Pokemon Sword

 Switch
User Score
4.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 5909 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,997 out of 5909
  2. Mixed: 852 out of 5909
  3. Negative: 3,060 out of 5909
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  1. MasterMike000
    Nov 19, 2020
    2
    Story wise, it's extremely forgettable and unoriginal. This is the most generic and uncreative Pokemon story next to X/Y. The story in this game, brings nothing new to the franchise, it's literally the same boring story that Gamefreak keeps repeating. Compared to the other games that have an interesting story like in Gen 4 and Gen 5...this game brings nothing new or anything interesting toStory wise, it's extremely forgettable and unoriginal. This is the most generic and uncreative Pokemon story next to X/Y. The story in this game, brings nothing new to the franchise, it's literally the same boring story that Gamefreak keeps repeating. Compared to the other games that have an interesting story like in Gen 4 and Gen 5...this game brings nothing new or anything interesting to the Pokemon world or lore. It's literally, and I mean LITERALLY just fight the gym leaders, reach to the tournament, get interrupted by the villain and you need to stop the strong/legendary Pokemon that just popped up out of nowhere. This with maybe 3 scenes of exposition coming from Sonia...that's the story of Pokemon Sword/Shield from what I played. Like, the developers didn't even bother showing us a cutscene of how the strong/legendary Pokemon appeared or came.

    Character wise, none of them really stand out from the rest of the series because of how uncreative or poorly they were written. Your rival Hop is the most annoying rival up to date, who literally stops your path every 5 minutes and wastes your time and repeats the same sentence, “I ShOuLd HaVe KnOwN yOu HaVe MaStErEd TyPiNg”. It doesn't help that is character goes literally everywhere throughout the story, from wanting to be the Champion, to feeling weak after losing to Bede, to wanting to be a professor...BUT still challenges you at the Champion Cup after beating the main game. Rose being the villain of the story is extremely rushed and comes out of nowhere. Yes, we knew he was the villain before the game was released, but his reveal of being a villain LITERALLY comes up in the very last second of the game for no reason what's so ever. Bede was such a disappointment because while he's an actual rude rival like we always wanted, but sadly his team is complete joke because of how pathetic easy they are too beat. The first half of the game, all his Pokemon are ALL Psychic type and the second half of the game, they are ALL Fairy type. Marnie...she's just there in the game for some reason. She literally has no impact to the actual story in the game. Team Yell...give them a medal for being the worst evil organization in the entire Pokemon franchise. You can't take them seriously, they're simply annoying, There's literally nothing interesting or unique about Team Yell.

    Gameplay wise, it's LITERALLY the exact same battle animations from X/Y, except that they introduced Gigantamax and Dynamax which is easily the worst mechanic compared to Mega Evolutions and Z-Moves. Not only is it broken and really unbalanced, but it was poorly designed with how you obtain a Gigantamax Pokemon. Unlike Z-Moves or Mega-Evolutions, where you can simply use the require item on the Pokemon you already have and raised…In Sword/Shield, you need to replace and catch the same Pokemon again when it’s in its Gigantamax form. So that Rookidee that you caught at the beginning of the game and bonded with it till it became a Corviknight…throw it in the PC because it won’t be able to Gigantamax. The Wild Area and the Max Raids battles…oh my God, it’s awful. The Wild Area has ugly textures, terrible pop-in and the fps drops like crazy when online. Coming from the biggest media franchise of all time…the Wild Area simply looks unacceptable. It doesn’t help that the Wild Area is introduced way too early in the game and you have no reason whatsoever to go back to it after the first time. The Max Raids battle on the other hand, when offline, are broken. You might battle and want to catch a 5-star Gigantamax Charizard…but the NPC trainers, that are your teammates, are using a Togepi or a Magikarp. Yup, because that makes sense when you’re battling against a giant Level 60 Charizard.

    Finally, the game lacks content. Not just the National Dex, I’m taking about the extra content that game offers. I mean, the fact that Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver or Pokemon Black 2/White 2 (2 DS games) or even Pokemon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon (a 3DS game) have more content and have more duration than a Nintendo Switch game (which remember, being charged full price)...is pathetic on Gamefreak. The Post-game shouldn’t even be considered a Post-Game because all you are doing is literally catch the legendary Pokemon from the box art, which from all the previous titles, were in the MAIN game. Even the DLC is not enough because the Isle of Armor expansion is terrible.

