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. spartaman64
    Jan 30, 2020
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Probably the easiest pokemon game to date the only time I was sweating a little was when the rock gym leader got 3 critical hits in a row with his first pokemon and wiped out all my super effective pokemon towards his type. But I soon discovered that it was unfounded and I easily beat him with only one more pokemon fainting. This doesn't make for enjoyable gameplay when theres no need to be strategic and I breezed through all the other battles one shotting every pokemon. Also it seemed like they ran out of time making the evil organization side of the story and instead just have Leon take care of it while your character does nothing about it until the very end. And then at the battle against the big legendary in other games it was up to you to be the hero and save the world but instead in this game your pokemon barely does any damage while two other legendary pokemon come and does all the work not a very satisfying conclusion. I bought a month of switch membership to try out the online raids but instead when I queue up for a raid it always times out even though I see a lot of people around the raid den. I paid 3.99 just to see people walking around. I finished this game in two sittings which left me feeling unsatisfied with the amount of content and now they are annoucing paid DLC which adds an additional bad taste in my mouth. I guess this is the mark of a successful business theses days manufacture the problem and then sell the solution. There are some good things. Creature design has always been a strength of pokemon and this game isn't an exception with cool pokemon like corviknight and cute pokemon like wooloo. I don't even mind alcremie too much though I always disliked the design of the edibles. I also liked how they went all in on the this is UK thing with references like bob's your uncle resturant and the dialogue. But overall pokemon sword reflects the overall state of gaming nowadays its all about looking nice and having gimmicks while sacrificing the quality of the gameplay.… Expand
  2. Namlocs
    Jan 30, 2020
    7
    This game is no where near as good as it could’ve been. Graphically not great, lacking all the Pokemon is certainly a negative, severely lacking in post-game content, and overall being a disappointment for the first home console Pokemon game. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the game. The story, although by no means Gen 5 standard, certainly wasn’t terrible, despite itsThis game is no where near as good as it could’ve been. Graphically not great, lacking all the Pokemon is certainly a negative, severely lacking in post-game content, and overall being a disappointment for the first home console Pokemon game. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the game. The story, although by no means Gen 5 standard, certainly wasn’t terrible, despite its predictable plot twist. The new Pokemon were very fun to meet and the Wild Area, despite being not quite being the vast open world I hoped for, was fun to explore. The Dynamax and feature was fun to use, as was Gigantamax, despite it no where near being the same standard as mega evolution. The towns were fun to explore, despite being far smaller then they should be, and the Gym Challenges and Leaders were highlights for me. Conclusion: Although these entries far from return the Pokemon series to the high level of quality last seen in Gen 5, they’re certainly not bad by any means. Although a casual player will probably enjoy this game, it will perhaps not satisfy the more hardcore fan base.

