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. Kira-to-zero
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Same kind of game, pros that had previous games cut off, no megas, no z moves, 140 moves cut off, poor animations, less than the half of all the existing Pokemon, cutting the competitive to 40% at the real competitive capacity, I will get yokai watch 4 better graphics and something new, at least soundtrack of pokemon sword is not bad at all. If you have a 3ds and you are considering on selling the 3ds and your previous pokemon games, do not, best to have all the pokemon, and all the features, you don’t have to pay for online, +the pokemon hoe and pokemon bank, at least will pay Around 90 or 100usd. For this pokemon sword or shield and to have the experience incomplete… Expand
  2. Sparkray
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    This game is quite literally unplayable. It has been seen to brick switches, so going into this I was weary. Right at the start the games opening screen was already lagging, so I was prepared for the worst. Upon loading it up, I noticed textures that appeared like they were taken straight from the Nintendo64. I feel ashamed to have spent $60 on this travesty and will refund this game soon.This game is quite literally unplayable. It has been seen to brick switches, so going into this I was weary. Right at the start the games opening screen was already lagging, so I was prepared for the worst. Upon loading it up, I noticed textures that appeared like they were taken straight from the Nintendo64. I feel ashamed to have spent $60 on this travesty and will refund this game soon. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Gamefreak really dropped the ball on this entry in their franchise. The game was insanely easy and took me 15 hours to finish, and I made sure to take my time. I regret playing this!… Expand
  3. EUDASH92
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Simply disappointed in the company many have grown to cherish and respect only for them to betray and backstab the fans with excuses, rushed content, broken content..and cut content. Thank you game freak for showing your true colors by showing the world that you're not any better than Bethesda, EA, Activision, etc
  4. sunsid
    Nov 16, 2019
    6
    The core Pokemon experience remains addicting as ever but the whole experience is marred by mediocre graphics that don't belong on a home console. Despite many moves and pokemon getting cut, the quality of the animation doesn't even match that of the N64 games released eons ago. Most Nintendo games have plenty of attention to detail, but this one completely lacks any of that - one jarringThe core Pokemon experience remains addicting as ever but the whole experience is marred by mediocre graphics that don't belong on a home console. Despite many moves and pokemon getting cut, the quality of the animation doesn't even match that of the N64 games released eons ago. Most Nintendo games have plenty of attention to detail, but this one completely lacks any of that - one jarring example is where shadows are missing/at the wrong place making the character look like they're floating. Dynamax was more fun than anticipated but is extremely limited where it can be used. The Wild Area, the other new thing, is barren and lifeless with pokemon popping out of the ground like they're all Digletts, robotic wingulls that glide without losing height and turn at sharp right angles, N64 era trees and other environmental items that pop in and out of existence. This area could have been like Gormott plains from Xenoblade 2, but completely squanders that opportunity. The cities and routes look graphically impressive but are empty - there's no city that comes close to Castelia City or Lumiose City from previous generations in terms of how lively they were. The music is mostly great as usual. The only good things to say about this game apply to every other game in the series, so you would be better off saving your money and spend it on the games that don't charge you as much. Hell, upscaled Sun/Moon would look as good as this game, so do yourself a favor… Expand
  5. HazeTheHawk13
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Worst game in the series, Short, Linear, outdated graphics, horrible animations, music that sounds like it's from the GBA, extreme amounts of cut content. Poor Design choices such as not being able to catch certain Pokemon without badges even though you can still find and battle them in the wild, no post game content besides a very water down battle tower, non interesting plot, half of theWorst game in the series, Short, Linear, outdated graphics, horrible animations, music that sounds like it's from the GBA, extreme amounts of cut content. Poor Design choices such as not being able to catch certain Pokemon without badges even though you can still find and battle them in the wild, no post game content besides a very water down battle tower, non interesting plot, half of the Pokemon were cut from the game, over 100 cut moves, less then 3 PC boxes of new monsters. False Advertisement, Game Freak and The Pokemon company lied, reused animations and models all from the 3DS. Over All Sword and Shield looks like a upscaled 3DS game but with less content and in no way feels like a console more the Pokemon game that fans deserve.… Expand
  6. SonyBroWhirrrr
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Bad game. It cut 65% of the Pokémon and Moves. It does however have a shiny Sif from Dark Souls on the cover, so it gets a bonus point for that.