    The only good thing that I can say about this game is the Crown Tundra (which has a better and more interesting story btw), the soundtrack and the gym battles actually feel like an exciting event. it felt like something that's actually grand and important like in the anime. But other than that...This is easily one of the worst Pokemon games. I can't argue against people who dislike Pokemon games because this game...is everything that shows why people hate/dislike Pokemon games    … Expand
  2. DarksoulFX
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Its sad to say that fan made based pokemon games have better graphic quality and quality of life changes that actually make the game alot more enjoyable. #gamefreaklied
  3. maiavictor
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Lazy animations, bug-ridden, cut content, flat story, dated mechanics, recycled formula with no innovation. How can this game be rated higher than mediocre? Seems like being a Pokémon game excepts it from being a good game.
  4. Fhvfgv
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Pokemon Sword and Shield are the best games in the series, streamlining its most tedious traditions without losing any of the charm."
  5. Evmodi
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Not a $60 dlls game... It's a game that feels incomplete and as it ts right now, even the nintendo wii could have done something better.
  6. mvsmax
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    need remove the multi exp thx, add other pokemon too, it need to be much better
  7. Tester75
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Most new Pokémon designs look terrible, the world is open but feels empty simply because there isn’t much to do. The wild area is ok but seems like a missed opportunity. The camping and cooking mechanics are cumbersome and I rarely use either of those features. The story is one dimensional and boring. The dynamax mechanic is just gimic that isn’t that exciting. The exclusion of a nationalMost new Pokémon designs look terrible, the world is open but feels empty simply because there isn’t much to do. The wild area is ok but seems like a missed opportunity. The camping and cooking mechanics are cumbersome and I rarely use either of those features. The story is one dimensional and boring. The dynamax mechanic is just gimic that isn’t that exciting. The exclusion of a national dex would have been bearable had the above issues not been there, but since the game is riddled with all these issues (lack on content and poorly designed Pokémon) I now find it inexcusable. This game had all the potential to be the best Pokémon game yet, but is one of my least favorite in the entire series. Tbh, don’t waste your money on these games. Hope that the next set of games are better… Expand
  8. zanzou
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Shortest mainline pokemon game ever made, no end game, fewest pokemon since generation 3, automatic EXP share means you are always too high-level, models were imported from a low-fi handheld game, terrible graphics and animation, dynamax is a terrible gimmick to replace mega-evolutions
  9. Therapygame
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    TOTALLY UNFINISHED!!! I completed the game in only 12 hours and there is No post-game content. The graphics look like a PS2 game (and even worse), animations are the worst i've ever seen in the last 15 years, Pokémon cut, moves cut, stupidly Easy (you can't turn off the exp. share so your Pokémons Will Always be overleveled). Dynamax Battles are even worse than megaevolutions, raids areTOTALLY UNFINISHED!!! I completed the game in only 12 hours and there is No post-game content. The graphics look like a PS2 game (and even worse), animations are the worst i've ever seen in the last 15 years, Pokémon cut, moves cut, stupidly Easy (you can't turn off the exp. share so your Pokémons Will Always be overleveled). Dynamax Battles are even worse than megaevolutions, raids are BORING, and the wild area is EMPTY. This game doesn't even deserve to be reviewed.… Expand
  10. GazedUpon
    Nov 16, 2019
    2
    Here's the issue with these games:
    While the basic concept of "Catch monster, Train monster, Fight with monster" will always be fun no matter what, that isn't a trait unique to Sword and Shield.
    The game simply feels... unfinished all around. I got this game day 1, excited like a little child to finally play it. And then the game made me feel like a small child that should have listened    Here's the issue with these games:
    While the basic concept of "Catch monster, Train monster, Fight with monster" will always be fun no matter what, that isn't a trait unique to Sword and Shield.
    The game simply feels... unfinished all around. I got this game day 1, excited like a little child to finally play it. And then the game made me feel like a small child that should have listened to their parents to not spend their money on video games.

