User Score
4.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 3465 Ratings

User score distribution:
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  1. Jul 4, 2020
    0
    It's sad that a company with so many resources did this.
    FPS problems, there are no strategy in the RPG and it's sooo easy... can't disable the XP share...

    The only thing that it doesn't make me regret buying it, is because I never played a Pokemon game since Pokemon Silver. But I still think that I maybe regret it anyway.
  2. Jul 8, 2020
    0
    I’ve played every single Pokémon game and I can inform you that this is the worst game in the franchise. Gamefreak decided to cut more than 55% of all Pokémon to take more of your money with dlc. Second if they were gonna do that at least make the game good, this game is complete trash, when it comes to story and difficulty. I could give this game to a 5 year old and they would be able toI’ve played every single Pokémon game and I can inform you that this is the worst game in the franchise. Gamefreak decided to cut more than 55% of all Pokémon to take more of your money with dlc. Second if they were gonna do that at least make the game good, this game is complete trash, when it comes to story and difficulty. I could give this game to a 5 year old and they would be able to beat it. In Gen 6 to Gen 7 (excluding the Let’s Go games) the exp share was OP but at least you could turn it off, but in these games you don’t have an option. This makes every battle easy as hell. Also the friendly rival is trash, his Pokémon will always be 2-5 levels below yours. Also the lack of post game hurts. It’s like they took X and Y’s lack of difficulty and lack of post game and called it Pokémon Sword and Shield. Lastly they took away not only mega evolutions but also z moves, making the gameplay predictable. It’s safe to say that gamefreak doesn’t care about their fans, they only care about money Expand
  3. Nov 3, 2022
    0
    No me gusta ningun juego de Pokemon, sus historias no valen nada, ah, enhorabuena a los nintenderos por el remake a 60 pavazos, que penita me dan, de verdad
  4. Jul 18, 2020
    0
    I played all Pokémon games until the sixth generation, and it's amazing how Nintendo can saturate its games to the point where they become garbage. Pokémon was the franchise that most marked my childhood, but this game is a complete disrespect to fans.
  5. Aug 2, 2020
    0
    No tengo mucho que decir... me encantaría puntuar más alto el juego, en serio. Pero no pienso alabar estas jugadas sucias de gamefreak por mucho que lo tengan "justificado" ante el rechazo de sus fans a juegos hechos con cuidado como los de 5ta generación. Espero que les baste solo para atraer público y que a futuro realmente se pongan las pilas con el desarrollo de un buen videojuego,No tengo mucho que decir... me encantaría puntuar más alto el juego, en serio. Pero no pienso alabar estas jugadas sucias de gamefreak por mucho que lo tengan "justificado" ante el rechazo de sus fans a juegos hechos con cuidado como los de 5ta generación. Espero que les baste solo para atraer público y que a futuro realmente se pongan las pilas con el desarrollo de un buen videojuego, porque todos sabemos que estos no son buenos ejemplares, solo son Pokémon (más o menos). Expand
  6. Aug 11, 2020
    0
    As a pokemon player, this game is a complete disapointments. Graphics are an insult, wild area is bad imolemented, the game is ridiculously easy, no all pokemons,caves and dungeons are so linear, the history is awfull, to sum up, game is very incompleted.
  7. Aug 20, 2020
    0
    Juego Recortado, una basura, precio muy alto, las versiones anteriores tenían mas contenido que este, mal juego
  8. Aug 27, 2020
    0
    el peor pokemon de la historia, juego incompleto, sin contenido completo, pokedex incompleta. una basura
  9. Oct 12, 2020
    0
    I wish this game was good but it just isn't. The story is mediocre, even by pokemon standards, fan-favorite features are consistently missing, the difficulty is nonexistent, animations are abysmal, graphics look like a 3DS game, and the Dynamax feature is a complete gimmick that exists for no reason other than to be shoved into advertising. Overall, Sword and Shield are just 3DS games thatI wish this game was good but it just isn't. The story is mediocre, even by pokemon standards, fan-favorite features are consistently missing, the difficulty is nonexistent, animations are abysmal, graphics look like a 3DS game, and the Dynamax feature is a complete gimmick that exists for no reason other than to be shoved into advertising. Overall, Sword and Shield are just 3DS games that are on the Switch. Not ObamaGames approved. Expand
  10. Dec 2, 2020
    0
    Absolute **** a fan of pokemon since im 5 yo,but gamefreak simply doesnt give a crap anymore for the games.
  11. Dec 28, 2020
    0
    When will this game be succeeded?? GameFreak cut corners in order to make the 2019 release date as it seems they release a mainline Pokemon game every year. But lo and behold, this steaming, half ***-ed pile of a game is still the current main game as 2020 is ending. We want a new main Pokemon game in order to leave this one to rot away (and to get the bad taste out of our mouths if GameWhen will this game be succeeded?? GameFreak cut corners in order to make the 2019 release date as it seems they release a mainline Pokemon game every year. But lo and behold, this steaming, half ***-ed pile of a game is still the current main game as 2020 is ending. We want a new main Pokemon game in order to leave this one to rot away (and to get the bad taste out of our mouths if Game Freak doesn't mess up that one too). Even a month with Sword/Shield is far too long. Expand
  12. Jan 23, 2021
    0
    Gamefreak stopped in 1996. Terrbile technical issues, animations and lacks challenge.
  13. Feb 2, 2021
    0
    For a Switch game Compaired to Mario Zelda DragonQuest it was not that good..
    The game feels behind in Year 2010
    Where is the exploration, difficult and good story?
  14. Mar 25, 2021
    0
    Wasted 60 doller on this... still regret buying it.
    The game had so much potential but the execution is poor
  15. Jun 1, 2021
    0
    This game is **** and Garbage Pokemon hasn't been good since Gen 2