  7. Neptuneon08
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Pokémon como uma franquia de mais de 20 anos e mais de 100 jogos entre principais e spin offs, Pokémon Sword/Shield trás progresso gráfico, porém regresso em qualidade... Animações mal feitas e menos da metade dos pokemon existentes fazem com que o game não seja comparável às obras anteriores, uma pena a franquia ter a disposição um console forte como switch e fazer um jogo desse nívelPokémon como uma franquia de mais de 20 anos e mais de 100 jogos entre principais e spin offs, Pokémon Sword/Shield trás progresso gráfico, porém regresso em qualidade... Animações mal feitas e menos da metade dos pokemon existentes fazem com que o game não seja comparável às obras anteriores, uma pena a franquia ter a disposição um console forte como switch e fazer um jogo desse nível baixo.… Expand
  8. Arutar
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Por ser uma nova geração e ser umas das brands mais lucrativas, e estar em uma nova geração poderia ter feito um jogo bem maior e com mais delicadeza
  9. DelightSlurpuff
    Nov 15, 2019
    2
    It's another Sun and Moon, with better graphics, even worse story, worst evil team who aren't even that evil at all...they're just roadblocks. The new features are fun although Soul Silver and Heart Gold did it better. The game itself is a mess. Enjoyable but not worth your money, just like Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee. Not to forget, they lied about making new models. The models are exactly theIt's another Sun and Moon, with better graphics, even worse story, worst evil team who aren't even that evil at all...they're just roadblocks. The new features are fun although Soul Silver and Heart Gold did it better. The game itself is a mess. Enjoyable but not worth your money, just like Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee. Not to forget, they lied about making new models. The models are exactly the same and the company took the fan base for fools. A company that lies to their consumers do not deserve any type of praise or your money. Please, reconsider this and save your money. There's definitely better games coming later on, this one? This one doesn't even comes close to what other switch games have accomplished.… Expand
  10. timmcq1
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Finished in a day, not very good. Don't recommend, play the older games. Basically no story and gameplay is weak. Graphics are very bad.
  11. Lertxundi
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm playing amd I think it is the wors generation of pokemon. You avoid to play if its possible… Expand
  12. Sariith
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Absolutely dissatisfied with how game freak has ruined this game. Horrible excuses for why the game came out like hot garbage
  13. Bbug
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Nada, nos quitan pokemon, personajes sin carisma, historia peor que las anteriores, última generación y es el juego con la historia más corta, nos prometieron menos pokemon para mejor animaciones pokemon, y son animaciones recicladas, mala nota
  14. Ramiro0318
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Mal diseñado, es un reciclaje de sus juegos anteriores pero peor programado
  15. awdwaffges
    Nov 16, 2019
    0
    Cut corners mixed with a predictable story, laziness and stupid features noone asked for. Don't spend any amount of money on this. Even if you get it for free, don't play it because your time is more **** valuable than anything this piece of garbage could provide you.
  16. NoMoreGameFreak
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    This game really sucks. Nothing works: graphically and technically is the worst things in the world with recycled models from a console with the power of 3 generations before, the worst and laziest animations ever and backgrounds designed with Microsoft Power Point. It can't keep 30 fps neither with such terrible graphics. it has so many dangerous bugs. It is the shortest main pokemonThis game really sucks. Nothing works: graphically and technically is the worst things in the world with recycled models from a console with the power of 3 generations before, the worst and laziest animations ever and backgrounds designed with Microsoft Power Point. It can't keep 30 fps neither with such terrible graphics. it has so many dangerous bugs. It is the shortest main pokemon title ever. Extremely easy, stupid dialogues, stupid characters and stupid plot. The new pokemons suck for the most part. Dynamax mechanic is terrible for design and competitive use and takes the place of the much more better mega evolutions. I could continue for 3 hours but I don't have so much time to waste on writing for this stupid game. All of this is enough to give 3 out of 10, but considering that pokemon is the most "rich" franchise in the world, it make that 3 points of mercy disappear. Game Freak has been terribly lazy and not respectful for the franchise and the gamers too, saying fake things to fool all of us. Nintendo absolutely have to change the team for the development to someone more capable of (practically, anyone but Game Freak; also a 3 years old child). Don't buy this game: we are tired to be mocked like this. Time to avenge our dignity.… Expand
  17. HikariSouji
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. La saga de pokemon viene arrastrando problemas desde mucho antes y todos sus problemas terminan culminando en este título que carece de 600 pokemon, que sus creadores no se tomasen en serio la saga mintiendo sobre los modelados de los pokemon desde cero y que Masuda diga cosas como" a día de hoy las personas no tienen mucho tiempo para los videojuegos" a modo de excusa para acortar un juego es triste para uno como fan, recuerdo que la excusa que tuvimos cuando salió pokemon oras y no contaba con el frente batalla fue, los jugadores no hubieran apreciado el frente batalla.
