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. Agentep99
    Sep 9, 2023
    3
    While a game's graphics being hyper realistic may not make it necessarily a better game, looking like sh*t DOES make it a worse game, with the smooth models contrasting with the terrible looking geometry, which constantly takes you out of what should be an exciting world of adventure; the game is way too easy, and lets you level up way too easily, which discourages intelligent play, sinceWhile a game's graphics being hyper realistic may not make it necessarily a better game, looking like sh*t DOES make it a worse game, with the smooth models contrasting with the terrible looking geometry, which constantly takes you out of what should be an exciting world of adventure; the game is way too easy, and lets you level up way too easily, which discourages intelligent play, since the result will always be the same (victory), something that could have saved this would have been giving the player huge amounts of liberty so that every playthrough has the potential to be different, however, progression is EXTREMELY railroaded, and only lets the story play out in one specific way, not only that, but certain mons can only be obtained later on, which makes it so most players will have a similar selection of monsters throughout the game, even though the appeal of pokemon is all about making your own unique team. As it is, there really isn't much of a reason to do replays (aside of player imposed challenges, but that is besides the actual game), so in my perspective I don't really see a way to call this game anything other than "bad" or "dull" much less "good"
    Dull and uninspired 3.5/10    … Expand
  2. TreasureOrTrash
    Sep 8, 2023
    0
    Trash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  3. BasilZero
    Sep 4, 2023
    9
    Game: Pokemon Sword
    Genre: RPG
    Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo System: Nintendo Switch Year of Release: 2019 Length of Playthrough: 62 Hours Total Score: 90/100 Value Score: 9/10 • Story: 9/10 • Characters: 9/10 • GamePlay: 8/10 • Graphics: 7/10 • Sound: 9/10 • Music: 10/10 • Length: 10/10 • Replay Value: 10/10 • Player Value: 8/10 Pros +First TV console    Game: Pokemon Sword
    Genre: RPG
    Developer: Nintendo
    Publisher: Nintendo
    System: Nintendo Switch
    Year of Release: 2019
    Length of Playthrough: 62 Hours

    Total Score: 90/100
    Value Score: 9/10

    • Story: 9/10
    • Characters: 9/10
    • GamePlay: 8/10
    • Graphics: 7/10
    • Sound: 9/10
    • Music: 10/10
    • Length: 10/10
    • Replay Value: 10/10
    • Player Value: 8/10

    Pros
    +First TV console based Pokemon game
    +Storyline changed like the last few games, gym challenges and progression differs from older games
    +OST has a lot of great tracks
    +Base game takes at least 45 hours and additional content can add another 10-15 hours. Plenty of side stuff to do after all the main adventure is done.
    +Access to a lot of legendaries (but only through DLC)

    Cons
    -Resolution for docked is at 1080p but drops down to 720p in certain parts of the game
    -Resolution is worse portable starting at 720p and dipping lower in certain parts of the game
    -Game runs at 30 FPS but can drop down to 20 fps regardless of whether its portable or docked
    -Not all Pokemon are obtainable/usable in Sword even if you use Pokemon Home hence no National Dex.
    -Dynamax battles can be annoying if you are depending on AI allies
    -Sound effects from previous Pokemon games re-used instead of remade for older Pokemon.
    -Online MP tied down to subscription service (NSO)    … Expand
  4. Kirbo1777
    Aug 23, 2023
    3
    The game is pretty easy, not requiring any skill to beat it. The skip cutscenes option doesn't even skip the entirety of the cutscenes.
  5. Diogo2008
    Aug 20, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fantástico jogo, tem uma bela mecânica e os melhores gráficos que a série de Pokémon poderia ter. A duração do jogo varia se queres completar o modo história ou completar todo o jogo. ...........................,jhdududhhdhduduehgeududhdhjdjdhdhdhdudjndheudidhgshs jhdududhhdhduduehgeududhdhjdjdhdhdhdudjndheudidhgshs jhdududhhdhduduehgeududhdhjdjdhdhdhdudjndheudidhgshs jhdududhhdhduduehgeududhdhjdjdhdhdhdudjndheudidhgshs hdhdhdhhdhd hdhdhdhhdhd hdhdhdhhdhd hdhdhdhhdhdhdhdggfjcdhhdysysyaudjdudusuddusuusjdjdjddjjdjxjxjxjxjxxjjxkx gxjjxjxjxjxjzjzjxudid… Expand
  6. Santa-zero
    Aug 20, 2023
    6
    Nowadays, this game is not that harmful to pick up. But it skip it regardless. It adds nothing to the franchise.
  7. Ihtayt
    Aug 16, 2023
    4
    Summing up some bulletpoints on my thoughts of the game below, for reference this is after beating both ScVi 3 times and going back to SwSh after. I did not get / play the DLC as the base game offered so little there was no incentive to prolong this.

