Pokémon Sun and Moon Reviews

Pokémon Sun and Moon is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10.0
Nov 15, 2016

Pokèmon Sun is everything we wanted from this pokèmon generation. New mechanics, Alola Forms and Z Moves are the new great changes to the metagame and make this game excellent.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Unscored
Dec 24, 2016

Pokémon Sun and Moon are some of the best in the series, no doubt about it. If that's all you're looking for, then I can assure you that this game does many things well and you'll enjoy your time in Alola immensely. If you were hoping for something more, though, well... at least it's still good for a Pokémon game.

Read full review

games(TM)
games™ Team
Top Critic
9 / 10
Jan 26, 2017

One of the finest Pokémon adventures ever undertaken

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Dec 12, 2016

Overall, there’s a lot of personality bursting out from the game.

Read full review

KeenGamer
Joel Franey
Top Critic
7.4 / 10.0
Jan 24, 2017

Honestly, Pokémon Sun is fine. Think of it as some solid fun that certainly could’ve been a bit meatier, but otherwise feels like a cautious return to form after a few less-than-stellar entries in the franchise. What we need now is for this growth and development to keep going, for Game Freak and Nintendo to keep adding new stuff that can become a permanent mainstay of the series, not a series of discardable gimmicks, like somebody dangling their keys in front of a crowd of magpies. Buy a copy if you always liked the series, but if you didn’t, this is unlikely to change your mind.

Read full review

NZGamer
Top Critic
9.8 / 10.0
Dec 8, 2016

Matt received a physical copy of Pokemon Sun from Nintendo for review.

Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Nov 26, 2016

Pokémon Sun and Moon is a breath of fresh air in a series that was perhaps becoming a bit stale. With the new region of Alola being divided the way it is, there is a great emphasis on variety and diversity.

Read full review

4.5 / 5.0
Nov 21, 2016

With a zest for life and a fresh impression, Pokemon Sun and Moon feels like a new introduction to the series, and not a weary inclusion to simply capitalize on the brand. Whether you are devout follower, a jaded former trainer, or a fledgling enthusiast, now is the perfect time to embrace the Pokemon splendor, pause the real world, and take a paradise vacation to the Alola region.

Read full review

4.3 / 5.0
Nov 20, 2016

So after smashing out this game over the weekend, I found myself quite engaged with the gameplay, story and fun characters. Sure it’s Pokémon but there’s a true sense of progression that when linked to the entertainment factor creators not the best Pokémon experience but one that succeeds with both newcomers and fans alike.

Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Nov 16, 2016

Game Freak proved that even after 20 years of creating Pokemon games, they're still not out of ideas and refinements.

Read full review

Ray Carsillo
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Nov 15, 2016

A couple technical issues aside, Sun/Moon might be the best Pokémon game yet. It freshens up a formula some of us PokéManics might not have realized was growing stale until now. Trials and Grand Trials provide variations on familiar gameplay, and the removal of HMs and telling players how effective their moves are rejuvenates battling.

Read full review

Nov 21, 2016

Pokemon Sun and Moon provide a fresh experience to the series and plenty of content for everyone to enjoy.

Read full review

9 / 10
Nov 26, 2016

Aside from some disappointing story elements and frame rate dips in battles, Sun and Moon encapsulate 20 years of series strengths and introduce enough freshness to keep the series running strong.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Dec 9, 2016

This doesn’t mean that there aren’t significant issues that will upset most of our veteran gamers. Frame rate drops and the exclusion of significant features do hurt this game, but fans who have been waiting for an entry that significantly changes things up will be pleasantly surprised.

Read full review

6.2 / 10.0
Nov 16, 2016

Pokémon Sun and Moon observe the Pokémon tradition, changing it in minor ways while keeping the formula intact where it matters. However, poor graphical design, a heavy focus on linearity, and a lack of difficulty make Sun and Moon unable to become the evolution which the Pokémon series desperately needs.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 15, 2016

While I had a good deal of fun with Pokemon Moon, I couldn't shake the feeling that not everything was sound about it. The story didn't keep my attention as much as I would have hoped, the journey was easy to get through and some of the battles had slowdown.

Read full review

8.4 / 10.0
Nov 24, 2016

Pokémon Sun and Moon brings a lot of changes to the main series. It’s easier to play and gives new users yet another chance to be part of a 20 year old franchise. Having said that, the story is dull ─Team Skull makes the anime Rocket Team look like a superior enemy─. Online multiplayer, on the other hand, is well organized but the local variant feels too simplistic. This is a typical case of "one step forward and two steps back." Some of adjustments are a success but the game also has many imperfections the developers should learn from in order to make a better Pokémon game.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Dec 14, 2016

Both a spectacular jump-on point for newcomers and a strong entry for series veterans, Pokémon Sun and Moon is everything you’d expect, and maybe even a little more. I’m happy to say that, even 20 years after it’s inception, Pokémon remains one of the best RPG series’ out there.

Read full review

Rudy Lavaux
Top Critic
9 / 10
Dec 8, 2016

The most advanced, most detailed and deepest Pokémon experience to date can now be found in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Perhaps the last big mainstream first party Nintendo franchise to grace the Nintendo 3DS as the next generation is almost upon us, it is an indispensable addition to anyone's game library, even those just remotely interested in Pokémon.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Nov 28, 2016

Pokemon Sun and Moon mixes up its tried and true formula to create something distinctly refreshing. A must buy for Pokemon fans and those who want to get into the series.

Read full review