Pokemon Shield

 Switch
User Score
4.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 3465 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,154 out of 3465
  2. Mixed: 587 out of 3465
  3. Negative: 1,724 out of 3465
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  1. Noxx_
    Nov 16, 2019
    2
    La mayoria de las cosas que decian son ciertas se nota el poco esfuerzo y trabajo...teniendo a la switch como consola a trabajar es una decepcion lo que hicieron...el problema es que la gente se conforma muy facilmente hay que ser mas exigentes como consumidores
  2. Deivi
    Nov 16, 2019
    3
    Tiempo atrás se dijo que era para fans veteranos, que recortarían la pokedex para hacer las cosas desde 0 y tanta chingadera.
    El juego tiene malos gráficos, es sumamente fácil, reutiliza elementos, animaciones de combates paupérrimas y para ser un salto generacional esta terrible 3/10
  3. YoKrawzer
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    I'll don't even bother to explain all the fails in this game, the national Pokedex most be in every main game of this franchise but what kills this game is the awful development decisions.
  4. memelasjoey
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    Feels like a 3rd party, unpolished and incomplete game, lacks a lot of content and graphically is severely subpar to the console's capabilities.
    The kind of game that could fit in a smartphone free to play app, but packed in a 60$ box
  5. Jeryr
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    Not for True Pokemon fans,

    The Dex cut was an insult to most as their favorite Pokemon were excluded, the animation and model has not change since the previous games, Gamefreak made an attempt to lie to us by saying the Pokemon cut was to improve quality but there models and animations are EXACTLY the same as the previous games. It was a amateur attempt on lying and a amateur attempt    Not for True Pokemon fans,

    The Dex cut was an insult to most as their favorite Pokemon were excluded, the animation and model has not change since the previous games, Gamefreak made an attempt to lie to us by saying the Pokemon cut was to improve quality but there models and animations are EXACTLY the same as the previous games.

    It was a amateur attempt on lying and a amateur attempt of making a new game with no innovation, hope they improve the next game even better.

    Refunding/reselling the game after completing it is a good choice as $60 is unjust price for this beta version.    … Expand
  6. Ghostvine
    Nov 16, 2019
    2
    The game has poor graphics, and feels shallow not much story or depth. Was excited to explore the wild area, but was really upset with the force badge collection to catch high level pokemon.
  7. MimiPiggyOrc
    Nov 16, 2019
    2
    This game is slightly better than sword, but still is not just lazy it actually feels unfinished. Someone needs to tell Game Freak a new entry is supposed to offer something new. This game is awful for advanced players, mediocre for casual player and I hope this isn't anybody's first Pokémon game, because they will get the wrong impression of the Pokémon series as a whole. This trash heapThis game is slightly better than sword, but still is not just lazy it actually feels unfinished. Someone needs to tell Game Freak a new entry is supposed to offer something new. This game is awful for advanced players, mediocre for casual player and I hope this isn't anybody's first Pokémon game, because they will get the wrong impression of the Pokémon series as a whole. This trash heap is the result of complacency, and a lack of effort and dedication, it is as if Game Freak doesn't care!… Expand
  8. noleme
    Jan 28, 2020
    7
    I had a lot of fun playing this pokemon game. Being able to see the pokemon in the grass is a great addition as I can choose the encounters instead of random annoying encounters. Because of this, this is the first pokemon game where I actually wanted to catch them all. The exp share takes away the annoying grinding and encourages you to try new low level pokemon you catch in your party. InI had a lot of fun playing this pokemon game. Being able to see the pokemon in the grass is a great addition as I can choose the encounters instead of random annoying encounters. Because of this, this is the first pokemon game where I actually wanted to catch them all. The exp share takes away the annoying grinding and encourages you to try new low level pokemon you catch in your party. In prior games I would just use a couple strong pokemon as I did not want to grind to level up additional pokemon. There was not an hours long tutorial or as much hand holding as ultra sun had. The gyms being arenas like a sports competition made them feel exciting.