    Game is always on local wireless, this massively hinders connecting to wifi as it will frequently bug out and fail to connect to network    Summing up some bulletpoints on my thoughts of the game below, for reference this is after beating both ScVi 3 times and going back to SwSh after. I did not get / play the DLC as the base game offered so little there was no incentive to prolong this.

    Game is always on local wireless, this massively hinders connecting to wifi as it will frequently bug out and fail to connect to network after the game is open. This feels like a massive oversight for something that the developers forced on the game.

    Gameplay is very linear, moreso than Gen 2 and possibly even more linear than Gen 1 which is a very sad downgrade. The main story only took me roughly 20-24 hours to beat and the postgame did not offer much more; at what I feel was a moderate play pace.

    Postgame- After beating the game, gameplay massively falls off and feels very unmotivating. Farming the battle tower may appeal to some, but its gatekept behind needing to clear the BT for the currency (BP) to get the items that you need to clear the BT; which feels very outdated and counter-intuitive. You can clear all / most of the tower with provided rental teams which further detracts from the experience as by time you can make your own team with your own mons, you already beat everything. You can aim to complete the pokedex, breed, and shiny hunt; but this is nothing new or exciting from previous games really; and aside from team building for the BT it feels pretty pointless to build up mons. The game introduced raid dens, but they didn't feel at all appealing personally.

