Pokemon UNITE

 Switch
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70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
3.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 332 Ratings

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  • Summary: Pokémon UNITE is a strategic team battle game being developed jointly by The Pokémon Company and Tencent Games' TiMi Studios. Pokémon UNITE is planned as a cross-platform game for Nintendo Switch and mobile devices and will be free-to-start. In this game, players face off against each otherPokémon UNITE is a strategic team battle game being developed jointly by The Pokémon Company and Tencent Games' TiMi Studios. Pokémon UNITE is planned as a cross-platform game for Nintendo Switch and mobile devices and will be free-to-start. In this game, players face off against each other in 5-on-5 team battles. During battles, players will cooperate with teammates to catch wild Pokémon, level up and evolve their own Pokémon, and defeat opponents' Pokémon while trying to earn more points than the opposing team within the allotted time.

    Pokémon UNITE introduces a new kind of Pokémon battleone that requires teamwork and strategy. It is simple and yet full of intricacies waiting to be unpacked. Be sure to check out the video on this page for the first footage of Pokémon UNITE's gameplay.    … Expand

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It's a 1-Year Anniversary Celebration! | Pokémon UNITE

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. Nintenderos
    Jul 22, 2021
    87
    Pokémon Unite is an almost perfect game, although it can be improved if The Pokémon Company knows how to take advantage of its possibilities. In fact, the future content will determine whether it will be another success of the popular franchise.
  2. App Trigger
    Jul 22, 2021
    85
    Pokemon Unite busts out the gate as a very solid, very easy to pick up and play MOBA game. Even as someone who does not like MOBAs, I found myself getting really into the rounds and figuring out the tools quickly. Cute visuals, fun unlockables and a fun variety of play styles keep matches fresh and a quick chat feature helps avoid the toxicity that normally sticks to MOBAs like glue.
  3. But Why Tho?
    Jul 25, 2021
    80
    Pokemon Unite is a fun, streamlined entry in the MOBA genre. It has something to offer both long-time franchise fans, as well as MOBA players who may be looking for something fun and rewarding, while not demanding their all to keep up with. And since it’s free, if what you have read sounds at all enticing why not give it a try. You don’t even need the Nintendo Switch Online service to play.
  4. PCMag
    Jul 28, 2021
    70
    Pokemon Unite’s familiar faces and approachable mechanics let everyone enjoy the otherwise inscrutable MOBA genre.
  5. Nintendo Enthusiast
    Aug 2, 2021
    70
    Pokémon Unite features simple objectives and an addictive gameplay loop. Some mechanics and certain Pokémon require balancing, but that's how it often goes with online games.
  6. CGMagazine
    Aug 17, 2021
    65
    Pokémon Unite's potential is undermined by its balancing, and might not have enough to offer either of its target audiences.
  7. Screen Rant
    Jul 25, 2021
    40
    While Pokémon Unite offers a new way for fans to enjoy Pokémon battles together, the frustrating limitations created to encourage microtransactions make gameplay less about having fun and more about completing missions for currency. While it may appeal to fans of mobile app-style games with a similar structure, those who want the ability to experience everything Pokémon Unite has to offer without spending money will need to sink a large amount of time into grinding before having the means to truly access most features. With improvements to the ability to earn currency and a better item level system tied to use in battle instead of paid upgrades, Pokémon Unite would be a more enjoyable experience for players.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 48 out of 237
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 237
  3. Negative: 163 out of 237
  1. AbcTheHuman2
    Jul 22, 2021
    10
    I am not a fan of MOBA games or anything, but to be honest, I loved to play this game. It's very fun, it's free (yeah, it has someI am not a fan of MOBA games or anything, but to be honest, I loved to play this game. It's very fun, it's free (yeah, it has some microtransactions, but you can easily play the game without them) and it's also
    very simple to learn how to play it, because it doesn't have any complex mechanic like those we find on another MOBA games, like LOL or Dota.

    I guess it has a lot of potential to be something bigger in the near future.    … Expand
  2. quantum_boolean
    Jul 22, 2021
    8
    Having played 6k hours of Dota and dabbled in LoL, I understand it's quite easy to be elitist and precious about favourite our MOBAs.

    In    Having played 6k hours of Dota and dabbled in LoL, I understand it's quite easy to be elitist and precious about favourite our MOBAs.

    In short, Pokemon Unite is fun:
    - The games are short so you'll never be stuck in hour long toxic games,
    - Tutorial is comprehensive, and you can dive into a game within 15 mins.
    - The characters have distinct roles but the choice in movesets allows for enough variety
    - The controls are relatively easy, especially if you've had experience with the right stick aiming.

    BUT....it's going to cost you in the long run. It's already apparent that Absol, Alohan Ninetales, Pikachu and a couple of others are much better on launch. Unlocking better items costs currency. You won't be able to unlock all of these straight away without grinding so you will be forced to pay money. You have to decide how much the game should cost you, will you get enough enjoyment out of it for the same cost as a triple A game and pay accordingly?

    Tencent has a good product on their hands, but like all MOBAs the introduction new characters and balance patches will determine its future    … Expand
  4. memeSchool
    Jul 25, 2021
    7
    The game is fun. The outfits are cute. But there is one complaint I have. It's missing Ledian with maid outfit. I wonder why they have notThe game is fun. The outfits are cute. But there is one complaint I have. It's missing Ledian with maid outfit. I wonder why they have not added this. This should have been the first thing they had thought of. Why they did not add Ledian maid outfit, I will never know.… Expand
  5. wakingandroid
    Aug 22, 2021
    2
    So I'll start by saying the game is good and fun! Gameplay-wise it's solid and just fun to play.
    I have lots of experience with mobas    So I'll start by saying the game is good and fun! Gameplay-wise it's solid and just fun to play.
    I have lots of experience with mobas including lol, dota, and various mobile games and I've been playing Pokemon unite from release and I've been enjoying it.
    However, the games communication features are almost none existent. You can turn voice on (has to be turned on with every individual game) but in all my games I never once encountered another player who turned it on. There is a wheel to choose from a list of phrases but beyond signalling what lane you're going to it's useless.
    The ranking system is all over the place. It's really hard to make any sense of it at all. Worked my way up to expert rank and even in the expert ranks, I was frequently put into games with four great ranked players. And when I say frequently I mean I could honestly count the times I had a team at my rank on one hand and it just felt unfair at the end of the day. That combined with the lack of communication results in a team that just doesn't have any coordination. Which brings me to the player base.
    Oh boy... Oh dear... Oh man...
    The player base is something else. Even at the higher ranks, I seen afkers all the time! And I'm not exagerating there. It's a real problem. You will encounter many many afks.You'll see people feeding lanes, people running around like headless chickens is a near-constant. I honestly felt like making a public apology to the league of legends community for every bad thing I've ever said about them. You will see some stuff playing this game that I guarantee. From what I gather there are a lot of children playing this game, which is understandable it is a Pokemon game after all. But you will have players doing crazy things and you have no way of trying to communicate to that player at all. It really is the communication features and the mess of a ranking system that is massively letting this game down.    … Expand
  6. Shakomakako
    Sep 12, 2021
    0
    Make Zapdos less decisive
    Buff pokes to make the average better instead of nerfs
    Role limit (3 supports in 1 game?) adjust move targeting    Make Zapdos less decisive
    Buff pokes to make the average better instead of nerfs
    Role limit (3 supports in 1 game?)
    adjust move targeting to make it work.
    Make ranked play feel like ranked play. (no bronze players vs veteran)
    Tweek battle prep menu. (laggy before you even play really?)
    and please, please please give this game to a company that does know how to make a game fun.    … Expand
  7. Starfree
    Jul 30, 2021
    0
    Not only is this a Pay to Win mirco transaction game that is extremely simple. Not only does it have an in game currency system that will beNot only is this a Pay to Win mirco transaction game that is extremely simple. Not only does it have an in game currency system that will be exploited by both the tyrannical company running the game and by hackers. But read the user agreement, just me you want your cards to be connected to the email connected to this game.… Expand
  8. efeylmaz14
    Jul 22, 2021
    0
    I would rather sell my soul to satan than give TENCENT my money or my time.

See all 237 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021