    Positives:
    - As mentioned before, the basic concept of "catch, train, fight" just works.
    - Most of the new Pokémon do look appealing, which is subjective, of course.
    - The trainer customization is fantastic! I had a lot of fun dressing my character up.

    Negatives:
    - The game sometimes doesn't load things in properly, which causes things to "pop in".
    - The game often freezes when anything happens, such as talking to an NPC
    - Areas within the game are empty and feel flat.
    - Routes might as well be hallways, since you can't go anywhere except straight forward
    - The Dynamax/Gigantamax feature feels underwhelming. The gym leaders that use them have this build up where they power up their Pokémon, just to have it die to an attack or two anyways.
    - Speaking of Dynamax/Gigantamax, you can pretty much only use it during gym battles, which made me wonder why it's even in the game
    - Some of the newer Pokémon are either ridiculously strong OR weak. There seems to be almost no consistent middle ground.
    - Somehow your own Pokémon always have a WAY higher level than the opponents, which is weird since I avoided quite a few battles. This makes fights often laughably easy.
    - I noticed that a few moves were missing. For example, I caught a Vespiquen and it couldn't learn ANY of it's signature moves. (Heal Order etc.) This was a bit weird to me.
    - The story is... not really existent. It consists of "The champ is so great! Look at him! Did you know how great the champ is?", which really ruined the immersion for me
    - For a console game that tries to look modern graphically, it simply fails

    Other things you should know:
    - This game will not let you trade over most of your Pokémon from Sun and Moon later on
    - There have been a lot of reports of the game damaging or deleting data on the Switch it was played on

    Summed up:
    Sadly, I'm sorely disappointed with Sword and Shield. I could barely bring myself to finishing the game, as I found myself bored out of my mind a lot of the time. If you're a hardcore fan or somebody wanting to try out Pokémon, stick to the previous entries in the series. This game isn't worth your money.    … Expand
  11. billythorton198
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    Just cutting half the pokemon brings it down to a 3, then all of the other features that were available being cut?! This game should have never been sold
  12. Cookie69
    Nov 16, 2019
    2
    Pro+
    +Short Loeading Times
    + creative Caracters Mixed +/- +/- why still 2 Versions and no real Co up Game Modes. +/- Dynamax Pokemon are just Upscaled Versions of normal Pokemon. (Exept for the GymTrainers Special Version that are not available for Players) So why ..just 400 and not 800 Pokemon in the Game? Negativ- -Feels like a HD remake of a 3DS Pokemon Game -Animation    Pro+
    +Short Loeading Times
    + creative Caracters

    Mixed +/-
    +/- why still 2 Versions and no real Co up Game Modes.
    +/- Dynamax Pokemon are just Upscaled Versions of normal Pokemon.
    (Exept for the GymTrainers Special Version that are not available for Players)
    So why ..just 400 and not 800 Pokemon in the Game?

    Negativ-
    -Feels like a HD remake of a 3DS Pokemon Game
    -Animation stiff and outdated
    -Story is Irrelevant and forgetable
    -Online Mode is leggie and Looses regularly Internet connection
    -‘‘New Features‘‘ are not new - like Clothing and Hair Customation
    -Wild Area‘s Free Camera is very limited. 360° horizontal but vertical u cant look more then 10° +/-
    (So u cant look into the Sky or on to the Ground)
    -Pokemon and Characters textures are weak and on Tv even worst. Looking like a mix of 3DS & PS2 Grafic
    -30FPS but it feels like in the Wild Area, it drops even below 30