    If you want a good Monster Hunter play SMT
  16. Apr 21, 2021
    0
    I really only hate the game this much because of the horrible fanbase. It's an ok 5 or 6 out of 10 normally. The wild area specifically was really fun. The story was, as usual, halfhearted, filled with plot holes, and given way too much spotlight. Graphics were Terrible with a capitol T. The New pokemon designs are cool for the most part. Like I said, an ok 5 or 6 out of 10. I'd pay 40I really only hate the game this much because of the horrible fanbase. It's an ok 5 or 6 out of 10 normally. The wild area specifically was really fun. The story was, as usual, halfhearted, filled with plot holes, and given way too much spotlight. Graphics were Terrible with a capitol T. The New pokemon designs are cool for the most part. Like I said, an ok 5 or 6 out of 10. I'd pay 40 dollars for this

    The Problem is the mouth-breathing fans who swear on this game like the bible. If you so much as even suggest that this game is a 9 out of 10, these fans will cover their ears, start screaming and spewing out uninformed garbage, and discounting all valid points because you are a "hater", and apparently that invalidates your opinion. It's gotten to the point where once respectable people like Joe Merrick have to constantly agree with these morons so they don't get torn to shreds.

    If you like this game, and can accept it is flawed, good for you. You're the exception. Congratulations. I just can't fathom people making fun of Karen's and how they can never accept they're wrong, and then vehemently defending this game from any and all criticism. This is why TrueGreen7 is currently the best Pokémon youtuber, and will probably always be. He likes the games, but never calls people who don't malinformed idiots who don't agree with him.

    This is why I'm giving the game a zero out of ten. to counterbalance at least one idiot who rated this game 10/10 out of spite.

    Inconclusion, everyone who blindly loves this game is
    A) a child
    B) someone who panders to children
    C) An idiot
    D) Has never played a good RPG. I recommend Earthbound.
    Expand
  17. May 11, 2021
    0
    I have to pay money to get DLC so I can get access to my favorite pokemon

    I don't like the animations at all, we were clearly told "we are delaying the game to improve upon battle animations for the game, pokemon black and white have better animations than this game, and that one is over 10 years old the story is garbage along with the fact that the music is just plain bland and
    I have to pay money to get DLC so I can get access to my favorite pokemon

    I don't like the animations at all, we were clearly told "we are delaying the game to improve upon battle animations for the game, pokemon black and white have better animations than this game, and that one is over 10 years old

    the story is garbage along with the fact that the music is just plain bland and boring

    the starters are horrible fugly.