    Score: 7/10    … Expand
  3. Kndygrm
    Jan 30, 2020
    4
    Honestly really disappointed in a lot, and happy with theres. So the bad: you cap what level Pokémon I can catch?? What a joke that was one thing that really ticked me off, every other one you can catch whatever you just maybe couldn’t control the Pokémon. Next is there are ALOT of missing Pokémon at the start that they said they couldn’t fit in?? Yet you can sell us a $30 expansion?Honestly really disappointed in a lot, and happy with theres. So the bad: you cap what level Pokémon I can catch?? What a joke that was one thing that really ticked me off, every other one you can catch whatever you just maybe couldn’t control the Pokémon. Next is there are ALOT of missing Pokémon at the start that they said they couldn’t fit in?? Yet you can sell us a $30 expansion? Liars!!! You can change your outfit for just walking around, but I wish I could change the uniform and the biking outfit, not a deal breaker though. And the game itself was too short for a $60+tax game. For the length and what it doesn’t have it’s not worth in over the previous games already out. Nothing great, it was a game, it played. I liked I could now play it on the tv which I couldn’t with a ds or any of the game boy version.… Expand
  4. BlockXI
    Jan 31, 2020
    6
    It's Pokémon, which I like and I do enjoy these games. But it's the worst games in the series (except for VGC). No graphical upgrade worth the name, no evolution on gameplay but a new price tag for being on console. I like it, and it's a total cash grab
  5. Arfon
    Nov 30, 2020
    6
    If you're looking for a revolutionary Pokémon game that will take the franchise to its limits, look elsewhere. By buying this $60 game you'll meet with a lot of restrictions that we didn't had in previous games, if you want the complete experience you'll need to pay $90 and the NSO. Is a NO from me. But if you're looking to just play another Pokémon game and that's it, this is your game.If you're looking for a revolutionary Pokémon game that will take the franchise to its limits, look elsewhere. By buying this $60 game you'll meet with a lot of restrictions that we didn't had in previous games, if you want the complete experience you'll need to pay $90 and the NSO. Is a NO from me. But if you're looking to just play another Pokémon game and that's it, this is your game. Despite its many flaws, it is still pretty enjoyable.… Expand
  6. Cross2killer
    Jun 20, 2020
    6
    It's just okay at best. Nothing really to write home about. I cant help but feel like it is a bit of a step back from the older games. I also am a bit worried about what the DLC model will mean for the future of the franchise.
  7. warcraftrefund2
    Jan 26, 2023
    0
    It's 2020, so it is sad how little Pokemon has advanced. The animations are terrible for a game of this budget, and it is even worse that they cut Pokemon for these terrible animations. And it is even worse that the developers would lie about it. They got caught lying saying they were not using old models, when they in fact were. It is a shame what has happened to this series.
  8. danelakeforu
    Dec 17, 2020
    5
    Same old boring formula with a different gimmick and lazy cut scenes without voice acting and charging fees for something which was free in previous generations...and charging extra for a dlc which should've been included in the main game...that's it for me, goodbye Pokemon video game series.
  9. A99wxy
    Jun 23, 2020
    5
    This game costs like a triple A therefore, in my opinion, as such it should be evaluated, therefore, it does not deserve a higher rating than this.

    The game is really disappointing, certainly as a fan of the saga I would have expected a better debut on a console with the capabilities of Nintendo Switch, however, this game not only does not even reach the quality of triple A games like    This game costs like a triple A therefore, in my opinion, as such it should be evaluated, therefore, it does not deserve a higher rating than this.

    The game is really disappointing, certainly as a fan of the saga I would have expected a better debut on a console with the capabilities of Nintendo Switch, however, this game not only does not even reach the quality of triple A games like Zelda, Mario Odissey, Dragon Quest 11 etc. but it has some mechanics that just don't work.

    The only reasons I didn't give a minor grade are:
    the design and the values ​​of many new pokemon introduced, really interesting (but after all this is an advantage of the whole brand not of sw / sh), the new dynamax mechanics (which is actually not so original but it works), the new metagame and the new features introduced for some time by competitive players (even if I'm not one of them).

    For the rest, however, the game really has problems everywhere. Among the problems there are:

    - the really low technical and graphic level, not in step with the times and not comparable with what a triple A should offer today (poorly detailed textures, bad animations);

    - a level design that is too linear and flat and which eliminates the exploratory component of the title.

    -a setting and a loore with interesting ideas but often left to chance and treated superficially;

    - a story that is too linear, without feelings and tension and in general told badly. There is an absence of cutscene and dubbing.

    -the total absence of valid secondary and postgame activities and missions, present in every jrpg worthy of the name.

    - an excessively low level of challenge, even lower than the previous chapters of the saga. Leveling up is too easy but not only, even completing the pokedex is now very easy (even the rarest pokemon such as Lucario and Tyranitar can be found walking through the Wild Areas).

    - the bad online system prevents you from enjoying mechanics like raids etc. without problems.

    In general, the lack of attention to detail that the game denotes is evident. It has at its base interesting ideas which, however, are left to themselves and not completed.

    I do not want to express myself about the dlc because they must be evaluated apart in my opinion, however, just because they are products separate from the base games and must be bought separately, it does not make sense to say that they solve the situation of the base games. In other words the dlc will not be able never justify the purchase of sword and shield pokemon.