    Performance - I've encountered more performance issues with SwSh (~40hrs) than I ever did with ScVi (>1000hrs).    … Expand
  8. Wunpleum
    Aug 15, 2023
    6
    Since The last time I played Pokemon is Black & White 2, This is the fantastic one that brings back my memories. It is really enjoyable and the mechanic is really improved but the story is below average. Black & White still the best in term of story
  9. Eyean
    Aug 5, 2023
    4
    This is what you get when you prioritize game sales over making an actual good game. Cutting the National Dex in exchange for "Improved graphics and animations" was the most egregious lie this company's ever told.
  10. OrangeRood
    Jul 30, 2023
    7
    I love Pokemon but this is just not it. It feels like a cashgrab which is unfortunate.
  11. voiceofreason69
    Jul 22, 2023
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It ain't THAT bad, just... a bit too packed with non-important trash story that absolutely nobody cares about, its addicting in the wild area, but the story is garbage, and if your going to be trying to progress through it, quit around the 6th badge, its not worth it, only after getting badge 2, badge 6, and beating the game, will the story matter at all/ impact the gameplay. 6/10 meh game overall, story = trash, other= good, game= mixed… Expand
  12. Rhex98
    Jul 9, 2023
    5
    El juego salió bastante mal para haber saltado a la Nintendo Switch, no quisieron entregar un producto con una calidad conforme al potencial de la consola, habiendo juegos como Zelda Breath of the Wild es inaceptable que salga un juego tan roto, es completamente lineal, las animaciones son penosas, contenido recortado, historia mediocre. este juego pasa sin pena ni gloria. Eso sí, eh deEl juego salió bastante mal para haber saltado a la Nintendo Switch, no quisieron entregar un producto con una calidad conforme al potencial de la consola, habiendo juegos como Zelda Breath of the Wild es inaceptable que salga un juego tan roto, es completamente lineal, las animaciones son penosas, contenido recortado, historia mediocre. este juego pasa sin pena ni gloria. Eso sí, eh de admitirse que es divertido no deja de ser un Pokémon, como alguien que disfruta mucho de la franquicia me divertí jugándolo, pero me da pena en lo que se ha convertido, sin duda se extraña la época de la Nintendo DS… Expand
  13. KawaiiDude
    Jun 30, 2023
    9
    Great game. Love the atmosphere of the game and the Music. Generally a good pokemon game that gives me PokemonXY vibes (good vibes lmao). Better than Sun/Moon and Scarl./Violet. The Characters are also good, but I miss a antiteam/villan and the story is kinda short
    Give it a 9.
  14. Maki89
    Jun 25, 2023
    7
    Not the best pokemon out there but i still enjoyed it. Its always fun to capture and traine your pokemon :).
  15. Resoul
    Jun 21, 2023
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There are parts of the story that could have been great if written well but sadly most of the writing is pretty bad i mean iv read bad hentai and supernatural fanfics that are better written then the post game like for real how weren't those two and the girl from the lab that helped them put in jail right away, they broke well over ten laws and not once did anyone try to put them in jail were the guy who did go to jail didn't really brake any laws and was trying to do the right thing unlike tho two who were just trying to put themselfs on the throne… Expand
  16. Mariodeoz
    Jun 11, 2023
    10
    Muy buen juego, excelente historia y muy buenos graficos. Lástima que no hayan incluido toda la pokedex pero aun así no deja de ser un gran juego
  17. tensioly
    Jun 6, 2023
    6
    He sido fan de Pokémon desde Pokémon Blanco y Negro y este juego denota el declive de la saga que ha hido padeciendo los últimos años. No es un mal juego, eso que quede claro. Es más, es bastante disfrutable y te lo vas a pasar bien sin duda con él. El problema es todo el potencial desperdiciado por Game Freak. La historia si se lo hubiese dado otro enfoque más oscuro podría haber quedadoHe sido fan de Pokémon desde Pokémon Blanco y Negro y este juego denota el declive de la saga que ha hido padeciendo los últimos años. No es un mal juego, eso que quede claro. Es más, es bastante disfrutable y te lo vas a pasar bien sin duda con él. El problema es todo el potencial desperdiciado por Game Freak. La historia si se lo hubiese dado otro enfoque más oscuro podría haber quedado mucho mejor y el Área Silvestre si hubiese estado más detallada y decorada habría sido muy buena. Eso sí, el Team de este juego es el peor de la saga sin duda, la dificultad es nula y el diseño de rutas y algunos pueblos es extremadamente pasillero (solo mira Pueblo Crampón que es simplemente una línea recta). Como aspectos positivos destacan los personajes y el principio del juego, además de unas escenas bastante buenas. En el apartado técnico el juego va bastante estable excepto en el Área Silvestre. En definitiva, un juego aceptable que con más trabajo podría haber sido un juegazo. Lo recomiendo para los fans de Pokémon pero para un jugador casual hay opciones mejores. 5,8/10
    (05/2020)    … Expand
  18. ScreenS
    Jun 5, 2023
    9
    If you’re a competitive focused player than this is the Pokémon game for you. All of the negativity only matters if you choose never to play online, which is where 99% of the content is.

    The dex cuts brought a breath of fresh air into the series and removed so much needless bloat. Still one of the best looking 3D games in the series. Dynamax is a fantastic mechanic that combines the best    If you’re a competitive focused player than this is the Pokémon game for you. All of the negativity only matters if you choose never to play online, which is where 99% of the content is.

    The dex cuts brought a breath of fresh air into the series and removed so much needless bloat. Still one of the best looking 3D games in the series. Dynamax is a fantastic mechanic that combines the best of both Megas and Z moves and is more than the sum of its parts.

