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. SomeGuy7000
    Nov 24, 2022
    4
    It kills me how close game freak keeps getting to a fantastic pokemon game. Arceus made so many excellent steps forward, the open world, quick catching, the traversal, and the story being a bit more unique. Scarlet and violet removed the quick catch completely, the traversal is worse with the removal of the flight ability, and most of the story is the same as its been for the past 20 yearsIt kills me how close game freak keeps getting to a fantastic pokemon game. Arceus made so many excellent steps forward, the open world, quick catching, the traversal, and the story being a bit more unique. Scarlet and violet removed the quick catch completely, the traversal is worse with the removal of the flight ability, and most of the story is the same as its been for the past 20 years kid get their first pokemon and a week later they are the strongest on the continent and did some insane feat. The giant pokemon fights from Arceus that had unique boss mechanics are gone they are now just normal fights with big pokemon. They have also gone back to the duel game releases where there's about 5% of unique content locked away in each version, and again you cannot get all pokemon for the dex without either owning both games or trading with other people, which was very welcomed in Arceus. Then there's the performance, my god it's so bad. I would constantly have to restart my game every 30-45 minutes because my games fps would just drop to the point it would just be a slide show, which at times would give me a headache to just look at, and the game isn't exactly pushing the graphics department even for the switch.
    It's not all terrible there have been some changes and additions that I did enjoy. The new auto-battling was good and I regularly used it. The storyline for Arven was good and gave me the motivation to finish it. The world does have more buildings and structures in the open world which is a step up from arceus, but should still be improved in the future.
    Then there's the stuff that was a good idea on paper but needed to be fleshed out more. The school system could have been really cool if they made the system deeper and centered the story more around being a student, at some point, I just completely ignored ever going to the school it never mattered. I liked the idea of the school bullying storyline for the bullies was a good idea but they just didn't get enough development time for the characters, the sections for the auto-battling got boring really fast too. The idea of the great crater was cool but i wish there was more of those ancient pokemon. The last bit of the story with Arven's mom was interesting but I wish more of the game utilized and spent more time with it.
    I can tell the devs at game freak are trying to get creative with the pokemon games but they just don't have enough time and or devs to get it done. It's still a pokemon game and if you like pokemon I'm sure you're still going to enjoy it but for me, there are just too many systems that were great in previous games that got removed coupled with the absolutely horrible performance the best I can give it is a 4. Let's just hope the devs are given the resources needed to make the next pokemon game even better.    … Expand
  2. Hugo1919
    Nov 24, 2022
    0
    Just not s finished game. Just a money grab. Play a old game you will have more fps on your Gameboy color
  3. Spoon6ix
    Nov 23, 2022
    0
    Terrible looking game, a lot of pop in terrible frame rate, the game looks horrible on a graphical standpoint
  4. masterrcb
    Nov 24, 2022
    4
    Core gameplay is fun. but performance and visuals is not. For a Multi million franchise, GameFreak as developer is LAZY.
  5. Raxhanto
    Nov 21, 2022
    1
    honestly its a shame. the game could be really good. for a main title it has lots of new features, but unfortunately its overshadowed by massive performance issues a huge amount of bugs and glitches and a really bland looking overworld. the switch is not a powerful console, but we know how good games can look despite its hardware limitations. we can only pray that in future installments,honestly its a shame. the game could be really good. for a main title it has lots of new features, but unfortunately its overshadowed by massive performance issues a huge amount of bugs and glitches and a really bland looking overworld. the switch is not a powerful console, but we know how good games can look despite its hardware limitations. we can only pray that in future installments, pokemon company will give game freak the necessary time to make sure everything works, because this half-finished product is the biggest disappointment ever in my opinion.… Expand
  6. Googa
    Nov 24, 2022
    0
    A terrible wreck of a game that proves that GameFreak doesn't have to try, anymore. They can put out literal garbage, and the shills will gladly pay for that garbage!
  7. Baltzer
    Nov 22, 2022
    3
    Again Game Freak shows they are LAZY and unable to create a good game. Pokemon S/V looks and feels like some amateur-made mod to another game. Looks really bad. Very bad storyline, bad co-op, and bad multiplayer. The world feels empty with a poor environment in cities and no voice in dialogues. Don't get me wrong... it is playable, but currently, should not be sold anywhere till they atAgain Game Freak shows they are LAZY and unable to create a good game. Pokemon S/V looks and feels like some amateur-made mod to another game. Looks really bad. Very bad storyline, bad co-op, and bad multiplayer. The world feels empty with a poor environment in cities and no voice in dialogues. Don't get me wrong... it is playable, but currently, should not be sold anywhere till they at least fix performance issues. Gave 3, not 0-1, because there are some good ideas like crafting TMs, finally open world... but almost every other aspect of the game is BAD. Honestly, no one should believe any review above 5/10.… Expand
  8. Bent3ndo
    Nov 25, 2022
    4
    Pokemon titles are a marmite topic for many people when it comes to more recent releases. Half the fanbase forgive the series' technical and visual flaws and appreciate the premise of catching them all (not that you can "catch em all" any more within standalone titles). The other half, and the half of the camp I sit within, expect the largest franchise in the world to treat its IP withPokemon titles are a marmite topic for many people when it comes to more recent releases. Half the fanbase forgive the series' technical and visual flaws and appreciate the premise of catching them all (not that you can "catch em all" any more within standalone titles). The other half, and the half of the camp I sit within, expect the largest franchise in the world to treat its IP with respect, and more importantly treat its fanbase with respect. Scarlet and Violet are no exception to this opinion. If anything, the issues presented this time around are WORSE than what people criticised with Arceus' arrival at the start of the same year.