    From Gamefreack I expect more on Nintendo Switch.    … Expand
  10. RetroThunder
    Mar 30, 2020
    7
    Pokémon Sword and Shield aren't the best games in the series, but they're not "bad" either. It can be seen at first glance that Game Freak has not made a 100% effort to develop them, but in the end they have ended with a good result. I can understand that a section that has bothered me a lot during the game is the graphics, obviously they do not take advantage of the full capacity of thePokémon Sword and Shield aren't the best games in the series, but they're not "bad" either. It can be seen at first glance that Game Freak has not made a 100% effort to develop them, but in the end they have ended with a good result. I can understand that a section that has bothered me a lot during the game is the graphics, obviously they do not take advantage of the full capacity of the Nintendo Switch and there are situations in which they are horrible, but there are also places that look beautiful (especially when they are affected by climates), but would rather have spent more time on visual improvement. Game Freak is supposed to have made a "mistake" when launching these games, and it is the lack of the National Pokédex. Most people have complained about this, but to me it seems like the biggest nonsense in the world. There are almost 1,000 Pokémon in the entire series, and I, with almost 100 hours of play, have not managed to catch the 400 that have left. I don't know if I'm a noob or something, but I'm sure of one thing, and that is that with the amount of content the game has, it lasts for many hours. If Game Freak were to continue the tradition of the National Pokédex, there would be a point where it would be impossible to complete the video game, because there are already too many Pokémon. It is true that they have not made the best selection with the Regional Pokédex and that many people do not have their favorite Pokémon in the game (including me), but you have to understand it. Game Freak would take a long time, increasingly to get a delivery of the franchise, and I'm already happy with the content they have brought to this. In addition, the rest of the section are perfect. The history is one of the best that there has been in the entire franchise, and that is why it has sold so much these games. They are worth playing for a fan of the saga and although they are upgradeable they are still recommended for the console. It may not like everyone and I understand that, but it does not deserve criticism as bad as those that have been given by other users of the platform. This upcoming DLC ​​promises to bring even more content to the game and is now worth more than ever. Thus bringing all the Pokémon of the National Pokédex for those who complained. I hope people know how to value these games as they deserve.… Expand
  11. srijansin91
    Nov 21, 2022
    8
    Had a lot of fun completing this thanks to the streamlined box management system and open world exploration with randomly leveled pokemon in the wild. Some more depth or evolution in the story for long time fans tired of formula narrative would have boosted this to 9+ territory.
  12. FloresGamer3010
    Apr 3, 2020
    6
    Pokémon Sword is really disappointing and it doesn’t feel like a Pokémon game. First, the music. It feels so over done and the battle music, just doesn’t sound like battle music at all, more like some theme for a cartoon, I personally liked the way battles felt because of the music, and now they just feel so boring. Second, wild Pokémon aren’t wild encounters anymore, you can just go toPokémon Sword is really disappointing and it doesn’t feel like a Pokémon game. First, the music. It feels so over done and the battle music, just doesn’t sound like battle music at all, more like some theme for a cartoon, I personally liked the way battles felt because of the music, and now they just feel so boring. Second, wild Pokémon aren’t wild encounters anymore, you can just go to the grass and there they are, walking around. After Gen 6 is where it really went down for me, I really dislike how there no gyms in sun and moon, which I’m happy to see brought back. Also the game likes to hold your hand at the beginning of the game, and your rivals comments after any critical hit is unnecessary. I hope that for the next game they stick to their roots and go for a pokemon game that’s not too different from gen 1-6s formulas. I love Pokémon but they way it’s being formed is really disappointing… Expand
  13. brodogger81
    Apr 17, 2020
    6
    Okay game the first run. Looks beautiful during some parts and looks pretty ugly at others. Really inconsistent. Animations are the same way. The "Max Moves" looks really cool alongside a lot of the signature moves that are unique to specific Pokemon. But a lot of the moves (especially moves that're supposed to make physical contact like Double Kick) are really bad. Pokemon almost lookOkay game the first run. Looks beautiful during some parts and looks pretty ugly at others. Really inconsistent. Animations are the same way. The "Max Moves" looks really cool alongside a lot of the signature moves that are unique to specific Pokemon. But a lot of the moves (especially moves that're supposed to make physical contact like Double Kick) are really bad. Pokemon almost look static and feel lifeless during battles too. The GameCube and N64 spinoff games made them feel much more alive.