    Only reason for a 9 instead of a 10 is quite frankly this is the worst starter trio in the series and there is little to go back to after the player base moves on. The Crown Tundra greatly alleviates this but that will revive its own score.    … Expand
  19. miguellopez99
    Jun 1, 2023
    6
    60/100 overhated but still not good .
  20. King187
    May 30, 2023
    10
    The Game was really fun to play and still is. I think that the dex cut was not that a huge problem, because 600 pokemon is a lot.
  21. BadSector
    May 26, 2023
    5
    Extremely disappointing game. Hands down the worst Pokemon game ever. Poor plot and childish puzzles
  22. Napior
    May 19, 2023
    0
    The pokemon designs of the new generation are anything but cute, and the villains in this story can only be described as idiots, if not retarded.

    Also, people are saying the open world makes this game great, but where is the fun when you are lv 20 and enter an area full of lv 50 pokemons? In earlier pokemon games, some areas are not open when you first pass by, which just makes you keep    The pokemon designs of the new generation are anything but cute, and the villains in this story can only be described as idiots, if not retarded.

    Also, people are saying the open world makes this game great, but where is the fun when you are lv 20 and enter an area full of lv 50 pokemons? In earlier pokemon games, some areas are not open when you first pass by, which just makes you keep playing the game while wondering what could possibly be inside that cave (or forest).    … Expand
  23. DeadSmack
    May 17, 2023
    7
    Can't get the hate on this series. The games are GREAT, the online events were great also. The new regional forms are... meh, i don't like the idea of regional forms, but that's me. The story is not that great at all, but it's entertaining at least. Gameplay is fine, the pokedex are great, and the dlc's add the diversity much needed in the game. While they are not the best games of theCan't get the hate on this series. The games are GREAT, the online events were great also. The new regional forms are... meh, i don't like the idea of regional forms, but that's me. The story is not that great at all, but it's entertaining at least. Gameplay is fine, the pokedex are great, and the dlc's add the diversity much needed in the game. While they are not the best games of the series, or in general, great addition to the franchise.… Expand
  24. Bluesifer
    May 14, 2023
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I don’t agree with the haters on this one at all. I think it’s a great hame (with a flawed post game, I hate those twins). If only it allowed Pokémon to follow you.… Expand
  25. Danikyo-Inverso
    May 13, 2023
    10
    De lo mejor en toda la franquicia, y aunque no es tan bueno como la gloriosa 7ma generación, este juego supone un gran paso adelante en el aspecto gráfico y competitivo, con mas de 400 pokémon capturables, uno esta servido en cuanto a contenido se refiere, y aunque muchos digan lo contrario, las animaciones son de lo mejor en la saga
    Artísticamente hermoso.
  26. NylonYT
    May 12, 2023
    4
    yikes, graphics usually dont matter to me but that's if it looks at the very least acceptable. The wild area looks like an n64 game, but at least the towns and indoor areas look very nice. there's not that many new additions which makes this feel like every other pokemon game there is, a stagnating series that cannot innovate and move on.
  27. WohaoGaster
    May 11, 2023
    2
    I got this game at launch and only finished it recently, which shows the amount of boredom that this game causes. It's not broken like Pokemon Scarlet/Violet, it just genuinely isn't fun. There's a mild amount of fun to be had in online battles once you beat the game, but considering how boring the story was and the fact that most of my Pokemon were level 97-ish after beating the 8th gym,I got this game at launch and only finished it recently, which shows the amount of boredom that this game causes. It's not broken like Pokemon Scarlet/Violet, it just genuinely isn't fun. There's a mild amount of fun to be had in online battles once you beat the game, but considering how boring the story was and the fact that most of my Pokemon were level 97-ish after beating the 8th gym, I had very little motivation to actually beat the game. The online battles are the only reason I didn't give it a 0 or a 1. There's also the #BringBackTheNationalDex movement, but it isn't that major, as most people would only like to use a couple of Pokemon that weren't in the game and primarily just their favorites(mine are Snivy and Serperior, who aren't