    Dynamaxing pokemon is nothing special. The z-moves from ultra sun are better and provide more strategy in battles. The story in the game is dumb and uninteresting. Especially the team baddies which are just obnoxious fans of an opposing gym challenger and provide no real challenge. Previous games baddies like team magma from ruby were actually interesting and had motivation. The game had no good puzzles to get through. The story advances illogically as if they forgot about it. The wild area was not as fun and interesting as I thought it would be. You can't even catch all the pokemon in it until you beat all the gyms. It is so annoying encountering a pokemon and realizing it is too high a level for you to catch.

    As a casual fan who had no idea the national dex even existed until the outrage from a very vocal minority, I enjoyed this game; Although pokemon can and should be much more than this.    … Expand
  9. Jpedrovianna
    Nov 17, 2019
    8
    The game is not perfect, but definitely not a bad game! I was raised playing pokemon games, since gen 2. It was a bit disappointing not having all pokemons in this game, but the game is still great. I love the new monsters, the new mechanics, the new region. I have not completed the game yet, but so far I’m having a great experience.
  10. moonronic
    Nov 15, 2019
    3
    (LONG LEGITIMATE REVIEW, NOT A REVIEW BOMB) sword & shield is the final nail in the coffin to this once outstanding franchise's good name; a franchise that was once packed full of depth & content & defying the limits of the GB, GBA, DS & 3DS has slipped into mediocrity to a point where it is v noticeable. this game is mediocre, it is not dreadful, but it is not much better than any of the(LONG LEGITIMATE REVIEW, NOT A REVIEW BOMB) sword & shield is the final nail in the coffin to this once outstanding franchise's good name; a franchise that was once packed full of depth & content & defying the limits of the GB, GBA, DS & 3DS has slipped into mediocrity to a point where it is v noticeable. this game is mediocre, it is not dreadful, but it is not much better than any of the 3DS games, yet it is double the price, on the powerful switch console, & has half of the main core content (the pokemon), gone (which would be fine, but there is little that makes up for the content lost). any parent looking to buy this to entertain a child; this will not do the job for long. if they got this at the holidays, don't be surprised if they are done with it by new year. in the past, i used to slowly play games due to not having the money for new ones, but i can't imagine mini me being able to do so for these; the story is swift (& it has as much depth as a child's paddling pool) & gaining levels is easier than ever.

    for any hardcore, older fans, as a long time fan myself who has played most pokemon games, disregarding the "dex controversy"; they are passable. they are essentially a 3Ds pkmn game on the nintendo switch. if you thought there would be any large improvements since the x/y 3Ds games... there's been v few. the good parts are flashy gimmicks & little more which will likely be gone by next gen, so no point becoming attached to them anyway (dynamax, the wild area, etc). it's not worth 60 dollars, not when it sits on a store shelf next to mario odyssey, luigi's mansion, breath of the wild & more. if you want a similar experience; ultra sun & moon is 30 dollars less with a better story, all the pokemon still there, & just as many features as these games... but, if sifting through a slightly fun, but quickly boring field in a rushed game with awful pop-in & just generally subpar graphics for the switch (comparable to the wii at its worst), then going into an admittedly fun but swiftly dealt with town & gym, onto a boring linear corridor path w awful music to progress a shallow story & beat the game in the grand total of a week at most, again, for double the price of the previous games which are far better, then this game might be up your alley. but it's not all bad, a slightly improved character creator, tiny quality of life improvements, & slightly better graphics than a 3Ds game (which isn't a hard thing to surpass on a console format), are worth an extra 30 dollars right? even if you do have this money to spend, why settle for the bare minimum for it?