    There's a lot of cool new ideas like the gym challenges. Game is really linear. Doesn't feel like an adventure and more like a tour. Older games on the Game Boy and DS had more exploration which feels really upsetting. Wild Area is nice at first but once you've explored it all (doesn't take that long) it feels kinda boring. Once you've completed the game there's not much to do except do the boring post game mission, fight through the Battle Tower (pretty underwhelming compared to the Battle Frontier in older games), complete the PokeDex and then shiny hunt if you're into that.

    You can also prepare competitive teams to play on the horrible online system, but considering how easy it is to get hacked Pokemon either through Switch home-brew or especially by generating them on 3DS and then transferring through Pokemon Home, it doesn't make any sense to do the grind when you can just play Pokemon Showdown and get right to the actual fighting (it's free too).

    Tried to play the game again a month after my first play through and I couldn't get myself to go past the 2nd gym. It just wasn't very fun the 2nd time around. Being the first main series Pokemon game on a real console I feel boosted my enjoyment, but if the next Pokemon game on Switch is like this I'm going to be disappointed. If you're not already into Pokemon like me then you might want to skip this one out and maybe play an older (and better) game.    … Expand
  14. ElSmasher
    Apr 20, 2020
    6
    Here, Pokemon Sword / Shield suffers, not from its relatively few flaws, but from the series. The novelty (even if there is the Wilderness), is not really present, RPGs are really too simplistic especially Pokemon, even if in 1996 it could pass, in 2019 it is always repeated. Speaking of the 90s, despite excellent Art Direction, has Zelda Ocarina of Time graphics, just like a weak lifespanHere, Pokemon Sword / Shield suffers, not from its relatively few flaws, but from the series. The novelty (even if there is the Wilderness), is not really present, RPGs are really too simplistic especially Pokemon, even if in 1996 it could pass, in 2019 it is always repeated. Speaking of the 90s, despite excellent Art Direction, has Zelda Ocarina of Time graphics, just like a weak lifespan for a Pokemon. One of the big disappointments for everyone, a little disappointment for me ...… Expand
  15. x2wes
    Apr 24, 2020
    6
    Reasonably fun but missing a lot of the depth and exploration previous Pokemon titles have had. From the starting area to the end of the game, there is one path you do not get a chance to diverge from and routes themselves have limited exploration. In addition, many of the cities are empty, with nothing to do in them. The Wild Area is a good concept with poor execution, and getsReasonably fun but missing a lot of the depth and exploration previous Pokemon titles have had. From the starting area to the end of the game, there is one path you do not get a chance to diverge from and routes themselves have limited exploration. In addition, many of the cities are empty, with nothing to do in them. The Wild Area is a good concept with poor execution, and gets repetitive and boring quickly with the lack of activities to do there. The postgame is almost non-existent and the main game is unusually short. Other than these complaints, the game is mainly fun.… Expand
  16. nightstroller
    Apr 30, 2020
    6
    For what it is, it's okay. I don't think it was worth a full $60, but at least GF went back to the gameplay mechanics of what made pokemon games fun for me growing up. You can actually battle pokemon in the wild, unlike in Let's Go. I'm not judging this game for the things it doesn't have or should have like all of the pokemon, the hide-outs, or any of the other past features. Yes, itFor what it is, it's okay. I don't think it was worth a full $60, but at least GF went back to the gameplay mechanics of what made pokemon games fun for me growing up. You can actually battle pokemon in the wild, unlike in Let's Go. I'm not judging this game for the things it doesn't have or should have like all of the pokemon, the hide-outs, or any of the other past features. Yes, it would be ideal to have all previous bells and whistles with this game, but for what it is, it's mildly enjoyable and imo better than Let's Go.