    For all the Hype ..... S / S did not deliver what was promised.
    It’s just a nother Cookie cuter Pokemon Game that u can forget as soon the next Pokemon Game get announced. ( whether GO, mobile phone, or something else.)    … Expand
  13. ririechan
    Nov 17, 2019
    2
    the games are really disappointing
    as for the first main line game (excluding let's go pikachu and eevee, which are perceived as spin off by the fans) we would expect something incredible and yet it didn't come.
    In favour of a new mechanic completely unbalanced, the game removed mega evolution, z moves half of the pokedex and moves. The pokecamp, feature that replace pokeamie, does not    the games are really disappointing
    as for the first main line game (excluding let's go pikachu and eevee, which are perceived as spin off by the fans) we would expect something incredible and yet it didn't come.
    In favour of a new mechanic completely unbalanced, the game removed mega evolution, z moves half of the pokedex and moves.
    The pokecamp, feature that replace pokeamie, does not work as good as it predecessor, making hard playing with a specific pokemon and lacks the capacity to let you pet it, unlikely pokemon sun and moon and the let's go games.
    the wild areas, strong point of this game, are a not so big place were pokemon suddenly pop ups from the ground.
    the 10 routes present in this game are just long corridors.
    the main story is extremely short and bad, even for pokemon standards.
    graphic are yes better than the one for the 3ds, but for a switch game are just underwhelming.
    exp share is now impossible to turn off and the game is for that reason extremely easy.
    post game is a one hour episode with nerfed sun and moon battle tower.
    you can still have fun from this game, since the core mechanic of pokemon is still there, but that's it
    the game does not implement anything to distinguish itself from previous games if not setting good points for next gen games. But this is happening too frequently in pokemon games, that continue to cut good steps to set new good mechanics, which result unpolished, unfinished and will be removed in the next gen games    … Expand
  14. DJ323
    Nov 18, 2019
    2
    When I saw the first trailer for Sword and Shield I was so excited. I watched each and every trailer up until the release but with every trailer I watched I became less and less hyped.

    When I learned that not all Pokemon would make it and mega evolution was cut, I was disappointed but it was not a deal breaker for me. When I saw the replacement feature (Dynamaxing) and the    When I saw the first trailer for Sword and Shield I was so excited. I watched each and every trailer up until the release but with every trailer I watched I became less and less hyped.

    When I learned that not all Pokemon would make it and mega evolution was cut, I was disappointed but it was not a deal breaker for me. When I saw the replacement feature (Dynamaxing) and the "high-quality" graphics and animations that were apparently the reason for the cut, I was thoroughly underwhelmed. I still had hope for the games but it was dwindling heavily. Now that the games have been released and I can see them first hand, I am fearful.

    The first trailers for Sword and Shield, not only gave me hope for the new games but for potential generation 4 remakes. After Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, I was ready to see Primal Giratina, Palkia, Dialga and maybe even Primal Arceus. Seeing how Sword and Shield turned out, I now fear Game Freak will remake my favourite generation in the series (I know I am biased due to nostalgia) and ruin it with a Gigantamax Arceus. I didn't know the game could be so awful that the thought of my favourite game being remade could fill me with dread. I sincerely hope that Game Freak fixes its mistakes before attempting gen 4 remakes because I don't know if I can stay a fan if they screw up Sinnoh too.

    If you're wondering about the problems I had with the game, they are as follows:
    -The game was too easy (EXP share being mandatory did not help) and quite short
    -The game was very linear with a basic story
    -The game seems rushed and unpolished
    -Graphics in certain areas were very bad quality (not a deal breaker for me though)
    -Models popping into existence was very jarring (*poof* there's an Onix, *poof* its gone)
    -The wild area was mostly empty (and kind of boring)
    -The wild area weather makes no sense (sunshine next to a blizzard is completely normal)
    -Over 400 Pokemon were removed (I expected 100-200 not basically half of the older gens)
    -Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing are worse gimmicks than mega evolution and Z moves (and they are basically just a combined version of both but lazier)
    -Animations were fine (some were great, some were Yamper's tail whip but the great ones did not justify the cut content)
    -There is less content than the 3DS games but with a $20 markup

    Maybe I had too much hope for this game because I compared it to other Switch games like Breath Of The Wild and Mario Odyssey. Maybe I am not the demographic Game Freak is targeting anymore. All I know is that the game was so disappointing that I knew I had to rate it (even though I don't normally rate things). Overall, the game has some good areas and aspects but it also makes me very worried for the future of the franchise.    … Expand
  15. TaraBaby
    Nov 20, 2019
    2
    It's a Pokemon game. Yep, I said it. It follows the same formula that stopped being fun after Pokemon Black & White. But, that's not all, you get 50% less Pokemon, no Mega Evolutions, etc etc. The graphics look like crap. No seriously, this should be called Pokemon RPG Maker that's how bad the textures look. If you have never played a Pokemon game you might like it but I suggest a REALIt's a Pokemon game. Yep, I said it. It follows the same formula that stopped being fun after Pokemon Black & White. But, that's not all, you get 50% less Pokemon, no Mega Evolutions, etc etc. The graphics look like crap. No seriously, this should be called Pokemon RPG Maker that's how bad the textures look. If you have never played a Pokemon game you might like it but I suggest a REAL Pokemon game Fire Red and Leaf Green or Heart Gold & Soul Silver.

