option to turn off exp share. Why do end game trainers have less than 3 Pokémon? Why does Penny get off scot-free for stealing the equivalent of $4,800?… Expand
  18. BreaSpirit
    Dec 10, 2022
    0
    Thecnical problems everywhere, low quality engine, bad graphic, a too much simple plot and a lore which is limited only to the library.
    In other words, a bunch of ideas and an unfinished work
  19. JulienK06
    Dec 11, 2022
    6
    Could have been one of the greatest Pokemon games of all time, sadly ruined by the difficulty and the amount of bugs
  20. wafflemetal2
    Dec 11, 2022
    9
    Someone here said that sun/moon (the worst generation by far) is better than this... it's just insulting. Are you even into Pokemon? Been here from the start and this is problably the best game to date period. Just like in gen 1, the technical issues don't break the fun. Thanks Game Freak, a lot to improve but the ideas are all right.
  21. Tareethewheel
    Dec 17, 2022
    10
    While the performance is questionable at best, the story and enviorment is phenomenal, compared to Shield etc. I cant wait until they Perfect the Open world concept.
  22. jailsondx
    Dec 23, 2022
    0
    A quantidade de bugs que estragam a experiência é inaceitável para um jogo com preço tão alto AAA, além de se quer contar com legendas em PT-BR.
    Nota-se que a GameFreak está apenas disposta a colher dinheiros dos fanáticos da franquia sem se importar em produzir e entregar um produto de qualidade.
  23. KingPaladin5591
    Dec 24, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I can't even explain the pain I feel about this sad excuse of a pokemon game the main function and gimic take so long in battle by time it's finished I've lost the match and the no way you can enable skip battle animation like in sword and sheild pokemon can spawn in the wall. This seems more like a poorly made fan game than a actual addition to the pokemon title lineup and its sad Nintendo and game freak should feel ashamed they forced this pile of trash out… Expand
  24. GreenTekken42
    Dec 27, 2022
    1
    Pokemon never really stood out to me. Its insane how a series this Popular can get away with recycling objects and models from previous games as well as being a buggy mess
  25. OwenBingChillin
    Dec 26, 2022
    1
    I can't believe that people still support GameFreak. They've released so many crappy games.
  26. Papalee516
    Dec 27, 2022
    8
    This game is being criticized solely for bugs that rarely interrupt game play and graphics that are consistent with the series past offerings. Despite nothing actually being wrong with the graphics, entitled basement dwelling Trolls who have yet to mentally develop past the age of 9 are screaming at their mommy about how "ugly" these games are. They are incredibly well written for PokémonThis game is being criticized solely for bugs that rarely interrupt game play and graphics that are consistent with the series past offerings. Despite nothing actually being wrong with the graphics, entitled basement dwelling Trolls who have yet to mentally develop past the age of 9 are screaming at their mommy about how "ugly" these games are. They are incredibly well written for Pokémon titles, the graphics are fine and in tune with what we've come to expect graphically from a Pokémon game, the region is fun to explore and the new creature designs are outstanding.… Expand
  27. nttung762000
    Dec 30, 2022
    8
    The gameplay is very attractive, the story is unique and meaningful, all the characters are interesting, and the post-game is not boring
    However, there are still disadvantages such as the camera is not flexible, the open world being sketchy, poorly optimized
  28. gdplays
    Jan 4, 2023
    10
    game was awesome. best from Pokémon in a long time. reviewbombed by losers ignore the userscore
  29. Guevara0032
    Feb 18, 2023
    2
    I don't want to be cruel, but I always speak the truth and Pokemon scarlet and purple are to say the least... disappointing, it's not the worst game I've ever played, but the worst games are from indie studios with a budget of 3 dollars and 50 cents.
    As good points it has the story and the music.
    As bad ... the rest
  30. Jsjsak
    Nov 19, 2022
    1
    El peor juego de Pokémon por mucho, una decepción gráficamente, mecánicamente y jugablemente. Los NPC van a 5 FPS xD.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 118 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 118
  2. Mixed: 60 out of 118
  3. Negative: 2 out of 118
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 24, 2024
    60
    Not a bad game. It still has its solid core, new Pokémon, and what's worked for years continues to work. The open world is a questionable addition in my opinion. [Issue#324]
  2. VideoGamer
    Dec 14, 2023
    70
    Pokemon Scarlet and Violet take the long-awaited step into a fully open-world, but one poorly implemented and marred by frustration. A compelling story and characters are a saving grace in what is ultimately a fun game, but Pokemon's attempts at modernising continue to fall disappointingly short.
    Read full review
  3. Het Nieuwsblad
    Jul 31, 2023
    20
    A square wheel spins more smoothly and fluidly than this game. If three Pokémon or characters come into view at once, the whole game creaks and falters. Edge-off unplayable. And that's a shame. Because the addition of an open world is "on paper" a puffy idea to refresh the franchise. No more linear walking that takes you past gyms and ever stronger and different Pokémon, gotta catch 'em all. You can go wherever you want. With some tactics, you can take on some very tough challenges with Pokémon that aren't nearly strong enough. Fun! Except this game just wasn't ready. It's shameless that Nintendo and Game Freak are still throwing it on the market. Nevertheless: 10 million games sold in just three days.
    Read full review
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