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Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Critics Consensus (Play It)
Don’t discount Arceus because of how it looks, this is the shakeup the Pokémon franchise needed. One of the best Pokémon games in years.
Game Info
The Pokémon Legends: Arceus game honors past Pokémon games’ core gameplay while infusing new action and RPG elements. You’ll need to catch, survey, and research wild Pokémon in a long-gone era of the Sinnoh region to create and complete the region’s first Pokédex.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 90
Silver TIER
38% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- RPG, Adventure
DEVELOPER(S):
- Game Freak
PUBLISHER(S):
- Nintendo
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- Pokémon
GAME MODES:
- Single player
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
90
Critic Reviews
93
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
100%
Median Score
85%
Low Score
50%
What did you think of Pokémon Legends: Arceus?
Player Reviews0 Votes
0
GameCentral (Metro GameCentral)
January 26, 2022
8/10
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.
Sam Loveridge (GamesRadar+)
January 26, 2022
4.5/5 stars
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a refreshing take on the Pokemon formula, stripping back the game to focus on the titular creatures with such great success. It’s just let down by the graphics.
Brian Shea (Game Informer)
January 26, 2022
8.8/10
Pokémon Legends: Arceus charts an exciting new direction for the series, while still maintaining many of the core tenants that made Game Freak’s franchise so beloved in the first place.
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (90 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Areajugones | Javier Reglero | 9.2 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | ”Pokémon Legends: Arceus” is a masterpiece made, not only for fans of the franchise’s video games, but for lovers of the Pokémon World in general. That living ecosystem, full of mysterious creatures that are precious and magical in some cases, and terrifying in others. All this is perfectly reflected in the game, which allows us to explore with total freedom an open world composed of different areas while we advance in its interesting story. | Read review |
| Atomix | Sebastian Quiroz | 85 / 100 | 02-01-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the step of innovation that the series needed. At the end of the day, though, that installment feels more like a grand experiment than the franchise’s standard going forward. | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | Elliott Gatica | 4 / 5 stars | 02-02-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| But Why Tho? | Kyle Foley | 7.5 / 10 | 01-30-2022 | Long-time fans of the Pokémon franchise should be very excited about the future of the Pokémon games, even if not everything in Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a home run. Despite the flaws, I really enjoyed my time and can’t wait to see what comes next! | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Preston Dozsa | 9 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an adventure that is charming, surprising, and above all else, wonderful to play. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Omi Koulas | 7.5 / 10 | 02-09-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the future for Pokémon games. The graphics are disappointing and the combat is very simple, yet it’s undeniably fun to play. Exploring areas with roaming Pokémon has been a distant dream for a long time and it’s finally here. With improvements and tweaks, this is how the mainline series should stay. | Read review |
| COGconnected | James Paley | 86 / 100 | 01-26-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| Cubed3 | Rudy Lavaux | 7 / 10 | 02-26-2022 | Pokémon Legends Arceus is a successful attempt at making something new and fresh with the same concepts and ideas that have driven the franchise for thepast nigh on three decades. It is addictive, has charming characters and scenes, and has plenty of content to savour for fans of collectathons. It is a cohesive package on every front. This game is, however, embarrassingly clumsily put together from a graphical standpoint. This does not make it less enjoyable on a pure gameplay level, but during quiet times when little action is happening and players will want to take in what is presented on screen at face value, it is especially jarring. We loved the gameplay loop of Pokémon Legends Arceus, it has been one of the most engaging experiences to come out of Nintendo or Game Freak of the past few years, but it is well past time for either of those actors to finally take the right steps to solve this recurring lack of technical finesse from the series. | Read review |
| Daily Mirror | Eugene Sowah | 4 / 5 stars | 01-26-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| Destructoid | Chris Carter | 8 / 10 | 02-01-2022 | Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won’t astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash. | Read review |
| Digital Spy | Ali Griffiths | 4 / 5 stars | 02-18-2022 | 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? | Read review |