    If they wanted to just make the same game only lazier then coming to the Switch was a mistake. Pokémon Colosseum still remains the best console Pokemon game by a 1000 miles.    … Expand
  16. QuarterLife
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Imagine making ~40% of a game, and then charging ~120% for it. That's Pokemon right now. This game is rushed, buggy, and overall an insult to anyone that has enjoyed the series before. You might consider it if it's your first Pokemon game, but if you have others in your library just keep playing them -- they're better.
  17. mother2fan1
    Nov 18, 2019
    1
    Sure, it's cute and all, but with removing everything that seemed essential to the series, not having anything to do after beating the game, and reusing everything from the old games, you'd have to ask where 3 years of development time went into. I'd pass.
  18. cmcgee
    Nov 15, 2019
    5
    -Cut over 1/2 the pokemon
    -Linear route/map design
    -Indoor battles are in a boring white void
    -Exp share cannot be turned off
    -Wild area is mostly empty
    -Battle animations are still meh
    +The new Pokemon are cool
    +The upgraded textures are nice
    +Overword encounters
  19. timesteiner
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Dejando de lado la dex nacional y los movimientos eliminados, el juego esta lleno de errores y bugs que hacen que s cierre a cada rato, esperemos que llegue pronto un parte para arreglar esto.
  20. Amida
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Caro, ridículamente fácil, y ademas de todo con una campaña publicitaria fraudulenta
  21. Leopanic1997
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    If you want a game that isn't a pokemon game this is for you-- one of the last great developers of our life times finally decided to give up our best interests for a cash grab. 55 percent of our favorite pokemon are now out of the game, and before you say anything-- yes they are in the game files still. Ironically they also took some moves out, and instead of just getting back to megaIf you want a game that isn't a pokemon game this is for you-- one of the last great developers of our life times finally decided to give up our best interests for a cash grab. 55 percent of our favorite pokemon are now out of the game, and before you say anything-- yes they are in the game files still. Ironically they also took some moves out, and instead of just getting back to mega evolutions or z moves they instead went with a whole new feature. Game freak has stopped caring what the fans want and started caring about keeping the company's wallet fat.… Expand
  22. MaestroPokeFer
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Asco de juegos estúpido gamefreak.
    gamefreak le esta apostando mucho a las nuevas generaciones y bota de lado a los que crecimos con la franquicia,
    Pero han olvidado una cosa, las nuevas generaciones ya no son fieles a nada solo siguen lo que esta de moda y cuando pokemon deje de ser moda adios
  23. poojabehavior
    Nov 16, 2019
    3
    The game itself is fairly mediocre with some good and bad. It fixed many of the series long problems but also doubled down on many of the worst parts. The game also isn't the most pleasing to look at, and I don't mean it has to have the highest poly count or the most advance effects, but the combination of poor textures, texture filtering, world assets and the bunch, it hurts to look atThe game itself is fairly mediocre with some good and bad. It fixed many of the series long problems but also doubled down on many of the worst parts. The game also isn't the most pleasing to look at, and I don't mean it has to have the highest poly count or the most advance effects, but the combination of poor textures, texture filtering, world assets and the bunch, it hurts to look at sometimes and doesn't look like a triple a switch game. The story is bare bones while still having obtrusive and annoying character interactions, but the base gameplay is still fun even if it's abit easy and seeing the new Pokemon did put a smile on my face. Also the challenges and the whole stadium setting was pretty cool to. This game probably would of gotten a 5 or 6 based on the game itself but I have to lower it a few points dou to the lies game freak and the pokemon company had stated about new character modules or improving character animations as reasons for cutting the national dex and other little things they have done as a company.… Expand
  24. poxotaf266
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    The people giving it a 10 can't even give 1 reason why they like the game. It is the worst installment of the franchise:
    - removed 450 pokemon
    - removed 130 moves - removed key features - fewer than 100 new pokemon - linear region - only 10 routes - no dungeons - reused models - reused textures - reused animations - reused music - short playtime - short postgame - boring    The people giving it a 10 can't even give 1 reason why they like the game. It is the worst installment of the franchise:
    - removed 450 pokemon
    - removed 130 moves
    - removed key features
    - fewer than 100 new pokemon
    - linear region
    - only 10 routes
    - no dungeons
    - reused models
    - reused textures
    - reused animations
    - reused music
    - short playtime
    - short postgame
    - boring story
    - handholding
    - low difficulty
    - buggy
    - unpolished
    - lazy
    - rushed
    - no cohesion
    - potentially console-breaking (NAND issues are legit according to experts)    … Expand
  25. ThePuli
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    es un juego de pokemon muy malo, no esperaba nada de ti y aun asi logras decepcionarme, no es la gran cosa deja mucho que desear unos gráficos de generación pasada, en fin un asco.
  26. Shiakuzo
    Nov 16, 2019
    1
    Fails in so many levels, that I cannot believe this is the product of a 20 year franchise..
    As a gamer and Pokémon fan from the beginning I am disapointed and it will take a lot for Gamefreak and The Pokémon Company to have my respect and suport again..
    I am truly sad..
  27. Beans2520
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    #GameFreakLied Why should we buy a 60$ game that has less content the previous entries?
  28. 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
  29. Ampha
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    A disappointment of Wailord proportions.