    A complete waste of money to be honest. I grew up with this franchise but I just haven't had fun with it since generation 5. I fell lied to and betrayed. This game is a disappointment. and I only play it because I don't have a DS anymore
    Expand
  18. Aug 6, 2021
    0
    Probably one of the worst games I have ever played and the visuals hurt my eyes and looks like something from the game cube this game is a massive step down from sun and moon
  19. Nov 1, 2021
    0
    This game is a **** Stain on the pants of the Pokémon Franchise.
    It is overpriced
    It was released at an unfinished state
    Its far to easy and short
    The DLC (which is also overpriced) doesn't save things
    The plot is atrocious
    They randomly removed gameplay mechanics from previous titles.
    This game is awful, and nobody should play it.
    STOP PUTTING UP WITH GAMEFREAK RELASING MEDIOCRE GAMES!
  20. Jan 11, 2022
    0
    Terrible, just so boring with too many bs mechanics. Such a terrible experience and no one should play it.
  21. Jan 29, 2022
    0
    Pokémon Sword and Shield are by far the worst entries in the series. There's not even a debate to be had about it. Anyone defending these games should reconsider their life decisions.
  22. Nov 20, 2022
    0
    sh1t game refer to a review about scarlet on why its ****

    Pokecucks are mentally ill
  23. Jun 8, 2022
    0
    It's a shame for the first entry on switch to be this lazy. The game looks like a wii game in 2019.
  24. Aug 23, 2023
    0
    Sinceramente la mayor decepción de juego jamás creada, sabiendo que ha sido la generación introducida por primera vez en una consola de sobre mesa. El potencial esta muy por debajo de lo que se puede conseguir con la switch, además de que la propia región carece de personalidad. Tanto ciudades como rutas son perfectamente olvidables. Lo unico que se puede salvar de estos juegos, es elSinceramente la mayor decepción de juego jamás creada, sabiendo que ha sido la generación introducida por primera vez en una consola de sobre mesa. El potencial esta muy por debajo de lo que se puede conseguir con la switch, además de que la propia región carece de personalidad. Tanto ciudades como rutas son perfectamente olvidables. Lo unico que se puede salvar de estos juegos, es el diseño de la pokedex. Expand
  25. Nov 19, 2022
    0
    Someone should pay you to play this absolute garbage game. The graphics are the same as some random bad game from 2006.
  26. Dec 8, 2022
    0
    Movement stuck for a game on a console that is the Nintendo Switch. I expected more quality as it is the same console generation as PS4, PS5, xboxone, xbox x and s. I expected movement of attacks within battles. The worst history lore. A silly mechanic. Shameful, I regret the purchase too much, too bad it is digital media.
  27. May 25, 2023
    0
    I don't think I'll make a full review but tl;dr, personally, these games tampered with literally everything i loved most about Pokemon to such extreme of an extent I still find it baffling to this day. This eventually got doubled-down on by Scarlet and Violet. Now outside personal biases, they also even went as far as to interfere with the singles battling experience for millions ofI don't think I'll make a full review but tl;dr, personally, these games tampered with literally everything i loved most about Pokemon to such extreme of an extent I still find it baffling to this day. This eventually got doubled-down on by Scarlet and Violet. Now outside personal biases, they also even went as far as to interfere with the singles battling experience for millions of players alike, thanks to their insertion of the 20 minute battle time, the effects of dynamax, and the games having an absolute joke of a battle facility. I cannot forgive Pokemon Sword and Shield. These games were a massive step down for the series, and served as evidence that the makers of Sword and Shield did not care about the players involved. They made dexit to improve animations, improve graphics, and improve the overall state of pvp battling, when all 3 ended up regressing from games we had a full National Dex in. Need I say more? To defend these games, you must attack large departments of the Pokemon community. I'm sorry but that's the truth. How these games ended up was used to easily predict the state of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, as well as leave less room for mystery regarding Scarlet and Violet. If you care about the Pokemon community and want Pokemon games to get better from here, this is one of the few games that need to outright get rejected. I can't even say this about any game prior to Sword and Shield. Expand
  28. Sep 8, 2023
    0
    Trash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 89 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 89
  2. Negative: 0 out of 89
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 30, 2020
    90
    Sword & Shield have a lot to love for old and new fans, and they're pure quality from top to bottom. [Issue #44 – January/February 2020, p. 72]
  2. Feb 6, 2020
    75
    I enjoyed my time with Pokemon Sword and Shield, but I ended feeling conflicted. I appreciate many of the changes and felt that it generally respected my time, but I almost felt like a passive participant. The more complex gym challenges had a meatier role, but the narrative shouldn’t have been shoved to the side. Overall, I would recommend it to players who want to have a Pokemon experience, but this one won’t stick with me the way the older ones have.
  3. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Jan 14, 2020
    78
    Pokemon Sword/Shield is uncharacteristically user-friendly: now there’s no need to backtrack half across the world to heal your entire team of pokemon or to get to a particular city, for example. [Issue#242, p.66]