Pokemon Sword

 Switch
Pokemon Sword Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 87 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 5872 Ratings

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  • Summary: Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are set in Galar, an expansive region with many environments—idyllic countryside, contemporary cities, thick forests, and craggy, snow-covered mountains. The people and Pokémon live together in this region, and they’ve worked together to develop thePokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are set in Galar, an expansive region with many environments—idyllic countryside, contemporary cities, thick forests, and craggy, snow-covered mountains. The people and Pokémon live together in this region, and they’ve worked together to develop the industries here. You’ll visit the various Gyms in the Galar region, aiming for the enviable and admirable title of Champion. [Nintendo]
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Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield - "Prepare For Battle" Gameplay Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 87
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 87
  3. Negative: 0 out of 87
  1. We Got This Covered
    Nov 27, 2019
    100
    I can’t remember the last time I felt this much joy when playing a video game.
  2. Vooks
    Nov 25, 2019
    90
    Pokémon Sword and Shield are not without their problems. But beyond the rubbish online play and uninspired late-game routes, and beyond the controversy surrounding them, they’re simply the most fun I’ve ever had with Pokémon. The story is wonderful, the creatures themselves are all fantastic and adorable, and Max Raids will absolutely never not be great fun. And if you can overlook the fact that these games aren’t the generational leap that some expected, you’re sure to find something special in them.
  3. Game Informer
    Nov 13, 2019
    88
    Pokémon Sword & Shield are strong first attempts for the series’ full transition to consoles. While some frustrations hold it back from true legendary status, this new generation proves the Pokémon franchise is still great more than two decades after its debut.
  4. Vandal
    Nov 13, 2019
    80
    Sword and Shield are a lot of fun and, at the same time, it’s also a disappointing evolution of the series. The core gameplay still works great, but Game Freak needs to listen to the constructive feedback and live up to the expectations of the franchise.
  5. God is a Geek
    Nov 24, 2019
    80
    Sword & Shield is a really tricky Pokémon entry to pigeonhole. It retains the old Pokémon charm, but it's not without flaws.
  6. DualShockers
    Nov 26, 2019
    75
    Some aspects of Pokemon Sword do stand out as only being possible on a home console, but the general look and feel still seems stuck in the 3DS era of the series.
  7. Daily Star
    Nov 13, 2019
    60
    Pokémon Sword and Shield are not bad games. But fun character arcs and inventive, creative designs of new ‘mon are often offset by poor pacing and restrictive world design. The world of Galar is charming, and is a Pokémon interpretation of Britain I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid, but between gating what Pokémon you can catch behind Gym Badges, some half-baked route/City designs and a modest amount of post-game content, Sword and Shield can only be called ‘good’ Pokémon games… not ‘great’ ones.

See all 94 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 824 out of 2926
  2. Mixed: 411 out of 2926
  3. Negative: 1,691 out of 2926
  1. paidshill
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    BEST. POKEMON. GAME. EVER!!!!!!!!!!

    Very few things in life can make me as happy as a great Pokemon RPG, and Sword and Shield repeatedly    BEST. POKEMON. GAME. EVER!!!!!!!!!!

    Very few things in life can make me as happy as a great Pokemon RPG, and Sword and Shield repeatedly left me in a state of pure, child-like joy. The elated surprise of not knowing what’s coming is something this series does extremely well if you can manage to play it relatively unspoiled (fear not, this review won’t deprive you of that), and I’m glad that sense of wonder is still alive and kicking in Sword and Shield. With every new game in this 23-year-old series, changes big and small are always made, but I’ve never been willing to declare the latest entry the new gold standard for Pokemon because they’ve consistently been a balance of better and worse. But the first mainline game on the Switch has changed that: though there is still no “perfect Pokemon game,” the 40-plus hours I’ve spent with Sword and Shield have left me comfortable with calling them the best Pokemon games I have ever played – and I’ve played ‘em all.