    Cuando caminas por el mapa pareciera un atelier de lo vacío que está, como si no estuviese acabado, el hecho de poner una mecánica como dinamax, eliminando las megas y movimientos z que son mucho mejores que ver a los pokemon en grande, me pone triste pensar en el remake de la 4ta generacion (cada consola tiene un remake), y que excluyan a pokemones que tuvimos en su tiempo.
    Para acabar, muchos jugaban pokemon como modo casual y no quedran atrapar a todos los pokemon y solo a sus favoritos y ahora ni eso será posible si tu favorito o el de tu amigo ya ni siquiera esten    … Expand
  18. lokize
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Nintendo está decepcionando os players a muito tempo, tem que acordar ou vai matar a franquia pokemon e outras...
  19. hanono
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    By far the worst entry in the series yet. Pokemon cut, features cut, moves cut and much more with nothing to replace it with. Graphics look like a polished GameCube game at best. Framerate routinely goes through the floor for no discernible reason whatsoever. Massive disappointment and a hideous step back for this series.
  20. Ender7887
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    I was excited for this game, I didn’t mind the dexit controversy and was ready to start fresh. I’ve had numerous issues with this game. The game has crashed multiple times. Outside of that it has the same old charm as the old Pokémon games, you start in your hometown, pick a starter, etc. The oversold feels dead and abandoned, I was expecting the overworld to be similar to Pokémon let’sI was excited for this game, I didn’t mind the dexit controversy and was ready to start fresh. I’ve had numerous issues with this game. The game has crashed multiple times. Outside of that it has the same old charm as the old Pokémon games, you start in your hometown, pick a starter, etc. The oversold feels dead and abandoned, I was expecting the overworld to be similar to Pokémon let’s go. The overworld Pokémon models don’t flap their wings and randomly pop in and out. I’ve had some really strange issues like having all black backgrounds during wild encounters, and different overworld weather effects. There’s a lot of hand holding, and honestly without all the cutscenes this game would’ve only taken about 8 hours to beat. The game is incredibly easy, there were times when I was 10-15 levels above my rivals Pokémon. For some reason there is no way to turn off the exp
    Share. A game decision that really confused me was the lack of the gts. I used the gts to complete my Pokédex in Pokémon sun and moon, so the exclusion of it makes it significantly harder to complete the Pokédex. The battle animations seem to be the same as the ones from Pokémon sun and moon. The character animations seem dead. The sound track is lack luster and the box legendaries lack a unique theme. Past Pokémon games had much better gameplay, and overall feel to them. I’m very disappointed with this game and plan on returning it. This game has the charm of past Pokémon games but lacks the polish that Pokémon had in the past.    … Expand
  21. Na7uree
    Nov 15, 2019
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have to be honest...I do like what they were going for but it’s so obvious they were trying to rush the game out before Christmas for the ultimate cash grab. I purchased the double pack but once I finish them I’ll go right back to Ultra Sun and Moon. It’s obvious they lied directly to our faces and sorry no one will shame me into praising that type of behavior. The launch of a game matters. #gamefreaklied… Expand
  22. Astrojj
    Nov 15, 2019
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I understand it can be a fun game for casual players, but it's a cancer for longtime fans. Poor graphics, boring OST, bad storyline, annoying rival and professor, too much cutscenes, lack of villains, no Elite 4, the postgame is disappointing, moves removal, can't turn off Exp. Share, same models from 3DS games, no nationaldex... At least the new Pokémons are nice and the character design as well, the Gyms are very good, Gigantamax is an interesting feature and the wild area is cool.… Expand
  23. drowzeem
    Nov 15, 2019
    2
    Easy to the point of extreme boredom. Amazing to see all the people waiting in line for their games in many places with no children in sight....and the game easy as can be for a bunch of adults.... people have been asking to be able to set difficulty for years and nothing. Gamefreak just doesn’t care, they don’t know their audience....they don’t want to know their audience....their onlyEasy to the point of extreme boredom. Amazing to see all the people waiting in line for their games in many places with no children in sight....and the game easy as can be for a bunch of adults.... people have been asking to be able to set difficulty for years and nothing. Gamefreak just doesn’t care, they don’t know their audience....they don’t want to know their audience....their only goal is children children children, news flash KIDS DONT CARE ABOUT POKEMON! Also A Pokemon game without all the Pokemon. Sad excuses. Gamefreak is Indeed doing the least possible. Erasing Pokemon to then release them as new as Go is doing. Erased features like megas (loved by people) couldn’t not care less about Z moves. Pokemon Amie gone. Your pokemon feel farther than ever. Not even “touch animation” on pokemon summary. Sad postgame. Out of place third legendary in BEN 10 style...… Expand
  24. bkash
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    I loved every past gen, including even gen 6, and 7. But this one I actually legitimately dislike.