    i realise im going on, but this is a franchise that meant something to me, others had disney, had other companies which defined their childhoods, for me it was pokemon. here's a cheesy analogy, but a fitting one: sword & shield is like candy. it is packaged nicely, it's flashy & fun (mainly the stadium gym battles), all glittery & bright colours, when you consume it, it does the job, it makes you feel happy for a moment, then you forget you've consumed it at all. "but this is a children's game, isn't it meant to be fun?" yes, & it is. but, the older pkmn games were fun, had more content & more fleshed out content, appealed to nearly any demographic, & lasted just as long. mario, zelda, every other nintendo franchise out there that also appeal to children (although yes, they do have their own flaws), have games more akin to fine meals on the switch. they're fulfilling, have depth in their craft, are presented beautifully, with intricate little details, & you will probably remember the experience for a long time. & yet, they are the same price as sword & shield, which was so buggy upon release, it corrupted many people's consoles. it's ironic how the most famous franchise on earth is about creatures evolving... & it's unable to evolve & catch up to every other nintendo name out there at the moment. after playing it, i want to return it. it's sad to see it sitting there on my shelf next to much superior & older pokemon & non pokemon games which could entertain anybody of any demographic for much longer.

    TLDR; the games are so mediocre, that it's miserable to imagine what it might of been. potential was there. instead we have this glittery, zombie-like waste of money, able to hide how plain it really is through quickly boring flashy sections, from a company that clearly doesn't have its heart in it anymore. yet, it's double the price & with half as much content as the prior games. if you want a better long term experience packed with depth & content for cheaper, try nearly any other pokemon game.    … Expand
  11. ioxon
    Nov 15, 2019
    3
    All in all, this game seems like a rushed release. Easy money trying to cater to fans (mostly new I think) and maybe some old ... but not me. Already looking forward to the next iteration where they give it the attention it deserves and actually make it Switch worthy.

    Sure, it has the charm of any Pokemon game you'd expect but today, we are expecting better graphics than this crap. I'm    All in all, this game seems like a rushed release. Easy money trying to cater to fans (mostly new I think) and maybe some old ... but not me. Already looking forward to the next iteration where they give it the attention it deserves and actually make it Switch worthy.

    Sure, it has the charm of any Pokemon game you'd expect but today, we are expecting better graphics than this crap. I'm sorry. Also, I've heard the new pokemon that replaced the slew of pokemon that were removed - they are re-hashed with same specs or something but new name/look. That's a horrible thing to do to your fans.

    Anyway, I give it a 3 because it's not broken really as a game - it works and plays well and does what you'd expect as far as a pokemon game is concerned, plus some new things that are cool - sure - but do much better next time Game Freak. If you want to sell a $60 game for a system like the Switch, you can't make it a 3DS game and just drop it on the Switch without putting effort into higher textures (better/new engine if you need to).

    If you're going to not put effort into a better graphic presentation and actually give more attention to the new Pokemon (especially if you're removing old classic and oft loved pokemon), don't go open world like this. If you're going open world for future games, make it aesthetically pleasing to system expectations.    … Expand
  12. lemony
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    Lying Devs
    Reused animations
    Reused Models
    No Global Trading
    No National Dex

    0/10
  13. Rochter
    Nov 16, 2019
    1
    Bought, both, and I would had forgiven the Animation errors, and framedrops if they actually worked more on them rather than just using it as an excuse or token of exchange for cut content.