    For their next foray with the switch, I hope GF can take a good look at what a good majority of their audience wants and actually, simply, do that. It should not be all that hard to make a slam-dunk of a Pokemon game for the switch, but GF has shown us (with the right development team) it can be.    … Expand
  17. Melon_man
    May 7, 2020
    7
    Decent and enjoyable pokemon game, but needs improvement for a switch game.
  18. Zezuca
    Jun 2, 2020
    6
    I've played every single Pokémon release since Red and Blue. While this game is not worse than Sun/Moon or X/Y, it's certainly lackluster and disappointing, all things considered.

    The new "dynamax" mechanic is gimmicky and doesn't change gameplay a lot. As the story progress and the player gets stronger, dynamaxing is unnecessary, since the battles are child-like easy. The story is    I've played every single Pokémon release since Red and Blue. While this game is not worse than Sun/Moon or X/Y, it's certainly lackluster and disappointing, all things considered.

    The new "dynamax" mechanic is gimmicky and doesn't change gameplay a lot. As the story progress and the player gets stronger, dynamaxing is unnecessary, since the battles are child-like easy. The story is nothing to write home about, pretty standard Pokémon plot. The characters are certainly likable and the dialogues can sometimes be interesting or funny, especially Sonia's lines.

    But none of those things were the main selling points of the series. Exploration and monster-collecting are the two pillars that the franchise should never drift away from. Unfortunately, this iteration really disappoints the players who enjoyed travelling through the past game's locations: like Sun and Moon, this has nearly no depth and all the paths are linear, no mazes or challenging locations. If rushed through, this game can be finished in less than 20 hours.

    The gym challenge is as easy as it has never been before. Even considering the dynamax mechanics, I couldn't elongate the battles to enjoy the good music, because one-hitting every single Pokémon is a given. This is a pattern that goes all the way through the champion. Mash A with a right type matchup and the job is done. This is a good welcome for newcomers, but adds absolutely no value for old-timers like me.

    Now, the graphics. They are not beautiful. All houses' interiors are the same. Textures are bad and this game feels like an upscaled 3ds title a lot of times. Surely, there are some stunning places and routes, but you'll not spend more than 30 minutes to pass through those. Overall, the graphics are really lackluster, plenty of recycled animations and assets are not balanced by the nice art style.

    The music is very nice, and keeps up to the series' good standards.
    Pokémon camp and curry aren't really exciting as I expected them to be. Pokémon don't really have unique interactions and the whole Camp thing seems buggy and rushed. The curry gimmick has no depth, and it gets repetitive really fast. It did not make me want to complete the "curry dex", since the whole mechanic is basically combining random ingredients with berries then proceeding to the minigame.

    The one thing this game nearly nailed where the raids: a really cool new way of getting Pokémon and a new breath of fresh air in the franchise, completing the Pokédex was a fun challenge, trying to change the raids and looking for new monsters everyday. The problem lies in the NPCs that fight alongside you in singleplayer: they are absolute thrash. Those bots hinder the player more than helps, as they keep dying, which leads to failure in defeat the raid. It's a problem especially after the 5th badge, and the steep difficult between 4* and 5* battles turn the previously fun (but repetitive) battles in frustrating experiences for those who don't usually play online.

    Now, for the multiplayer features: seems like the developers tried to emulate a MMORPG in the Wild Area, but the game absolutely suffers when connected to the internet, with gross frame drops and severe stuttering. The stamp system is buggy and not a good way to connect to other players, but there are no alternatives. Often, the game'll display outdated stamps of events (raids, battle, trades) that are not up anymore, and delays in updating the invitations are a given.

    The main problem is that the overall quality drops significantly after the 4th badge, and the game starts to feel rushed and unpolished. Up to this point, the experience is actually quite good and entertaining. Then, everything feels rushed and repetitive. Some cities are no more than a single street with a pokémon center.

    This is the weakest Pokémon release since X/Y. Also, for those who actually completed the National Dex, a staple in the franchise's history, the feature is now locked into yet another paywall, alongside Wonder Trade: Pokémon Home.