in the game) so it isn't that major for most people to see every Pokemon. They also did a good job preventing pedophilia which is something I shouldn't have to praise Game Freak for but considering the fact that Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl had a pretty easy up-skirt of Dawn in the Overworld who has fully modeled panties even though this was apparently an "Error", I have to praise them for the fact that Gloria has SHORTS(Probably because they're visible in the walk cycle but still). These are the only good points in the game. The game also looks very pixelated, which is a thing that also seemed to happen in the 3DS games but it's more excusable considering the 3DS has a 400px and 800px mode, and it's very hard to use the 800px mode without the 3DS crashing, and the only games that I have seen using 800px mode were 2D games and the Zelda remakes which were 30fps. On the switch it's inexcusable. If DOOM Eternal can run on the switch perfectly with no pixelated rendering and at a consistent 60fps, then why can't this Pokemon game do the same. It looks like a 400px 3ds game. Considering Scarlet/Violet it's entirely possible that Game Freak doesn't know how to handle the Switch, is what I WOULD say if they didn't port Pokken Tournament 2 years earlier, I don't care that it was developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment, if you need a different company to handle your game's graphics, that's totally acceptable and happens all the time. My point might seem invalid to some because I can't even make a simple 3d model of a potted plant, but these are big companies that I'm talking about, and I feel like Creatures should handle Pokemon a lot more closely than just modelling and animation, I feel like they should be the primary graphical team at TPCI.… Expand
  28. Trailblazer34
    May 7, 2023
    5
    Why didn't they cut Quash? They massacred my boys Signal Beam and Mud Bomb, but kept that useless move?
  29. LikeFahrenheit
    Apr 30, 2023
    4
    The idea of developing a home console game when you usually developed games for handhelds, is to make the most of the hardware given to you. to push boundaries and explore new avenues for gameplay and content. If there's one glaring fault with this game, it's that it does not look or play like a game for the Switch. It really feels like Sword was meant to be played on the 3DS, and evenThe idea of developing a home console game when you usually developed games for handhelds, is to make the most of the hardware given to you. to push boundaries and explore new avenues for gameplay and content. If there's one glaring fault with this game, it's that it does not look or play like a game for the Switch. It really feels like Sword was meant to be played on the 3DS, and even then, it would be the worst Pokemon game on that system. That's how disappointing and pedestrian this game is. It screams "safe", which is not what a game from Pokemon should be when starting a new generation on the most powerful hardware the developer has ever worked with.

    The Galar region is the worst designed region in Pokemon. no hidden pathways, no height in routes to give new perspectives, no dungeons, no puzzles, no reason to go back to an area other than filling the pokedex. all routes are linear to the point of boredom. The region is bereft of any sense of adventure or mystery. What adds to this novice level of design is that the angle of the camera isn't in top-down like in previous games. they lowered the angle, which means we see more of the region and routes, which means they look smaller than they are. Which begs the question, why did they lower the camera? if the routes are designed in a very similar style to past regions on the game boy and ds games, why not keep the angle as high as possible? because it's now 3D? it's just poor design.

    The Wild Area (the game's selling point) is grossly stale. Going through it once or twice, you'll get bored there too. The only reason to go there is to catch Pokemon, which can be done in every other area in the game. The only incentive to go there is for the raid battles and interact with other players. There is nothing there that is evident of creativity or uniqueness. There's no hidden areas either, no caves, no grottoes, no secret events or surprises. it's basic, it's nothing. it's a waste of potential. which is a lot of this game.    … Expand
  30. Amcek
    Mar 23, 2023
    3
    Aburridísimo, lo pase todo sin una sola emoción, 0 dificultad. Si tenés entre 2-6 años y nunca jugaste un Pokémon te lo recomiendo
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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 »