Pokemon UNITE
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Critic Reviews for Pokemon UNITE
Pokemon Unite is an entertaining casual MOBA constrained by its overcommitment to simplicity (and some questionable microtransactions).
Pokemon Unite is weird. It both feels everything and nothing like Pokemon and nothing and everything like a MOBA. It’s not necessarily a balanced meeting point between these two ostensibly incomparable concepts - instead, it’s its own thing entirely. And, for the most part, this new, strange, messy hybrid works. Its misunderstanding of what makes it special in the first place is an unignorable aspect of an otherwise remarkable effort, and there will be people out there who are turned off by the overbearing presence of microtransactions, even if they don’t technically make the game pay-to-win.
Recognizable Pokémon, distinct move sets, stylish animations, and easy-to-understand objectives make this a good introduction to the MOBA genre
Pokemon Unite tries something new with the Pokemon brand and mostly succeeds, albeit with some overzealous microtransactions.
Pokémon Unite is a fun entry point for those new to the MOBA genre thanks to its short games, but longtime League of Legends or DotA fans will be left unsatisfied.
It is difficult to recommend Pokémon Unite to 'free' players unless they're truly in it for the long haul. The gameplay is engaging, with a large roster of Pokémon that can be tried out in offline modes, but owning iconic Pokémon such as Lucario or Garchomp to play in Ranked will require an immense amount of Aoes Coins or paid-for Aeos Gems. A lot of joy is to be found in Quick Matches due to daily map rotations, but ultimately Unite is too geared toward grabbing people's purses to win games rather than providing an even playing field for everyone. Players that don't pay will likely find frustration in constantly matching with others who have spent money; it's worth keeping that in mind before committing to Pokémon Unite.
An addictive and accessible MOBA which takes advantage of the Pokémon license to great effect but is hampered by an abundance of free-to-play irritations.
For long-time Pokemon fans, Pokemon Unite will be an enjoyable, if simple, adventure into the world of MOBAs. Even those who are intimately familiar with MOBAs may find Unite’s quick and approachable matches to be a nice palate cleanse. Unfortunately, at launch, it’s limited roster, simplicity, and hidden pay-to-win nature leaves it not being the very best.
Industry Coverage
Pokemon Unite Reveals When Alolan Raichu is Coming to the Game
Alolan Raichu is coming to Pokemon Unite soon, and the developer reveals when players will be able to start using the character.
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Pokemon Unite Reveals New Pokemon and More Coming in 2025
Pokemon Unite celebrates Pokemon Day by revealing a new free update, and shares with players that three more characters will be joining the game.
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Pokemon Unite Reveals New Roster Additions For 2025 And 500-Point Game Mode
Your first proper look at Unite's new 500-point mode, unless you've been playing it in China.
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China's Very Different Take On Pokemon Unite Is Getting A Worldwide Release
The global rollout begins on February 27 - Pokemon Day.
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