    Although, Wailord has been reduced to being no larger than your trainer, as Sword and Shield fail to correctly scale each Pokemon. This is just one of the many shortcomings in this new generation of mainline Pokemon games that have left long time fans like myself unsure of the future of Pokemon. The removal of over 50% of much loved Pokemon is a    A disappointment of Wailord proportions.

    Although, Wailord has been reduced to being no larger than your trainer, as Sword and Shield fail to correctly scale each Pokemon.

    This is just one of the many shortcomings in this new generation of mainline Pokemon games that have left long time fans like myself unsure of the future of Pokemon.

    The removal of over 50% of much loved Pokemon is a difficult decision to understand, when it seems that no additional content has been added to compensate for this, with the exact same models being used from the 3DS games. Battles feel as dated as ever, the over world is still confined to corridors and linear routes pathways and fly/surf/riding Pokemon has disappeared completely. Add this to the dismissal of previous game mechanics, a lack of post-game content and graphical issues, sadly all adds to the underwhelming experience.

    The only positive new feature is the addition of the wild area, which finally touches upon the open-world environment that so many fans have dreamed off. It is of course impossible to not compare this to other games with open worlds and unfortunately the novelty quickly wears off. Perhaps the next generation will build upon this and create a truly impressive and fully developed open world Pokemon game.

    Despite my love of Pokemon for over 18 years, I cannot bring myself to rate this as a stand alone game highly and I can only hope that the next generation of Pokemon games will be their very best.    … Expand
  30. Duelz96
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    Words cannot describe how disappointed I was while playing this game. On my 6th gym I decided I couldn’t force myself to finish it. From poor animations to terrible graphics, this completely ruins the atmosphere of the game. Many successful features have been removed. The new content is not the best either.
    This is the worst entry in the Pokémon series by far. Save your money and by a game    Words cannot describe how disappointed I was while playing this game. On my 6th gym I decided I couldn’t force myself to finish it. From poor animations to terrible graphics, this completely ruins the atmosphere of the game. Many successful features have been removed. The new content is not the best either.
    This is the worst entry in the Pokémon series by far. Save your money and by a game that’s been polished and has actually been made with care.
    Pokémon sword was the worst thing that could happen to Pokémon.    … Expand
Page:

Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Best Switch Game of 2019
1
#1 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 87 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 87
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 87
  3. Negative: 0 out of 87
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 30, 2020
    80
    Sword & Shield stumble in a few areas and history may not be kind to them, but they're setting up a future that I'm excited to see. [Issue #44 – January/February 2020, p. 73]
  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 »