Skylanders Swap Force

 Wii U
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 126 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 126
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 126
  3. Negative: 35 out of 126
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Ivoryoshi
    Nov 21, 2013
    5
    This game was disappointing. I got excited by the swappable figures and the new look of the game I wonder how they went so wrong. This game was hindered by the usual skylanders marketing tactic. For those who are unaware, Activision don't release every figure out at once, instead they split them into waves to keep their consumers coming back. It worked with the other 2 because you couldThis game was disappointing. I got excited by the swappable figures and the new look of the game I wonder how they went so wrong. This game was hindered by the usual skylanders marketing tactic. For those who are unaware, Activision don't release every figure out at once, instead they split them into waves to keep their consumers coming back. It worked with the other 2 because you could get what you needed day one, so then you missed no in game collectable/area. Why it doesn't work here is that each of the swappable skylanders have a certain bottom ability that lets them access mini games. At the end your rewarded with a collectable for that level. They only released five or six at release date and even now we still are missing one being stealth from stink bomb and trap shadow. This may seem like a nit pic but it's drives me insane when I pass by those mini games and know that I can't get everything in the level. Plus this is the first skylander game to have me stop playing before finishing it. The story is average, controls work okay. I think that is what kills this game for me. Everything is okay with a terrible irritating thing that will probably go away soon. They may have gotten the ability to jump and swap but it costs them to make them important to get everything.… Expand
  2. gamemaster01
    Nov 17, 2013
    7
    Skylaners is a good game if u want to burn money through your pocket because this game gives u 3 people to play with and u just want to get more to play with bit that's a bad thing for us but a great thing for the creators because u just want more and the story line isn't that bad but it could be improved because fighting kaos at the end isn't the best way to end all the games I thinkSkylaners is a good game if u want to burn money through your pocket because this game gives u 3 people to play with and u just want to get more to play with bit that's a bad thing for us but a great thing for the creators because u just want more and the story line isn't that bad but it could be improved because fighting kaos at the end isn't the best way to end all the games I think they need more bosses and yes there is kaoses mom but thats kind of like kaos this game is a huge money grabber from the game itself to the 100+ characters that u just need to have so u can do those little things like the secret entrances that required ceirtan typs of elements or taking down that tower thing the range for this game is 5-11.… Expand
  3. Banjo-Reviewee
    Jun 23, 2019
    6
    Honestly a very overrated one, the games did a better job expanding the series potential without becoming horribly bloated with content and becoming overly monetized. The plot is nothing special, stop Kaos and now his mom (I know, the stakes are really higher this time) from kidnapping some people with their legion of purple minions, way better than the last games plot. Gameplay is fineHonestly a very overrated one, the games did a better job expanding the series potential without becoming horribly bloated with content and becoming overly monetized. The plot is nothing special, stop Kaos and now his mom (I know, the stakes are really higher this time) from kidnapping some people with their legion of purple minions, way better than the last games plot. Gameplay is fine enough, its like a LEGO game and is probably meant for children younger than me. Jumping is also new which adds a sort of dodge mechanic, staggering is new as well and makes almost all tanks and giant character unplayable. One of the games most important new feature is portal master rank which was created as a way for Activision to make back the missed toy sales from the last, far superior, Skylanders title. Swap force characters are also a new mechanic with shoe-horned importance, the whole idea of swapping Skylanders is just **** stupid, in a interview with someone who worked on the game its revealed none of the children this game was focus tested with even remotely liked the idea of the swap force Skylanders. Not to mention all the new playable characters are forgettable and uninspired along with the supporting cast, which one member of actually became a recurring character for whatever reason. It sounds like I hate this game but I really don't its just that every Skylanders game before it was far better in almost every way, even then Skylanders as a series is a sleazy cash-cow but at least I'd rather waste my money on a above decent game.… Expand
  4. SgtSocks
    May 12, 2023
    7
    Surprisingly polished game, the graphics look amazing for the Wii U, the gimmick is fun, and characters are memorable. Great game for newcomers to the gaming scene.