    It's no better than a 3ds title, even though it costs more and runs on a way stronger device. The problems of this game lies not on what it is, but on what it could have been.    … Expand
  19. notakid
    May 20, 2020
    2
    How anybody who's been a fan of the pokémon games for a long time can excuse big flaws of these games is truly beyond me. All of the criticism directed towards the developer is fully justified seeing as the complaints have to do with things that could have been implemented in such a way to increase everyone's satisfaction with the games.

    Higher quality and more advanced animations? An    How anybody who's been a fan of the pokémon games for a long time can excuse big flaws of these games is truly beyond me. All of the criticism directed towards the developer is fully justified seeing as the complaints have to do with things that could have been implemented in such a way to increase everyone's satisfaction with the games.

    Higher quality and more advanced animations? An option to turn off the EXP. Share that is making the game too easy even for a small child? Having all the previous pokémon included in the game, seeing as we know they have the models for them? All of these suggestions, do they hurt you? Is this sort of criticism "unfair" or "exaggerated"? Who do you think you are to decide what is "reasonable" criticism? The fact is, these things clearly matter to the majority of user reviews - looking at the user score clearly reveals that. If you can't handle people disliking a game you yourself like then, man, life has to be very difficult for you. Implementing these suggestions would hurt nobody. The games would be of a higher quality.

    There are many more reasons as to why users dislike these games, just have look at the reviews, but one thing is for certain: Game Freak is a lazy developer who is not to be trusted, considering all the lies that have been spouted.    … Expand
  20. priZ_Ex
    Jun 4, 2020
    6
    Pokemon Sword and Shield is the 8th generation of Pokemon games. For me, the game lacked any challenge, the exp. share makes the game easier then it needs to be. The story is okay for the most part, if played in one sitting it can be very short. Post-game there isn't much to do. You have the real short and tedious post story, and that's about it. The wild area is neat with it's camera andPokemon Sword and Shield is the 8th generation of Pokemon games. For me, the game lacked any challenge, the exp. share makes the game easier then it needs to be. The story is okay for the most part, if played in one sitting it can be very short. Post-game there isn't much to do. You have the real short and tedious post story, and that's about it. The wild area is neat with it's camera and the raids that can be held there. The cities and certain other places do have vibrant colors and some places do not. The mechanics are basically the same with new items, and Pokemon. The game doesn't feel like it's worth $60 dollars, more like $40. Hopefully the expansion makes up for the lackluster story.… Expand
  21. Aaa4
    Jun 16, 2020
    2
    Wow i got mad seeing how this game turned out, i shouldn't really say anything because other people alredy said it. It's the shame of the franchaise
  22. timren1
    Jun 19, 2020
    1
    Franchise ruined by GreedFreak who refuse to put any effort into their games anymore and push out games every year like it's Call of Duty. Pokemon died after Gen 4.
  23. FrasierKrane
    Aug 15, 2020
    7
    This game is simply too easy. The first time I played it was almost insane just how easy this game was, so I restarted it and had a playthrough without *any* items except pokeballs and a thunderstone. Even then, it was too easy. This game makes ORAS look like darksouls. However, this game has some great parts about it. The post-game was surprisingly epic, if a bit extra, and theThis game is simply too easy. The first time I played it was almost insane just how easy this game was, so I restarted it and had a playthrough without *any* items except pokeballs and a thunderstone. Even then, it was too easy. This game makes ORAS look like darksouls. However, this game has some great parts about it. The post-game was surprisingly epic, if a bit extra, and the wild-area was a great addition. exploring cities are fun, and everything about Spikemuth I like. Spikemuth is just so unique, it was quite refreshing. It kept the good of the Sun and Moon changes and left the bad, what more could you ask? I also personally like how challenging the Champion changed, that was quite an unexpected bit of fun. Cut-scenes are very boring in the game, I had to switch movies off and I'm very glad I did.… Expand
  24. lokip1983
    Jun 18, 2020
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. i was looking forward to sword i even got a new poke-ball to get mew, when i seen the expansion coming out i knew i had to get it when i seen legend Pokemon out i knew it was going to be good but i was mistaken i completed the first map in 4 hours ive not seen any legends in my game but when i play the battle raids i seen people use legend Pokemon thats not even out yet is it worth it NO is it worth the money NO, they need to put more Pokemon legends in there like i said ive not got one im not looking forward to the 2nd part of the new map the crown tundra.... so disappointing… Expand
  25. mpesk
    Jun 21, 2020
    8
    good game, the new pokemon and artworks look good. During the campaign there's an actual story consistently present. The rivals during the story have their own personality, which is characterized quite good, more than the latest games for sure. The whole concept of gym challenges is a bit refreshed and enhanced, thanks to the dynamax feature too. The post game is almost existent, it triesgood game, the new pokemon and artworks look good. During the campaign there's an actual story consistently present. The rivals during the story have their own personality, which is characterized quite good, more than the latest games for sure. The whole concept of gym challenges is a bit refreshed and enhanced, thanks to the dynamax feature too. The post game is almost existent, it tries to hide it with the dynamax raid and the release of new form, sometimes it makes it, sometimes not. It's perfect for competitive pokemkn, by speeding the process of making pokemon for official competitions. On the graphic side there some losses, some bad animations and some textures are not so good, especially if compared with the 3d models of the pokemon, which are well made and good looking. Dven the online is messy and not so well managed. In the complex is a good game, with some fresh air contents that I hope will be expanded in the future.… Expand
  26. Lazariyo
    Jun 21, 2020
    8
    There are a lot of missed opportunities in the main story, but where it lacks in that is compensated by a lot in other aspects: The game is very accesibleis in building competitive teams, the music is top notch as always, the environments and landscapes are diverse and beautiful, gym battles are the most immersive of the entire series and of course the wild area and max raid battles.
  27. Kotoxfi
    Jun 21, 2020
    3
    They had a big chance to make this a great pokemon game, but choose not to. There are so many bad decisions made by the developers. I can't recommend this game.
  28. Ultra-cesar
    Jun 21, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Realmente la falta de una pokedex nacional, una historia muy corta y villano deplorable me hacen cuestionar si valio la pena comprar el juego, pero no todo es malo, las mecanicas de los dinamax es bastante interesante y le da un sabor dirente tanto a las batallas de gym y las batallas para consegir el titulo.
    Sin embargo tengo que resaltar que pudo ser mejor y tener un mejor desarrollo como juego en todos sus aspectos.    … Expand
  29. K3vher
    Jun 21, 2020
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. El juego me aburrió al empezar con tanta cinemática, al juego le falta dificultad y mejores rivales, me preocupa que los siguientes juegos sean iguales… Expand
  30. Unquer
    Jun 22, 2020
    1
    This game has some good stuff, i actually like the new pokemon designs, the soundtracks are really good, the story even though it felt short, is enjoyable, has some useful new features like the way wild pokemon appear, how ever, these pokemon games are very disappointing, they removed 60% of the pokemon in order to "improve graphics and animations", how ever, the graphics are relativelyThis game has some good stuff, i actually like the new pokemon designs, the soundtracks are really good, the story even though it felt short, is enjoyable, has some useful new features like the way wild pokemon appear, how ever, these pokemon games are very disappointing, they removed 60% of the pokemon in order to "improve graphics and animations", how ever, the graphics are relatively poor, and animations didn't really improve much if any compared to previous games, the post game is really bad, the battle tower is a horrible downgrade from previous ones, no multi battle option here, online multibattles have a horrible system, i personally enjoy doing multibattles in the battle towers with my friends the most in the post game, or being able to queue with a friend to team up against other people online, how ever, this is not possible in these games, they removed features fans love like mega evolutions and Z-moves, they took away options from the players and sold them out as "new features" like forcing you to exp. share, the cities feel empty, overall the game feels rushed and incomplete, as someone who has play pretty much every single pokemon game from the main series, this game was insanely disappointing, it feels like GameFreak does not care about the fans or their games, just about the money… Expand
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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.
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  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]
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