    Gamefreak's excuse was always that they had to work with handhelds, but even now that they have a full on console they are still producing underwhelming content. This is litterally the largest and most grossing franchise in the whole world, and yet the mainline games, the thing that started    I loved every past gen, including even gen 6, and 7. But this one I actually legitimately dislike.
    Gamefreak's excuse was always that they had to work with handhelds, but even now that they have a full on console they are still producing underwhelming content. This is litterally the largest and most grossing franchise in the whole world, and yet the mainline games, the thing that started the whole franchise sucks. Here are some of my criticisms:
    They entirely removed over 60% of the Pokemon, something no other mainline Pokemon game has done.
    They removed over 100 moves
    You cant turn off exp share
    Most opponents are under leveled.
    The game has 4 hours of cutscenes, most are unskippable
    The region is INCREDIBLY linear, it has litterally no dungeons and most paths are straight ways
    The cutscenes arent even animated properly, the turning animation for the pokemon and characters dont even exist. Thier model just spins while doing its forward walking animation.
    The models and animations are the exact same, despite gamefreak saying they had remade them all.
    The game is suuper short
    Hop is litterally just Hau with a new model, he even has the exact same animations copypasted.
    The wild area is really bland
    The battle background doesnt even change according to the place, sometimes it doenst even exist.
    They entirely cut out Megas and Z moves
    The landscape of the game looked unfinished.
    No following pokemon, despite the last game having it.
    Theres more but I'm just wasting my time at this point.    … Expand
  25. BlackGus144
    Nov 15, 2019
    0
    Pokémon Sword & Shield en resumidas cuentas: Crónica de una estafa anunciada.
  26. GERKamil
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Viel zu einfach, viel zu kurz. Nach knapp zwei Tagen spielen schon ein Pokemon auf Stufe 100 gebracht und alle Orden gesammelt. Langweilig, sehr lineare Story, aufgrund von mittelgroßen freien Fläche wo man die meisten Pokemon trifft ist reisen unnötig. Der versprochene Tag und Nacht Wechsel tut nichts zur Sache, da wäre ein Real-Time Tageszyklus wie bei Animal Crossing interesannter.
  27. Electabuzz26
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    Just a lazy Game, with a lazy new dynamic with no sense at all. A bittersweet story, with not new content, and a pretty bad ending which gives you an idea of a sequel or maybe a third game adding all of this cause the game is not complete.
  28. Weird-Wizard
    Nov 15, 2019
    2
    If this was some indie RPG effort, maybe one of the other less successful monster collecting games, this game would deserve maybe a 6 or a 7 score. It has some charming moments, some nice features, but some really distracting and irritating flaws.

    But this is a Pokemon game. One of the most financially and critically successful media franchises ever. It should be better than this, and    If this was some indie RPG effort, maybe one of the other less successful monster collecting games, this game would deserve maybe a 6 or a 7 score. It has some charming moments, some nice features, but some really distracting and irritating flaws.

    But this is a Pokemon game. One of the most financially and critically successful media franchises ever. It should be better than this, and fans deserve better than this. We should not be paying double the price for half the game, graphics barely better than the previous portable console, and literally dozens of fan favorite creatures indefinitely unplayable and unusable.

    I say this out of love for the franchise, having owned, played, and beaten every mainline entry and never having been this disappointed before. You can do better than this, Game Freak. And for the sake of both the fans and the company, I hope that you pull up your socks and deliver better products in the future.    … Expand
  29. icarols
    Nov 15, 2019
    3
    All the game is poor optimized and no national dex. No way to play this. Pokémon deserves better!
  30. TheAniviaOTp
    Nov 15, 2019
    1
    It's not a good game, not for Pokemon fans at least,
    maybe if you never played a game before or you are a kid ,you probably won't care, but the fans, the people that spend a lot of time with their game , will not like it as it is lacking a lot of content past the main story.
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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 »