  5. ND-Bringer
    Jun 25, 2022
    5
    Skylanders Swap Force represents the 3rd generation of this series. And while it was one my favorite games to play as a kid, overtime it became absent from my memory. Not because it was an abysmal game, but rather because there wasn't much substance to look back on. During the announcement of the 3rd game, fans were greeted with this sweet E3 trailer, where the new Swap Force SkylandersSkylanders Swap Force represents the 3rd generation of this series. And while it was one my favorite games to play as a kid, overtime it became absent from my memory. Not because it was an abysmal game, but rather because there wasn't much substance to look back on. During the announcement of the 3rd game, fans were greeted with this sweet E3 trailer, where the new Swap Force Skylanders performed a fun dance number, while swapping tops and bottoms. After playing two games that focused on heavy fantasy themes, a high-speed adventure with fast paced action sounded like a nice change of pace. But what we got in the end was a pretty over-mellow experience. Nothing in this game gives me any thrills or chills. Even with my zombi-phobia making my heart jump like rabbit, I prefer to play the classic games. Spyro's Adventure and Giants had levels with crisp, elemental themes...mixed in with colorful characters, and cool visuals. Stormy Stronghold, Oil-Spill Island, Cut-throat Carnival, the ghost pirate attack on the Dread-Yact! These kinds of stages weren't afraid to be insane, and it's a treat to show off these experiences to younger audiences. Rather than gives kids a sugar coated experience, these games should focus on delivering crazy extravaganzas mixed in with interesting fantasy theme lore. Appealing both to younger and older audiences. We almost had that here. The story this time around is a vacation-gone-wrong adventure for Flynn. Where you have to explore the Cloudbreak Islands and stop Kaos from corrupting the Elementals. It's not a bad idea, but thematically, the adventure is really weak. Most levels consist of the exact same terrain...and combined with an over saturated new art style, eye-rolling transforms into an emotion. The desert city...the desert junkyard...the desert tunnels...it gets so boring after a while. One of the unique set pieces of this game is petrified darkness. A powerful material that Kaos uses to corrupt the residents of Skylands. And when I mean "residents"...I mean a bunch of random forest animals, the Greeble race, some Kanga-Rats, Glumshanks, and himself. This is one the prime examples of how the creativity of the series "holds back". You could've made chilling moments where Kaos could infect all of the Skylanders closest friends, but all we got was Whiskers the big bird...who I've known for what feels like 20 minutes. It actually makes me appreciate moments from Giants and Superchargers more. While I wouldn't call them incredible stories, they were adventures that didn't insult my intelligence and made me wonder what the next crazy discovery was going to be in Skylands. But here I rarely connect with these characters. I should be intimidated by Kaos' Mom, since she's this ultimate Dark Portal Master, but not only does her character barely appear in the story, she's already defeated by the end of the game. What a waste of interesting character! It's one those gaming experiences that makes one feel disappointed rather than furious with the game design. Besides a few glitches in the Adventure Packs levels, I had know trouble completing this game. It's not like their were no enjoyable moments in this game. I like the strategy with combining the powers of the Swap Force Skylanders, we have another fun "singing" boss fight, enemies now get pissed off when you try to avoid them, and bashing the smaller enemies feels comedic now with the new animations, adding to the enjoyability of the combat system. I won't give too much away if your still curious about what happens in the game and you're expecting less rather than more out of the game, but this bare bones adventure will most likely leave you unsatisfied.… Expand
  6. Lil_Caucasian
    Feb 4, 2022
    7
    Definitely one of the better Skylanders games. The swapping mechanic on the (still expensive) figures is pretty neat.
  7. Wii_u_reviver
    Mar 9, 2022
    5
    SKYLANDERS SWAP FORCE is the finest SKYLANDERS game, and there's nothing else I can say about it.
  8. DolphinReviews
    Jul 21, 2022
    5
    The new gimmick Skylanders are great but the gameplay is pretty generic. The magic from the last game was starting to wear off.

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best Wii U Game of 2013
16
#16 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2013
15
#15 Most Shared Wii U Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    Jan 8, 2014
    80
    Just prepare for a sense of incompletion unless you spend around 70 pounds more than the base price. [Jan 2014, p.74]
  2. AusGamers
    Oct 25, 2013
    91
    Skylanders will be an influential series in years to come and successfully combines real world collectables with a fantastic platformer to deliver a rich and engaging experience.
    Read full review
  3. Nintendojo
    Oct 25, 2013
    83
    Skylanders SWAP Force may seem like a cash grab in some ways, but the game their figures belong to is just so charming and, well, fun, that this doesn’t really seem like an issue. The gameplay’s addictive, the figures are well-built– screw the haters. I’m a Skylanders fan.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »