Pokémon Shield
Catch Pokémon across Galar and choose effective moves as you pursue Gym Badges, with weather-dependent Wild Area encounters and a limited Dynamax window adding distinct decisions.
- AI score · out of 10
- 8.1 / 10
About this game
Explore Galar, catch wild Pokémon and assemble a team for battles. Choosing moves with favorable type matchups helps deal more damage, while the Gym Challenge provides the main competitive goal: collect badges and qualify for the Champion Cup. Shield also has some wild Pokémon encounters that differ from Sword. The Wild Area adds a changing search space, where weather and location affect which Pokémon appear. You can access Pokémon Boxes while traveling to adjust your team, although Gym mission areas are among the exceptions. At eligible locations such as Gym stadiums, Dynamax enlarges a Pokémon for three turns and can be activated only once per battle. Team selection, move choice and the moment of activation all contribute to how you approach an opponent.
Collected in series
Pokémon is a role-playing series that began in 1996. As a Trainer, you travel the world meeting, catching and raising Pokémon. Filling your Pokédex, building a team and taking on rivals shape the adventure, while trading with friends brings new partners along for the journey.
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Nintendo Switch
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
A good design fit for collectors who also enjoy planning a decisive battle window.
Weather-dependent encounters could make searching for team members feel purposeful alongside the badge challenge. Dynamax's limited duration gives battle planning a clear timing question, while traveling Box access encourages trying different team arrangements.
Strengths
- Type matchups and a limited Dynamax window offer concrete reasons to reconsider a battle plan.
- Weather-based encounters give exploration a collecting purpose beyond reaching the next Gym.
Weaknesses
- The Box-access exception in Gym mission areas can interrupt on-the-spot team experimentation.
Who it is for: Players who enjoy collecting creatures, comparing move types and working toward a structured championship goal.
Play notes: Dynamax is restricted to eligible locations; access to Pokémon Boxes also has location-specific exceptions.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension Badge collection supplies milestones, while changing Wild Area encounters offer a reason to pause that route for collecting. | Reviewed | 8.0 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension The combination of type effectiveness and a short Dynamax opportunity could reward deliberate move selection over simply activating the strongest option immediately. | Reviewed | 8.1 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Enlarged Pokémon in Gym stadiums could give eligible battles a stronger sense of scale. | Reviewed | 8.5 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Traveling Box access and optional autosave offer useful control over team changes and saving, subject to the documented Box restrictions. | Reviewed | 7.7 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- GAME FREAK
- Publisher
- The Pokémon CompanyNintendo
- Release date
- 2019
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- www.nintendo.com
- Offline minimum players
- 1
- Offline maximum players
- 1
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Role-Playing · Primary genre
- Tags
- Player versus EnvironmentSemi-open WorldLevel ProgressionExplorationLocal Co-opStory-driven
- Supported game languages
- SpanishSimplified ChineseGermanFrenchJapaneseEnglish
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- ESRB: E10+
- Play modes
- Single player
- Perspectives
- Third person
Release editions
- Nintendo SwitchWorldwide2019
Game gallery
Sources
- www.pokemon.co.jpSource revision: 1
- www.pokemon.co.jp