| Digital Trends | Giovanni Colantonio | 3.5 / 5 stars | 01-26-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| Digitally Downloaded | Matt Sainsbury | 5 / 5 stars | 02-02-2022 | Every time I think I’m losing interest in Pokémon, Game Freak does something to reinvigorate me. The Pokémon Pearl and Diamond remakes last year were fine, though I ended up spending more time just playing the original Pokémon Pearl again. I needed something like Arceus, I think, to get me to once again drop dozens of hours into a single game. This is a brave, bold game into new frontiers for Game Freak, and it confidently promises a new and revitalised future for the series. | Read review |
| DualShockers | Dean James | 8.5 / 10 | 02-12-2022 | The Pokemon series has rarely been known for taking major risks over the years, but Pokemon Legends: Arceus definitely goes against that trend and gives us one of the most exciting games in the franchise. While there are definitely some areas where there could be improvements, such as more trainer battles, Pokemon Legends: Arceus is hopefully a very exciting look at what we can expect to see more of from Pokemon in the future. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Ben Moore | 4 / 5 stars | 02-13-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is exactly the kind of shake-up the series has sorely needed. | Read review |
| Echo Boomer | André Santos | Recommended | 02-16-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is all we have been asking for a long time. Finally Game Freak gave us the freedom to explore a world full of magic creatures, battle them like never before and have all of this wrapped up on a pretty decent storyline. But it’s yet to reach perfection, mainly because Hisui could be much more. New mechanics and a new way of playing Pokémon is not enough when the world that you can now explore feels empty. Game Freak found, with this new formula, a diamond… now it’s time to shape it. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Chris Tapsell | Recommended | 01-26-2022 | Inspired as much by Pok’mon Go as it is Breath of the Wild, Pok’mon Legends: Arceus is flimsy and compulsive – and exhilaratingly new. | Read review |
| Everyeye.it | Francesco Cilurzo | 8.3 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | Legends Pokémon Arceus is exactly what it promised to be: a new frontier for the series. Like all experiments, however, the title has room for improvement and on a technical level shows more than one shortcoming. | Read review |
| Expansive | Laurie Jones | Recommended | 02-04-2022 | I would go as far as to say Pokémon Legends: Arceus is my all-time favourite Pokémon game. It’s one I’ve already spent an obscene amount of time with, but also a game that has found a smart way to play into familiar tropes, while also evolving and developing them for a newer generation. There’s a more engaging story that opens up exciting possibilites for the wider world, the graphics and animations are beautifully suited and the game feels stable even during heavy conflict and activity. Even the music is something to treasure with tracks you’ll find yourself quickly humming along to. | Read review |
| Explosion Network | Jacob Hegarty | 8.5 / 10 | 02-11-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a game that many of us Pokémon fans have wanted for a long time, and although it isn’t perfect, it is a step in the right direction. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Brian Shea | 8.8 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus charts an exciting new direction for the series, while still maintaining many of the core tenants that made Game Freak’s franchise so beloved in the first place. | Read review |
| Game Rant | Dalton Cooper | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-24-2022 | There’s room for improvement in a potential Pokemon Legends: Arceus sequel, but what’s here will still keep Pokemon fans busy for hours on end. Pokemon Legends: Arceus’s gameplay is simple but incredibly rewarding, stripping away much of the tediousness that has plagued recent entries in the series to focus on what’s fun. Those who grew up with Pokemon should like it especially, as while it makes dramatic changes to the core formula, it somehow feels truer to the spirit of Pokemon than the older releases. | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Jason Faulkner | 3.5 / 5 stars | 02-09-2022 | For its flaws, Pokemon Legends: Arceus does have a decent gameplay loop, even if it is a bit too tight. I hope that with Nintendo’s next console, we can maybe see a game that doesn’t have to make such significant compromises when it comes to graphics vs. performance. For now, let’s just clap our hands and try to forget that any other studio would be roasted alive for releasing a game like this in 2022. | Read review |
| GameGrin | Jinny Wilkin | 5 / 10 | 03-20-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is close to being the Pokémon game I’ve always wanted, but falls short of perfection in ways that other games in the franchise have gotten right in the past. The sequel could very well be the best Pokémon game released so far. | Read review |
| GameMAG | Unknown | 8 / 10 | 02-08-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| GamePro | Eleen Reinke | 92 / 100 | 01-26-2022 | Pokémon Legends Arceus breathes a breath of fresh air into Pokémon thanks to great new ideas, making it one of the best games in the series. | Read review |
| Gamerheadquarters | Jason Stettner | 7.5 / 10 | 03-07-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a great direction for the series to take, being somewhat held back by the technical elements of the world you’re visiting. | Read review |
| Gamersky | 奕剑者柴王 | 8.8 / 10 | 01-30-2022 | Generally speaking, the Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a work with outstanding plot and depth, excellent open world design and interesting new battle mode. Although there are many deficiencies in explicit aspects, it still creates the most ideal form of Pokemon world in my mind, and thus becomes the best series of Pokemon works in five years, worthy of the suffix of “Arceus” in the name. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | Josh Broadwell | 8 / 10 | 02-09-2022 | Pokemon Legends Arceus is the most imaginative and absorbing Pokemon to date, though Hisui itself is disappointingly bare. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Steve Watts | 8 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a significant reimagining of what makes a Pokemon game, with an exciting level of flexibility that’s only slightly hampered by a slow early-game grind. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Sam Loveridge | 4.5 / 5 stars | 01-26-2022 | Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a refreshing take on the Pokemon formula, stripping back the game to focus on the titular creatures with such great success. It’s just let down by the graphics. | Read review |
| GameXplain | GameXplain | Recommended | 02-05-2022 | Video Review | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Pramath | 9 / 10 | 02-02-2022 | Pokemon Legends Arceus is indisputably the best game in the series in a very long time, and a welcome and triumphant revitalization of the long standing formula. For the first time in a very long time, there is reason to be excited for the future of the franchise. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | David Flynn | 90 / 100 | 02-04-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus still has some lingering flaws from the series’ rough transition to 3D, but is still an incredibly fun time from start to finish. Catching and battling Pokémon hasn’t been this fun in over a decade, and despite the wealth of things to do in Hisui I’m still hungry for more. | Read review |
| GBAtemp | Krista Noren | 9.3 / 10 | 01-28-2022 | It’s easy to sound trite by saying that Pokemon Legends Arceus is a breath of fresh air that the Pokemon series desperately needed, yet it’s also entirely true. For the first time in ages, I’m excited by, and fully invested in a Pokemon game. | Read review |
| Geek Culture | Jake Su | 9 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | Great for newcomers, even better for fans, Pokémon Legends: Arceus represents a natural evolution for the series, and it is one hell of a ride from start to end. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Adam Cook | 9.5 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | If this is the future of the series, I’ll be incredibly happy, because this just might be the best Pokemon game ever made. | Read review |
| GRYOnline.pl | Mikołaj Łaszkiewicz | 8.5 / 10 | 02-07-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a small revolution that this famous series needed for a long time. I recommend this game to all Switch owners – not just Pokémon fans – because it really is entertaining. It doesn’t look great, but it will keep you glued to the screen. | Read review |
| Guardian | Tom Regan | 4 / 5 stars | 02-10-2022 | 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 | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Kirstin Swalley | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-03-2022 | It wouldn’t be difficult to claim that Pokémon Legends: Arcues is the strongest Pokémon title the series has had since the DS era. | Read review |
| Hey Poor Player | Andrew Thornton | 4 / 5 stars | 02-21-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus nails the core of what could easily become the core of the series moving forward. Its world doesn’t look great, but it’s a ton of fun to explore and play around in. There’s definitely room for improvement in a next installment. A core quest for players to really sink their teeth into, improved graphics at least around the edges, and slightly rebalanced battles would be a great start. Still, for players who have spent the last twenty six years waiting for Pokémon to try something new, you’ll definitely want to take a trip to Hisui. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | Álvaro Alonso | 87 / 100 | 01-26-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| IGN | Rebekah Valentine | 7 / 10 | 01-28-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an ambitious revamp that successfully revolutionizes the defining Pokemon experiences of catching and battling, but is unfortunately set in a drab, empty, and at times tedious world. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Alessandra Borgonovo | 5 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus turns out to be a huge missed opportunity, arguably the biggest disappointment within the franchise. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Chris O’Connor | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-10-2022 | Journey back in time to when Pokemon and humans didn’t live in such close harmony and get to know all the inhabitants of Hisui (later to be known as Sinnoh) | Read review |
| JVL | Kronica Game | 7 / 10 | 02-26-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| KeenGamer | Kara Phillips | 8.5 / 10 | 02-02-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a well-needed breath of fresh air into the Pokémon franchise. It’s exciting and entirely brand new, and has introduced several elements players will want to see in future releases. There’s enough content to see you through until the next big title, and a large enough world to find yourself not getting bored easily. It’s a stunning game and stays true to everything gamers love about Pokémon. | Read review |
| LevelUp | Fernando Salinas | 8.5 / 10 | 02-08-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus proves that the franchise can evolve and experiment for the better. It’s a solid game that breaks the mold, and despite its visual simplicity, it doesn’t detract from Game Freak’s attempt to revamp a classic. Pokémon Legends: Arceus could have been better, but it is an important step towards the future of the franchise. | Read review |
| M3 | P-A Knutsson | 7 / 10 | 02-07-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| Merlin’in Kazanı | Samet Basri Taşlı | 86 / 100 | 02-11-2022 | Although Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a bit weak in terms of graphics and performance, it is a great Pokemon game that has managed to offer innovations and improvements that the series has needed for a long time. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | 8 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| MonsterVine | Spencer Legacy | 4 / 5 stars | 02-04-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is best described as two steps forward, one step back. The new catching mechanics and open-world concept are perfect for the Pokémon franchise, and I never got tired of them. On the other hand, the game is pretty ugly, and has a few confusing issues when it comes to exploration and performance. If Game Freak can fix these issues while keeping the catching and open world ideas, we could get the best Pokémon game ever made. For now, though, it’s just a cool next step. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Eric Hall | 75 / 100 | 02-14-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is far from perfect. The visual issues and boring opening stretch make that clear. However, the title is still a majorly fun and exciting evolution of the franchise. Getting out there in the world and interacting with the Pokémon has never felt better. I’m excited to see where Game Freak goes from here, which is not something I would have necessarily said after prior entries. | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Matt Kowalski | 8 / 10 | 02-05-2022 | If they took the time to flesh out the graphics, Pokemon Legends: Arceus would be considered a must-have. Excluding the game’s lack of voice acting, the story is still an enjoyable tale that gives a deeper look at certain Pokemon’s legends. | Read review |
| Nintendo Enthusiast | Jaimie Ditchfield | 9 / 10 | 02-03-2022 | In short, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a refreshing experience that the franchise needed after all these years. The focus on capturing is one of the game’s biggest strengths, due to the fun gameplay loop of discovering a Pokémon’s behavior prior to catching it. It may not be the best-looking game available on Nintendo Switch, but the addictive nature of exploring the various biomes to discover new things makes Pokémon Legends: Arceus one of the best Pokémon experiences in a long time. | Read review |
| Nintendo Life | Jordan Middler | 9 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus feels like the result of Game Freak learning lessons for 25 years, refining the formula, and finally taking the franchise in a new, incredible, exciting direction. With its emphasis on extremely rewarding exploration, addictive catching mechanics, a fine roster of Pokémon and a genuine sense of scale that’s unlike anything in the series, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is quite simply one of the greatest Pokémon games ever made. | Read review |
| Nintendo Wire | Ricky Berg | 9 / 10 | 02-28-2022 | With this, remakes like Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, gateways ala the Let’s Go! titles, and the core experience of Sword and Shield; the Switch has become the finest home Pokémon ever had. And dare I say, Legends is the new crown jewel of that collective. It has room to grow and doesn’t always impress in terms of performance, but in tightening the focus on research and catching Pokémon rather than battle after battle it’s honed in on the appeal spirit that Professor Oak taught us two and a half decades ago. | Read review |
| NintendoWorldReport | Neal Ronaghan | 9 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | It’s not without its blemishes, largely in the dreadful visuals, but the foundation laid here is what I hope the Pokémon franchise pivots to more in the future. It twists the focus just enough to make the experience of filling out a Pokédex more engaging, all the while filling battling and catching with way more variety. Legends Arceus doesn’t quite catch them all, but it’s satisfying the whole way through and makes me thrilled for the future of Pokémon in a way I haven’t been in years. | Read review |
| Oyungezer Online | Oguz Erdogan | 8.5 / 10 | 01-30-2022 | Not only has it been sprinkling water on what’s been burning as a different Pokemon game for years, it’s become an ointment, Arceus. We are now waiting for the seeds laid here to sprout in the new games. | Read review |
| Paste Magazine | Charlie Wacholz | 9 / 10 | 02-09-2022 | Still, Pokémon Legends: Arceus turns over a new leaf for the Pokémon franchise. Not only does it prove that a new game doesn’t need a hundred or so new Pokémon and a shiny new region to feel fresh, but it also shows that Game Freak and The Pokémon Company are actually willing to experiment within core Pokémon games. It defies fan skepticism to deliver a truly rare thing: an ambitious Pokémon game that realizes so many players’ dreams of bringing everyone’s favorite pocket-sized monsters to life in an open world. | Read review |
| PCMag | Will Greenwald | 3.5 / 5 stars | 01-26-2022 | Pokemon Legends: Arceus isn’t the open-world Pokemon game fans have been waiting for, but it’s still the most ambitious Pokemon experience yet, and a fun collect-a-thon in its own right. | Read review |
| Polygon | Ryan Gilliam | Recommended | 01-26-2022 | Still, Pokémon Legends: Arceus made me care about battling, and I actually wish there were more trainer battles scattered throughout the world. But I missed some of the predictability found in the mainline series. Whenever I’d go to swap out one Pokémon for another mid-battle, I held my breath, never knowing if I’d have to take a hit from the enemy before I could attack. Hours in, I felt like the game didn’t give me enough information to make some of the strategic decisions I wanted to. I love the direction in which the battles are going with Legends: Arceus, but a handful of “what the hell” moments killed some of my enthusiasm. | Read review |
| Press Start | Harry Kalogirou | 8 / 10 | 01-27-2022 | While it might not provide the visual fidelity and exploration we might wish for in an open-world-esque Pokémon game, it does provide a satisfying and addicting gameplay loop, alongside a surprisingly enjoyable narrative to boot. | Read review |
| Rapid Reviews UK | Unknown | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-01-2022 | The latest instalment in the world of Pokémon is finally upon us, set prior to the events of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl in what would come to be known as Sinnoh. Embracing a new open-world setting, Pokémon Legends: Arceus has a beautiful world in which to explore – and what a world it is. | Read review |
| Reno Gazette-Journal | Jason Hidalgo | 8 / 10 | 02-11-2022 | Looks aren’t everything in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which does a great job in pushing the series forward while showing a willingness to take risks and step outside of the series’ comfort zone. It’s still rough around the edges and could use some more polish. That being said, it’s an exciting teaser for what’s to come and should have many fans looking forward to what Pokemon has in store next. | Read review |
| RPGamer | Anna Marie Privitere | 3.5 / 5 stars | 02-21-2022 | With a quick jump into the action, an engaging gameplay loop, and oodles of freedom to progress forward any way the player wishes, Arceus creates an experience found nowhere else in the Pokémon series. For those willing to tolerate the mediocre presentation, an entertaining experience is here for the taking. | Read review |
| Screen Rant | Laura Gray | 4.5 / 5 stars | 01-26-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Michal Korec | 9 / 10 | 02-08-2022 | It is a significant step forward in the whole series. Replacing the classic pilgrimage across the world on designated paths with your freedom is fresh. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Donovan Erskine | 8 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| Sirus Gaming | Conrad Huang | 9 / 10 | 01-28-2022 | Overall, Pokémon Legends Arceus is a great game. With a new concept being used for this Pokémon series, in my opinion, there might be a chance that this concept will be used for future Pokémon games. I also think that this game could potentially open new heights for more spin offs and open the door to different platforms like PC where Pokémon can find a new audience. | Read review |
| SomHráč.sk | Karel Šír | 85 / 100 | 02-19-2022 | Game Freak made a step in the right direction with Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Next time, let’s just focus on balancing the new combat system and improve the presentation. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Nicolò Bicego | 8.8 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | Pokemon Legends: Arceus takes a lot of risks but manages to be enjoyable and fun. It feels like something fresh and different from previous entries, and despite no one knows what the future will bring to the next Pokemon’s games, we felt that Game Freak knows where to lead their franchise for the first time in a while. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Andrew Stretch | 9.5 / 10 | 02-08-2022 | Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a massive leap forward for the franchise in terms of substance and gameplay. Improvements have been made across the board to battle mechanics, world exploration, Pokemon interactions, and more. From Pokemon enthusiast to casual fan you need to play this game. | Read review |