    WHEN I SAW CHARIZARD I CLAPPED!!!!!!!!!!!    … Expand
  2. RebaDerps
    Nov 18, 2019
    10
    Excellent game! They brought back gyms, the new Pokémon designs aren’t mostly inanimate objects, the graphics looks great, you can breedExcellent game! They brought back gyms, the new Pokémon designs aren’t mostly inanimate objects, the graphics looks great, you can breed Pokémon again (unlike Let’s Go), there’s a new shiny hunting method, and overall the story is simple and not too convoluted like previous games. Older games had a tendency to try and force me to feel something for the characters, like the forced romance in ORAS or pity for what’s-her-face in USUM. I hated that. I couldn’t even finish Sun and Moon. This game however makes a great comeback, even if the Pokédex is smaller. I feel like the new Pokémon make up for it.… Expand
  4. Darros2
    Jul 23, 2020
    8
    Juego bastante disfrutable para los fans de pokémon presenta los fallos que tiene la saga hace bastante tiempo, como una historia bastanteJuego bastante disfrutable para los fans de pokémon presenta los fallos que tiene la saga hace bastante tiempo, como una historia bastante infantil y sin sentido, no incorpora todos los pokémon con la excusa de realizar mejores animaciones, pero se puede observar que por ejemplo los movimientos y animaciones del rival son las mismas del juego anterior. Lo positivo es que mejora el sistema de crianza para jugar competitivo haciendo que sea más fácil y rápido que en generaciones anteriores, los combates finales son interesantes y con un buen nivel y el diseño de los pokémon es muy bueno, junto a que a pesar de sus defectos el juego se siente liviana y no se hace aburrido jugarlo.… Expand
  5. Schultzkyle
    Nov 20, 2019
    4
    This game is graphically lazy. It feels small and I hate the wild area. The game is small and the animations look about as good as the N64.This game is graphically lazy. It feels small and I hate the wild area. The game is small and the animations look about as good as the N64. Look it up.… Expand
  6. qwerty99
    Nov 17, 2019
    2
    I was very disappointed with the game. I expected my but playing a pokemon game I don't know why i ever had my hopes up
  7. RetroMatero
    Nov 29, 2019
    1
    Con todo lo que tenían para hacer un nuevo juego de la saga, vinieron con esto.
    Mi primo, luego de 12 horas de juego, no aguantó más, y lo    Con todo lo que tenían para hacer un nuevo juego de la saga, vinieron con esto.
    Mi primo, luego de 12 horas de juego, no aguantó más, y lo iba a devolver. Yo le di una chance, porque no me parecía tan malo...
    2 horas después... Uffff...
    -Gráficos que no van a la altura ni de las otras franquicias que gráficamente son excepcionales, para esa consola, se ve como un port en HD de la 3DS.
    -Jugabilidad muy aburrida, y es poco para esta consola. Nos castigan con el mismo sistema de hace 20 años, sin mucha variedad.
    -Lo que era un RPG en el pasado, se redujo al ir de punto A a punto B, sin siquiera dar la sensación de volver al punto anterior.
    -He sabido de usuarios que en 5 horas ya eran los más fuertes, cuando en entregas de la GB me tomó casi 70 horas llegar a tener pokemons del nivel de Zapdos, Moltres, y Articuno.
    -Parece hecho para niños de 5 años, y encima con un estilo de jugabilidad muy anticuado.
    -El lore es completamente absurdo, y los personajes muy mal aprovechados. Qué se meten los guionistas para tirarnos personajes que lucen interesantes y terminan siendo más planos que una tabla, a la par de acartonados? Agárrate, Final Fantasy XIII...

    En resumen, no puedo recomendar esta entrega a alguien que quiera iniciarse en la saga, recomendaría los de GB del clásico al Advance, y los Black and White, que al menos se sienten (más o menos) como juegos frescos...

    Nintendo y Game Freak... Les duele sacarse unos millones de dólares para hacer algo de verdad, no?    … Expand
  8. Kerke
    Dec 12, 2021
    0
    Die Story ist unglaublich langweilig und die Charaktere austauschbar. Aber es it halt einfach ein pokemon Spiel.

See all 2926 User Reviews

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

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