    Not only that, but, i payed 50 bucks to get my save data wiped out... And a lot of games dont support online cloud saves.... Thanks a lot...
  14. TheAmazingBot
    Nov 15, 2019
    6
    The game does have its charm in the fun pokémon designs and flavortext. The gameplay has teken a step back since the 3ds days removing Z-moves an mega-evolutions to the simpler "dynamax". There are pokemon fan games out there I enjoy more than this newest entry and withe the power of the switch I was expecting a lot more. This game is great for someone who hasn't played a pokemonfame for aThe game does have its charm in the fun pokémon designs and flavortext. The gameplay has teken a step back since the 3ds days removing Z-moves an mega-evolutions to the simpler "dynamax". There are pokemon fan games out there I enjoy more than this newest entry and withe the power of the switch I was expecting a lot more. This game is great for someone who hasn't played a pokemonfame for a couple of years, but lacking for people who played the latest 3ds entries.… Expand
  15. Gyeasty
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    The newest mainline Pokemon game we've all been waiting for is in fact a disaster for the series. While only adding 81 new pokemon to the series, these new games managed to remove 490 (yeah, 490) pokemon from previous games, possibly forever. You won't be able to bring back your favorite pokemon that have been with you for years. Pokemon like Lucario, Dragonite, Greninja, and Sceptile areThe newest mainline Pokemon game we've all been waiting for is in fact a disaster for the series. While only adding 81 new pokemon to the series, these new games managed to remove 490 (yeah, 490) pokemon from previous games, possibly forever. You won't be able to bring back your favorite pokemon that have been with you for years. Pokemon like Lucario, Dragonite, Greninja, and Sceptile are gone forever, erased from these future games along with all mega evolutions. You would think that after erasing so many pokemon, Game Freak would add quality new pokemon to the series. But alas, and of course, no they did not. Grookey is the only starter that has a final evolution with a reasonably good design and none of the starters gain a dual type. There are only a few pokemon released in these games that are even usable in competitive play. Pokemon like Dragapult and Grimmsnarl are few and far between within the absolute pile of trash these new pokemon offer. Dynamax is a stupid gimmick that should have never been introduced and I feel like Game Freak is only hyping it up because they even realize it was a huge mistake. "Ooh, big pokemon, me like big pokemon." The only reason I'm giving this a 1 and not a 0 is because there were some decent functionality improvements to the game, but that in no way accounts for the absolute lack of content in these mainline games. I've been a lifelong Pokemon fan - from the first games that came out on gamboy, Red and Blue, and it hurts for me to say that this is the first major step backwards I've seen the company make in that time. What these games present for players is a purgatory of dreams deferred, a useful, connected space void of quality content and the hope that anything great will follow.… Expand
  16. Bbug
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Nada, nos quitan cosas, supuestamente para mejorar otras y es todo un copy paste de la generacion pasada, nos quitan objetos, pokemon, megas, movimientos z, y nos meten pokemon gigantes que acaba siendo lo mismo que la mega, no le veo nada de sentido, personajes sin carisma alguna, fácilmente olvida les, no me gusto
  17. Xkayz
    Nov 16, 2019
    1
    Game feels rushed, incomplete, and limited. Animations often make no sense. Little to no post-game content.
  18. DavoNZ
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    Such poor quality despite funds clearly not being an issue...this is Pokemon after all. Haven't seen pop-in this bad or textures this bad since the Wii
  19. Meris
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    This game has some technical issues and the decision to not port every Pokemon into the game is sad, but aside from these issues, the game is quite fun.
    It has several interesting fights in the last quarter of the game and the new Pokemon designs are quite fun.
    It is miles above ORAS, Sun/Moon and UltraSun/UltraMoon. This Gen are a step in the right direction and I hope a possible third    This game has some technical issues and the decision to not port every Pokemon into the game is sad, but aside from these issues, the game is quite fun.
    It has several interesting fights in the last quarter of the game and the new Pokemon designs are quite fun.
    It is miles above ORAS, Sun/Moon and UltraSun/UltraMoon. This Gen are a step in the right direction and I hope a possible third game remake from B/W fixes the technical issues.    … Expand
  20. Link645
    Mar 14, 2020
    8
    this is hard review because this was my first Pokemon game and i thought that it was great when i was younger i loved playing the card game but when i played shield most of my favorites were Pokemon were gone at times i was fairly repetitive but that is Pokemon the games franchise in one word but has good mechanics for younger players but not my type of level.
  21. xXDank_HillXx
    Nov 18, 2019
    0
    Pokemon has grown stale, earlier this year is was getting into pokemon alpha sapphire and thought that was great, went to pokemon moon and was pretty dissapointed by the environments, imo these games looked better in the 2d pixely style of before, I get a general lack of motivation when it comes to playing these newer pokemon games because the art is so bland, ever get that feeling whenPokemon has grown stale, earlier this year is was getting into pokemon alpha sapphire and thought that was great, went to pokemon moon and was pretty dissapointed by the environments, imo these games looked better in the 2d pixely style of before, I get a general lack of motivation when it comes to playing these newer pokemon games because the art is so bland, ever get that feeling when your like "man I really don't want to play this anymore" and you feel bad? thats kinda where pokemon is now, walk from point A to B fight and/or catch pokemon, with or without talking to someone first, the dialogue is unmemorable, and I don't really care about the characters in the game, but then again, that was never why I played pokemon anyway. At this age I realize it was always, walk from here to here, catch or fight pokemon, and then sometimes before you catch or fight pokemon you get to read some bland dialogue… Expand
  22. theangryscapula
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    Ultimately a very fun and immersive Pokemon experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. The new Pokemon designs are stellar, the region is beautiful, and the music is absolutely incredible. While there is still a lot of room to expand in this franchise, and this game has a number of flaws, it's easy to overlook them and enjoy what is in my opinion the most ambitious and utterlyUltimately a very fun and immersive Pokemon experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. The new Pokemon designs are stellar, the region is beautiful, and the music is absolutely incredible. While there is still a lot of room to expand in this franchise, and this game has a number of flaws, it's easy to overlook them and enjoy what is in my opinion the most ambitious and utterly charming entry to date.… Expand
  23. OnyxBolt
    Nov 15, 2019
    8
    Much better than I anticipated, love the online features. Only an 8 because no NatDex
  24. Artatm
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    So Nintendo creates breath of the wild and Mario odyssey - then delays Metroid because it’s not up to snuff - wow pokemon is going to be good - fast forward to release .... yeah not so much - So the textured look legitimately sloppy in places, it’s not just stylistic they are upscale and stretched, charters float over them looking rigid and plastic it’s like a bad mobile game not somethingSo Nintendo creates breath of the wild and Mario odyssey - then delays Metroid because it’s not up to snuff - wow pokemon is going to be good - fast forward to release .... yeah not so much - So the textured look legitimately sloppy in places, it’s not just stylistic they are upscale and stretched, charters float over them looking rigid and plastic it’s like a bad mobile game not something you expect from Nintendo on there main console, this ain’t no portable mini title no more game freak this is the big league and you fluffed it with the worlds most profitable franchise - wow - oh and you lied about it too - games out in the wild the reasons you gave for less pokemon have been proven untrue / you cut beloved content and didn’t innovate one bit, dynomax - give me a break - how about you voice the pokemon - even just the np characters in the cut scenes?! It’s 2019! Some of it is charming, a lot of the new designs look nice and cute and interesting - it’s hard not to it’s pokemon but the level of laziness here is just unforgivable - they even publicly announced it wasn’t there main project- holy hell fire?! You got some super secrets other billion dollar franchise up your selves? No?! You just want to betray your fan base and nickel and dime them with a high price game with less content than a indie game jam. Please - Protest by reviewing pokemon - tweeting/Facebook/reddit/YouTube - let Nintendo know they need to take back pokemon. we all want to love this but you got to let them know it’s not on.… Expand
  25. kujaligula
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Este Pokémon deja mucho que desear , su duración va de 15 a 18 horas , es algo ridículo , los gráficos son básicamente del Nintendo 3ds , deberían aprender de Luigui mansión 3 El recorte de Pokémon es ridículos , muy pocos Pokémon
    Que sucede con los glitches y falla de texturas? Deberían haber esperado y pulir este juego , no está a la altura de la saga Pokémon.
  26. GreenMenace
    Nov 26, 2019
    9
    This game is a Pokemon game, through and through, for better or for worse. I have beaten the game and completed the pokedex. I'll soon check out competitive play because the online play looks promising. I've really enjoyed playing the game.

    Pros Quality of life changes Incredible Customization The Galar Region The Wild Area Cons The story is too short The protagonist is far    This game is a Pokemon game, through and through, for better or for worse. I have beaten the game and completed the pokedex. I'll soon check out competitive play because the online play looks promising. I've really enjoyed playing the game.

    Pros
    Quality of life changes
    Incredible Customization
    The Galar Region
    The Wild Area

    Cons
    The story is too short
    The protagonist is far from likable
    Little innovation
    Missing Pokemon

    I believe that Pokemon Sword and Shield are a step in the right direction, but the game needs a lot more innovation. I thought this game was going to make more changes to the Pokemon formula.
    Traditionally, a lot of people stop playing the game because they've caught all the Pokemon and they've beaten the story. Then they're charged more money to do it again in a different region. If the game shook things up a bit more, in just about any area, then I believe that the games would be even more fun than they are. It gets a bit tiresome to see the standard "battler, breeder, scientist" stereotypes with every character.

    I loved the setting of the Galar region. The theme of Pokemon Sword and Shield were done very well. I enjoyed the new Pokemon. I was happy with the wild area. I wanted to be able to move more freely around it, but the introduction of a wild area is a great start.

    You can access Pokemon from just about anywhere and you get a permanent escape rope. The game is easy, but I wouldn't say it's because of the quality of life improvements. If it bothers players, there is nothing stopping them from choosing to not use them. The customization for the trainer is pretty crazy. I'd never imagined a Pokemon game would enable a player to choose so many unique looks. To be honest, I believe they went overboard on that because I'd rather have improvements to the story than character customization. My primary interest in Pokemon games will always be the Pokemon.

    I found myself rooting against my avatar. I didn't like the vague expressions of wonder it made at everything. The other characters had a reason why they wanted to become Pokemon champion. It felt like my trainer became a Pokemon trainer on a whim. If there is one thing about any pokemon story I'd want to do away with, it'd be the beginning. I understand they want to connect with a lot of people, but I do want a protagonist with a personality. A silent Pokemon trainer is not nearly as cool as a silent Link.

    With the elimination of Pokemon from their games, I will hold Gamefreak to a higher standard. If there are less Pokemon, I want better graphics and a better story. The story in Pokemon Sword and Shield wasn't bad, and I enjoyed Team Yell, but there wasn't enough of it. The graphics in this game are better than any Pokemon game I've played.

    I am glad I purchased this game and I would recommend it because I feel that there is enough content in the game to entertain anyone that loves Pokemon. It's also a game that is very friendly to players who are new to the franchise.    … Expand
  27. gabrielpina4
    Nov 16, 2019
    2
    Just played 5 hrs of pokemon shield and i can honestly say this the worst pokemon in the entire series i alittle pissed i spent my money on the double pack :( will be returning the game today. Hopefully bestbuy will take it back and refund me the full price graphically it looks like n64 definitely no generational leap the story is not great there's no voice acting houses inside doesn'tJust played 5 hrs of pokemon shield and i can honestly say this the worst pokemon in the entire series i alittle pissed i spent my money on the double pack :( will be returning the game today. Hopefully bestbuy will take it back and refund me the full price graphically it looks like n64 definitely no generational leap the story is not great there's no voice acting houses inside doesn't match the outside in one house it looks like 4 people living there yet only one bedroom???? Everyone has a mom but no dad?? Where the dad?? There's just so many thing wrong that it would take me forever to list everything but will be making a YouTube video on this soon!!… Expand
  28. AverageT
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Probably the most controversial pokemon game yet, 2/3rds of the dex removed along with tons of moves and features. In what was supposed to be the holy grail of pokemon games sadly development was rushed, mistakes were made and the developer went on to lie to the public about it. I wanted to see past all that and still enjoy a pokemon game and found a very short story with reused animationsProbably the most controversial pokemon game yet, 2/3rds of the dex removed along with tons of moves and features. In what was supposed to be the holy grail of pokemon games sadly development was rushed, mistakes were made and the developer went on to lie to the public about it. I wanted to see past all that and still enjoy a pokemon game and found a very short story with reused animations and no music? I was stumped when I came across a pokemon I could not catch because I wasn't high enough level. I couldn't even throw the pokeball! Sadly the game is as easy as ever. While it's as fun as any other pokemon game, its probably the most lackluster of all the main series titles.… Expand
  29. Coby555
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Gamefreak lied about doing new models and "qUaLiTy aNiMaTIoNs" when they look horrible! Enough said, done with this series.
  30. Wakarahen
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Gamefreak, why you lie?
    I mean, it's obvious that players would discover it was all a big lie, then why getting on the bad side of players?
    This brand need to get back to high quality, this is unacceptable for the company of one of the highest selling game brand.
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Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Best Switch Game of 2019
3
#3 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 89 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 89
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 89
  3. 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. GameCritics
    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.
    Read full review
  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]
See all critic reviews »