| Telegraph | Jack Rear | 5 / 5 stars | 01-26-2022 | By tearing up the rule book and breaking new ground, Game Freak has created the best Pokémon title in decades | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Danilo Dellafrana | 7.8 / 10 | 02-08-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| The Outerhaven Productions | Todd Black | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-09-2022 | Pokemon Legends Arceus is a game that no one was sure what to expect from it, but what they’ll get from playing it is a game that is truly an experience, one long-desired by Pokemon fans. Filling up your Pokedex and exploring the Pokemon world has never been so much fun. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Nic Bunce | 9 / 10 | 01-26-2022 | Pokémon Legends Arceus is a must-play game for fans of the franchise. Not only is it the very best Pokémon game yet, but it elegantly takes the formula and flips it on its head, creating a unique new challenge that fans will love. With the nods to the anime and Pokémon games abound, Arceus feels very much like a love letter from Game Freak. | Read review |
| Thumbsticks | Daniel New | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-09-2022 | Despite some scruffy visuals, Pokémon Legends: Arceus feels like the first game in the series to be designed for a home console platform. It’s a magpie of a game, but every borrowed element comes together to create a coherent and fresh experience that reinvigorates the franchise. | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Rebecca Stone | 4 / 5 stars | 02-23-2022 | For the first time since I was a child, I finally feel excited for the future of Pokemon. While it’s true that Pokemon Legends: Arceus has some problems that do feel inexcusable in this day and age, there’s no doubt that the game is a milestone for the franchise. I can only hope that Game Freak decides to build on the ideas that work well here and grow the concept into something even better. | Read review |
| Unboxholics | Στράτος Χατζηνικολάου | Recommended | 01-26-2022 | Is Pokémon Legends: Arceus perfect? No, but nonetheless it evolves and moves the series forwards. Game Freak delivered a title that will entertain hardcore fans, but also those who just want to enter the beautiful world of Pokémon. | Read review |
| VG247 | Alex Donaldson | Recommended | 01-26-2022 | Technical shortcomings and minor frustrations can’t take away what this game achieves elsewhere; it’s the best main-series Pokemon game in a long, long time. | Read review |
| VGC | Chris Scullion | 5 / 5 stars | 01-26-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Miles Gregory | 8 / 10 | 03-10-2022 | After 20 years, Pokemon finally changes up the formula with great results… if you can forget about the graphics. | Read review |
| Video Chums | Alex Legard | 8 / 10 | 01-28-2022 | Pokemon Legends: Arceus definitely provides a great experience with a novel take on the classic franchise but I still feel that grinding is not needed in a Pokemon game which I’ve always felt should primarily be about simply having fun in a laidback world. | Read review |
| Washington Post | Jhaan Elker | Recommended | 01-26-2022 | Don’t discount “Pokémon Legends: Arceus” for its looks. It’s an experience unlike any other in the series. | Read review |
| WayTooManyGames | Aaron Price | 9 / 10 | 02-20-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a huge step forward for what is achievable in the Pokémon series as a whole. This is a defining step in the franchise that shows just how much gas is still in the tank. The staleness of the mainline series and the need to remake the older generations is being shown it’s not needed any longer. New gameplay mechanics show just how far this series can be pushed, and still feel like a Pokémon game. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Rosh Kelly | 9.5 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | 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. | Read review |
| We Got This Covered | Unknown | 4 / 5 stars | 02-01-2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the most daring title for the franchise in a long time. With its wide-open zones full of creatures to encounter, as well as an engaging story, this could be the game that reinvigorates your love for the series. | Read review |
| WellPlayed | Jordan Garcia | 8 / 10 | 02-15-2022 | It’s nice to play a Pokémon game that feels like it was made with love. Pokémon Legends: Arceus sure is not perfect, but it’s a loving attempt to take the series in a different direction, and it mostly nails it. | Read review |
| ZTGD | Terrence Johnson | 8.5 / 10 | 02-22-2022 | 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. | Read review |
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Credits
CREDITS
DIRECTOR(S):
Kazumasa Iwao
PRODUCER(S):
Shigeru Ohmori, Akira Kinashi, Toyokazu Nonaka, Takanori Sowa, Kenji Endo
DESIGNER(S):
n/a
PROGRAMMER(S):
Kazuki Saita
ARTIST(S):
Suguru Nakatsui
WRITER(S):
Toshinobu Matsumiya
COMPOSER(S):
Go Ichinose, Hitomi Sato, Hiromitsu Maeba
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