Pokémon Sword and Shield Reviews

Pokémon Sword and Shield is ranked in the 79th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10.0
Dec 5, 2019

New Pokemon game in open world with some improvements is really good choice for Pokemon fans.

Review in Slovak | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Nov 27, 2019

The introduction of the Wild Area, while far from perfect, could be the genesis of something truly ambitious for the franchise. As it stands, even if it relies on old tropes, Sword and Shield improves in the areas that are the most important. There isn’t a better time to embark on an adventure and catch them all once more.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 27, 2019

Ultimately, I think Pokémon Sword and Shield are some of the best games in the franchise. With fun multiplayer features, the ease of setting up a competitive squad for me to play online with fantastic visuals, solid music, and an acceptable story, I think grabbing Sword or Shield is an excellent idea for most Pokémon fans.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 4, 2019

Game Freak made a fantastic adventure for their first trip into HD and I sure hope they learned a lot to deliver an even better experience for their next games.

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Nov 25, 2019

Pokémon Sword is the best Pokémon game in many ways. With a necessary streamlining and major leaps in presentation, Game Freak has developed a title that impresses in all the right ways.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 26, 2019

With Pokemon Shield Game Freak has delivered one of their best games in years thanks to a fantastic addition with the Wild Area. Everyone can find something they will enjoy even though the National Dex isn't here and the online infrastructure isn't great. The music, new designs and animation alone give you enough reason to play on the first mainline entries to ever grace the TV.

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8.8 / 10.0
Nov 13, 2019

The compelling formula of simultaneously building your collections of monsters and gym badges has proven timeless, but the new additions and enhancements show Pokémon isn't done evolving

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8.8 / 10.0
Nov 13, 2019

The new Game Freak game will please both newcomers and more experienced players because, although some sections of this new installment have received less polish, it still has attractive enough content for every trainer to find his place in the new region of Galar.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Gamersky
八云猫车
Top Critic
8.8 / 10.0
Nov 19, 2019

Although it's far from perfect, Pokemon: Sword is a decent sequel of the series and does a nice job in terms of some detail improvement.

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85 / 100
Nov 13, 2019

With changes both necessary and welcome, along with the usual charm, Pokémon Sword and Shield is convincing. They need a patch on the technical side to shine brighter, but in the Wild Area you can see the future of the franchise.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Nov 13, 2019

As a generational premiere, Pokémon Sword and Shield are at a high level. Its attempt to combine different audiences and demands is well received, although we expect much more from future games more revolutionary that would take advantage of the potential of a console like Nintendo Switch.

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Drew Leachman
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Dec 12, 2019

Any RPG fan will get enjoyment out of this one and Pokémon fans new and old will have a great time exploring the Galar Region.

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8.5 / 10.0
Nov 13, 2019

Sword and Shield are proof that you can always improve, as happened in the narrative and competitive context of the two games. Now it is time to also adapt the look and feel of Pokémon to its identity: that of the largest and most famous franchise of the contemporary era.

Review in Italian | Read full review

4.3 / 5.0
Nov 20, 2019

Pokemon Sword and Shield is a decent mainline entry and a good attempt for their first home console Pokemon game. The new pokemon are lovely, the cinematic experience is phenomenal and it does most things quite well. Newcomers will have plenty to enjoy, while veteran fans will likely be disappointed. Add in the lack of a national dex and it's a shame but not enough to say it kills the experience.

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8.5 / 10.0
Dec 2, 2019

Thankfully, the spirit of Pokémon (of catching and collecting these monsters while aiming to be the very best) is alive and well — perhaps more than it’s ever been in a single pair of games. It just comes at the expense of pushing the franchise forward in other areas.

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PowerPyx
PowerPyx
8.5 / 10.0
Nov 22, 2019

Pokemon finally joins the 21st century by going off the 2D Standard and incorporates many long-overdue changes that make it a more user-friendly experience. Albeit void of any challenge, it’s a leap in the right direction, and worth checking out for all age groups.

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8.5 / 10.0
Nov 20, 2019
Pokemon Sword and Shield Review (Nintendo Switch) video thumbnail
8.5 / 10.0
Dec 9, 2019

Few games have caused as much controversy and conversation in 2019 as Pokemon Sword/Shield, from the exclusion of previous Pokemon to the inclusion of gym missions and version-specific battles. For many, the question remains: Are Pokemon Sword and Shield good games, and more importantly, are they good Pokemon games? To both of these inquiries, I have to concede a confident “yes”. Pokemon has never felt better than it does in Sword and Shield, between variation of available monsters, flow of the storyline, larger than life moments and battles, and overall graphical integrity. I do understand the reservations many fans have, and share some of my own disappointment with them, but couldn’t help but smile while traveling through the Wild Area on my electric powered bike-ski.

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8.3 / 10.0
Nov 20, 2019

Pokémon Sword and Shield represent an exciting new beginning for the saga. Some ideas aren't perfectly developed, but overall the work of Gamefreak is convincing.

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83 / 100
Nov 21, 2019

While not being the best title in the main Pokémon series, Sword and Shield manages to improve what is needed giving us a fun experience where capturing and fighting creatures feels simply great.

Review in Spanish | Read full review