Pokémon Legends: Arceus Reviews

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is ranked in the 91st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Unscored
Jan 26, 2022

Don’t discount “Pokémon Legends: Arceus” for its looks. It’s an experience unlike any other in the series.

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87 / 100
Jan 26, 2022

‎Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the first game since Red and Blue where we feel like the formula has really changed, and it's done it for the better. There is room for improvement (especially in relation to the graphic section), but we are convinced that this is the way forward in future installments.‎

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
8 / 10
Jan 26, 2022

There's still a lot of room for improvement but this is easily the best Pokémon game for several years and a positive new direction that the mainline games would be wise to follow.

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8 / 10
Jan 26, 2022

An experience that will appeal to longtime fans, as well as those who may have grown tired of the series’ reliance on the status quo.

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Jan 26, 2022

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a step in the right direction for the aging series, even if its technical limits can't always support its ambitions.

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Feb 2, 2022

Pokemon Legends: Arceus proves that graphics are not the only factor in what makes a game great. Although it can look very rough around the edges, the package here is an extremely fun one that hopefully outsources the overdone formula from previous titles.

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8 / 10.0
Jan 26, 2022

"‌The magic of Legends: Arceus stems from dozens of smaller quality-of-life improvements. Some are long-requested, others are simply revelatory — mechanics I’d never even considered in all my fantasies of the ideal Pokémon game. Whether it be Pokémon displaying unique character traits, cohesion between the different mechanical systems, or the crafting of items, developer Game Freak has the right ideas in place for the future of the series."

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Guardian
Top Critic
Feb 10, 2022

More than a quarter of a century since the cuddly critters were first sent in to battle, the magic of those early adventures has finally been recaptured

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VGC
Top Critic
Jan 26, 2022

Pokémon Legends is the breath of fresh air the series has needed for so long. It may not have been apparent from the trailers, but this is one of the most entertaining, engaging and engrossing games in the entire history of the Pokémon series, and is highly recommended to both long-time fans and complete newcomers.

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Telegraph
Top Critic
Jan 26, 2022

By tearing up the rule book and breaking new ground, Game Freak has created the best Pokémon title in decades

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JVL
Kronica Game
Top Critic
14 / 20
Feb 26, 2022

Despite its many flaws, Legends Pokémon: Arceus is not a bad game and we can salute the risk-taking as well as the change of course of the genre that blows a new wind on the license.

Review in French | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Feb 22, 2022

As I said the future seems bright for the Pokémon franchise, I just hope Game Freak can avoid what many studios do and end up taking ‘two steps back’ after moving their game forward; but time will tell.

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Feb 18, 2022

It’s symbolic of the question that some PLA players will be left with. Did Game Freak’s reach extend its grasp? But for us, when it works its magic, it really works. It’s certainly the most exciting Pokémon game in years, and even if it’s a little overambitious – wouldn’t we rather have that experimentation over the same journey we’ve been on many, many times?

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GameMAG
Top Critic
8 / 10
Feb 8, 2022

People, who love creature-collecting gameplay can easily spend tens of hours in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. And if you ever felt tired of "classic" Pokemon formula, don't sleep on Arceus too.

Review in Russian | Read full review

7.8 / 10.0
Feb 8, 2022

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is clearly flawed, yet courageous; it succeeds in the arduous mission of rejuvenating some of the clumsy axioms of one of the most conservative series around, laying the foundations for an eventual rebirth of the brand.

Review in Italian | Read full review

M3
Top Critic
Feb 7, 2022

Although most Pokémon games are of good class, there's no denying that they've lost some magic since the show's heyday. But with Pokémon Legends: Arceus, developer Game Freak shows they can still create fresh and entertaining gameplay that lifts Pokémon chasing to a new level. It's a shame that action, environments, and graphics aren't anywhere near the same class.

Review in Swedish | Read full review

Wccftech
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Feb 6, 2022

Arceus offers you a chance to play your childhood dream. It's not perfect but it offers something more engrossing and satisfying than anything else Pokémon has come up with.

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Jan 26, 2022

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a must-have for fans of the series as it’s an experience like no other. The only downside is that the game could do with a graphical facelift, especially the character models who aren’t anywhere as detailed as they should be.

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86 / 100
Jan 26, 2022

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Arceus, but the surprise was a pleasant one. There aren’t any gyms or gym leaders, but I found plenty of tough battles. The graphics are pretty basic, but the character models all look terrific. Even the environments aren’t so bad, as long as you’re playing in portable mode. I was instantly hooked by the gameplay loop. Everything you do in the field feels so seamless, so smooth. This game makes Pokémon feel a bit dangerous, something I never thought was possible. If you were hoping for a traditional Pokémon experience, you’ll be thrown for a loop. Keep an open mind however, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus will be a fantastic time.

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Jan 26, 2022

The game does an excellent job of pushing boundaries while staying true to what has kept Pokémon popular for over two decades and is an eye-opening glimpse at what Game Freak could do in future games of the series.

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