    Game Freak are not only too small a team to be expected to deliver the content asked of them, but their release schedule is far too crammed to deliver the quality of games expected of what should be the slickest, most polished looking gaming franchise there is out there.

    The Pokemon Company need to pull their act together and provide Game Freak with the budget, team and time that these modern Pokemon titles need. Otherwise people can expect less and less quality from these bigger and bigger titles as time goes on.

    Pokemon deserves better, we deserve better.    … Expand
  9. shin777
    Nov 26, 2022
    0
    Just return to the 2D games, games below 60 fps should be illegal right now and this one runs below 20.
    And stop making open worlds games, they are so empty and boring, nobody likes open worlds games since 2020.
    Plus all the bugs it have
  10. Redman89
    Nov 20, 2022
    1
    First the frame rate and lag are chaotic. If you liked getting in houses that’s no longer in game. Everyone now lives on their garden and stores are just like pages to buy stuff. Textures are not even made with crayons, and the trees grass, and Pokemon sizes do not get along. It’s sad to see how one of the most biggest franchises (if not the first one) gives such a poor game that is notFirst the frame rate and lag are chaotic. If you liked getting in houses that’s no longer in game. Everyone now lives on their garden and stores are just like pages to buy stuff. Textures are not even made with crayons, and the trees grass, and Pokemon sizes do not get along. It’s sad to see how one of the most biggest franchises (if not the first one) gives such a poor game that is not even to improve the deficits of the previous (Sword & Shield) and is not a match for Arceus who was a fresh sight for a open world Pokemon game.… Expand
  11. Magoo_o
    Nov 20, 2022
    2
    Despite enjoying this game, there are glaring issues that must be addressed, especially from such a large company. This game was released with immense quality issues (terrible FPS, lack in quality of life, constant glitches, a pokeball sitting in middle of rooms and multiple cutscenes) that made the game unplayable in some regards. The company utilized the nostalgia and love for Pokemon,Despite enjoying this game, there are glaring issues that must be addressed, especially from such a large company. This game was released with immense quality issues (terrible FPS, lack in quality of life, constant glitches, a pokeball sitting in middle of rooms and multiple cutscenes) that made the game unplayable in some regards. The company utilized the nostalgia and love for Pokemon, and released this game knowing full well that many would purchase it, knowing full well how terrible the quality was.

    Like I said I enjoyed this game. I liked the character interactions and design, music, and overall open world options available (despite them being rather inflexible). However, it must be said that a transition to the open-world genre is no excuse for the quality of this title. Quantity has been put over quality time and time again, and it's important to call such out rather than letting enjoyment override the lack of quality from a company so large and wealthy. Please do better.    … Expand
  12. MIDAS3000
    Nov 21, 2022
    0
    There's no excuse for a switch game to look this bad. This is a billion dollar company making worse looking games than solo developers.
    Characters and animations often move at a robotic 3fps, clipping, pop ins, stuttering, pausing between actions, ugly textures, wonky camera - and it happens non-stop. Whilst the aging Switch hardware is a limitation, there many other better looking and    There's no excuse for a switch game to look this bad. This is a billion dollar company making worse looking games than solo developers.
    Characters and animations often move at a robotic 3fps, clipping, pop ins, stuttering, pausing between actions, ugly textures, wonky camera - and it happens non-stop. Whilst the aging Switch hardware is a limitation, there many other better looking and more expansive games that run way better than this.    … Expand
  13. cpluspluscrowe
    Nov 21, 2022
    4
    The game lag is severe and requires me to run the game at 720 and restart it every hour to mitigate the lag. I am a die-hard Pokemon fan but this game is tough to play. Shame on Game Freak for releasing such an unpolished game.
  14. GustaVoss
    Nov 22, 2022
    1
    I created this account just to rate this game, and as a pokemon fan since gen 3, I am really disappointed.
    I did like the school system with grades and the teacher bonding, but (in this game everything has a but) it's shallow, like there's almost no reward in taking classes and answering correctly the questions or maximizing the bond level.
    I like the city, it's huge and gorgeous, but it's    I created this account just to rate this game, and as a pokemon fan since gen 3, I am really disappointed.
    I did like the school system with grades and the teacher bonding, but (in this game everything has a but) it's shallow, like there's almost no reward in taking classes and answering correctly the questions or maximizing the bond level.
    I like the city, it's huge and gorgeous, but it's empty: it lacks interesting NPC and houses you can enter.
    I'm not even talking about the system issues here, which are, alone, absurd.
    We, as fans and gamers, need to value our money we can't let these big companies deliver something like this with full price.    … Expand
  15. xsaliva
    Nov 21, 2022
    1
    Bad user experience. Too many bugs and glitches. Even though the game is beautiful and fun it definitely need an update. Very very bad and full of lag
  16. cyphus6
    Nov 26, 2022
    1
    disappointing in almost every way, and impressive in none. This is just another cash-grab for the new generation. Quality and content was peak at Ultra Sun/Moon, and I'd rather those graphics any day than deal with the performance and pace of this
  17. elpoff
    Nov 23, 2022
    2
    I can't even really come up with anything good to say about this game. It runs so horribly it feels like playing an alpha version of a game before release. I'd be embarrassed if I released a game in this state. On another note, the music is AWFUL most of the time, and I had to literally turn it off as it can be very obnoxious at times. The graphics are also horrendous, I've seen assets onI can't even really come up with anything good to say about this game. It runs so horribly it feels like playing an alpha version of a game before release. I'd be embarrassed if I released a game in this state. On another note, the music is AWFUL most of the time, and I had to literally turn it off as it can be very obnoxious at times. The graphics are also horrendous, I've seen assets on the N64 that look better, which is absurd. Half of the npcs/pokemon run at 1 fps and look like a literal walking slideshow when they get more than 3ft away from you, and even some of them at the forefront of literal cutscenes have the same issue. Scarlet/Violet feels like a big downgrade from Arceus, but at least the gameplay in Arceus was smooth and it ran higher than 5fps. I wish GameFreak actually wanted to make great games instead of doing the BARE MINIMUM and just raking in all the cash they can from pokemon fans. I keep seeing reviews saying the story is amazing and maybe I'm just crazy, but I have no idea how they feel that way. The story is about as MEH as you could imagine, copy/paste from the previous games with a school added where you can take classes. The Terastal feature is also very meh/cringe in my opinion and to save time I just avoid it since the game already runs in slow motion most of the time. Even when the game doesn't run slow, the combat and ALL other actions are unnecessarily slow and drawn out. Throwing out a pokemon to fight takes forever and it will flash in and out as it appears before finally starting the battle. The quick battle feature, which I do like, alleviates this somewhat but I typically enjoy the battles in most pokemon games so it sucks that I can't even enjoy that this time around. In Arceus it seemed so much smoother when throwing out pokemon and pokeballs. Overall this game feels like they took Sword/Shield and made it into a really crappy sequel to save time and money. The pokemon animations are better than sword/shield at least, but it's really sad if that's one of the few positive things I can say about the game. Gonna try to enjoy the game but it just isn't anywhere near as good as it should be and I'm tired of that being the case so often with the pokemon series. Good luck and be wary of all the reviews giving this game 10/10, they are ABSOLUTELY out of their mind if they think it is even close to being that good. If they enjoy it and love the game that's totally fine, but everyone keeps trying to ignore all of these huge issues and that is why GameFreak doesn't have to care if their games are good or not. People keep saying it's getting unfairly review bombed, but in my opinion the poor reviews are completely merited. Currently it is sitting around a 2.9 user score which I think is a pretty fair rating honestly.… Expand
  18. kevingod
    Nov 24, 2022
    0
    I am sorry, even though I have some fun with it, I cannot justify the price point with the level quality of what you get.
    Especially knowing full well how much it would sell.
  19. TrumpFan420
    Nov 24, 2022
    0
    A disgrace to the fans. The highest-grossing media franchise in history with over $100 billion in revenue, $00s of millions in profit every year for TPC and this is the best they have. This is a good pre-alpha test at best. Should have had another 2-3 years of development, more (and better skilled) programmers, and a much higher budget. Do better.
  20. MrRedNemesis
    Nov 24, 2022
    1
    This game is a perfect example of everything wrong with the videogame industry. A shameless cashgrab made without care, broken and unfinished. They put it on the market because they knew that most people would buy it anyway, it's a pokemon game after all! and they were right. It was the best launch ever for a pokemon game, why should they spend money and time to make actual good games whenThis game is a perfect example of everything wrong with the videogame industry. A shameless cashgrab made without care, broken and unfinished. They put it on the market because they knew that most people would buy it anyway, it's a pokemon game after all! and they were right. It was the best launch ever for a pokemon game, why should they spend money and time to make actual good games when they can get rich with things like this. This game is an insult and every 10/10 review is another dirt shovel on the coffin of the pokemon franchise.… Expand
  21. GyovannyGandra
    Nov 24, 2022
    0
    How can be possible the biggest entertainment franchise in the world make a terrible game like this?
    All the budget they have, they could`ve make an amazing game, not just this one, but last games look terrible as well. Actually indie creators make better games with away less budget them Game Freak.
    Game Freak is a shame. However the saddest thing is all **** game they do people buy and    How can be possible the biggest entertainment franchise in the world make a terrible game like this?
    All the budget they have, they could`ve make an amazing game, not just this one, but last games look terrible as well. Actually indie creators make better games with away less budget them Game Freak.
    Game Freak is a shame. However the saddest thing is all **** game they do people buy and they make loads of profits with that, cause some people are blind and defend Game Freak...    … Expand
  22. Lcromelin
    Nov 24, 2022
    0
    Horrible game, horrible graphics the scaling of progession makes 0 sense definitely not worth $60
  23. kaioser
    Nov 25, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. wow what a game? they failed to deliver yet again. graphics and performance issues.… Expand
  24. Kenmei
    Dec 5, 2022
    3
    It's frankly a shame that Nintendo allowed this game to release in the state that it did because it had the potential to be the best Pokemon game of all time. The open world stuff is pretty nice and the branching stories was something that was at least a little more unique in comparison to past games with only the 8 gyms and that's it. Plus the story gets pretty dark by the end of the gameIt's frankly a shame that Nintendo allowed this game to release in the state that it did because it had the potential to be the best Pokemon game of all time. The open world stuff is pretty nice and the branching stories was something that was at least a little more unique in comparison to past games with only the 8 gyms and that's it. Plus the story gets pretty dark by the end of the game that caught me by surprise. However this game is almost unplayable due to how it runs and the sheer number of glitches and bugs the game has. Even outside of that, the changes to all the new online components in raids makes me not want to touch any sort of online component whatsoever, especially since playing those raids solo is not only very doable but very much preferred as there's not a crazy new form to find here as the Tera forms are probably the worst gameplay inclusion I've seen in these games since the Z-Moves. I really wanted to like this game and put as many hundreds of hours into it shiny hunting and raiding like I did with Sword and Shield but, now that I completed the pokedex, I can no longer find the drive to continue playing this game like I did previously. These games need a crazy amount of bug fixing and optimizing for it to run properly on outdated hardware and I really hope they focus on that before trying to release any sort of DLC that will also be ruined by the technical problem.… Expand
  25. Lucasmduarte
    Nov 24, 2022
    0
    I'm sorry but until they patch this game it is getting 0 from me!! Such a massive step down!! Fully messy crash grab! 120 Billion franchise!!
  26. x3rx3s
    Nov 23, 2022
    3
    An incomplete, technical mess. Actually insulating that they released the game in this state. The gameplay is ok, but it's really hard to ignore all the stuttering and glitches.
  27. TimmoUK
    Nov 24, 2022
    8
    Technical issues aside the game is worth playing with fun gameplay and a great open world.
  28. Anomen
    Nov 24, 2022
    4
    This is not an acceptable state for a game to be released in, even less for the highest-grossing franchise of all time. There are more bugs than there is game, the enviroments look worse than those from most 1st year student projects.

    Lately, this series has become Game Freak's experiment to see what percentage of **** they are allowed serve onto the fans' plates without harming sales    This is not an acceptable state for a game to be released in, even less for the highest-grossing franchise of all time. There are more bugs than there is game, the enviroments look worse than those from most 1st year student projects.

    Lately, this series has become Game Freak's experiment to see what percentage of **** they are allowed serve onto the fans' plates without harming sales and, considering it broke the sales récord again, the answer is 100%.    … Expand
  29. maurofmferrao
    Nov 23, 2022
    4
    I really wanted to like this game, but it's impossible!

    Game design is a massive step back from Arceus, and graphically is one of the worst games I have seen on Switch, a visual mess. Please Nintendo fix this game, it's an embarrassment...
  30. asso21
    Nov 26, 2022
    0
    Ever since tge first pokemon on gameboy i wished to have an open world esperience an almost 30 years later this is what we get. Shame on game freak for even thinking this game was done. Shame on nintendo for publishing it, and shame on me for buying this crap. Do yourself a favor and ask for a refund. Money is the only language these people understand
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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.
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  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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