Pokémon Champions launched on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 today, and The Pokémon Company is already handing out freebies. The free-to-start battling game has its first Mystery Gift code live right now, giving players a free Machamp just for punching in a code. Here is every active Pokémon Champions Mystery Gift code, what each one unlocks, and how to claim your rewards.

All Active Pokémon Champions Mystery Gift Codes

There is currently one active Mystery Gift code in Pokémon Champions. We will update this list as new codes are released.

Machamp is a solid pick-up for anyone building out their roster early, and the code is valid until the end of August, so there is no rush. That said, the earlier you grab it, the sooner you can start working it into your team.

How to Redeem Mystery Gift Codes in Pokémon Champions

Before you can redeem any codes, you will need to have completed Cordy’s initial training, recruited your first Pokémon, and finished your first Ranked Battle. Once you have ticked those boxes, follow these steps:

1. From the main menu, select Submenu from the bottom bar.
2. Scroll down and select Mystery Gifts.
3. Connect to the internet and enter an active code.
4. Press Confirm.
5. Collect your reward from your in-game Mailbox.

The process is quick and straightforward. Just make sure you are online when you enter the code, and check your Mailbox afterwards to pick up the reward.

Free Rewards Beyond Mystery Gifts

The Machamp code is not the only freebie available at launch. Players who jump in during the first month can also earn a free Dragonite along with additional rewards, giving free-to-play trainers a decent head start without spending anything.

Read More: Pokemon Champions Mobile Release Date

Pokémon Champions Paid Options

Since Pokémon Champions is free-to-start, there are optional purchases for players who want to expand their experience. The Starter Pack costs US$6.99 and includes 50 extra Pokémon Storage slots, 30 Teammate Tickets, and 50 Training Tickets. A Premium Battle Pass is available for US$9.99, and there is a membership option priced at US$4.99 per month or US$49.99 for a full year.

None of these are required to compete. You can also transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Home or recruit them directly in-game using VP, which is earned through missions and battling. With two free Pokémon already available at launch, building a competitive roster without spending is very much on the table.

Expired Pokémon Champions Mystery Gift Codes

No codes have expired yet. We will move codes to this section once their redemption windows close, so you can always check back to see what is still active.

The post Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift Codes – All Active Codes and How to Redeem Them appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Pokémon Champions has officially launched on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 as a free-to-start download, giving players a dedicated competitive battling platform built around the same ruleset used in official Pokémon Video Game Championship events. Unlike traditional Pokémon RPGs, this one skips the story campaign entirely and drops you straight into team building, ranked battles, and seasonal progression.

A mobile version is also confirmed for a later date, and cross-platform play between Switch and mobile will be supported when it arrives. For now, the game is available exclusively through the Nintendo eShop.

What Pokémon Champions Actually Is

Pokémon Champions is not a mainline RPG. There is no overworld to explore, no gym leaders to challenge through a story, and no wild Pokémon to catch in tall grass. Instead, the game is entirely focused on competitive multiplayer battling, using the same Single Battle and Double Battle formats that feature in official Pokémon VGC tournaments.

The battle system uses familiar mechanics from previous Pokémon titles, including types, Abilities, moves, and stat tuning. Mega Evolution plays a significant role too, with transformations like Mega Dragonite, Mega Meganium, Mega Emboar, and Mega Feraligatr all available. Some of these Mega Evolutions carry brand new Abilities that were not present in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

New Mega Evolutions And Abilities

Several Mega-Evolved Pokémon debut with exclusive Abilities in Pokémon Champions. Mega Meganium gets Mega Sol, which allows it to use moves as though the weather were harsh sunlight, regardless of the actual battle conditions. Mega Emboar has Mold Breaker, letting its moves bypass the target’s Ability entirely. Mega Feraligatr introduces Dragonize, which converts Normal-type moves into Dragon-type moves and boosts their power by 20%.

Players who befriended Chesnaught, Delphox, Greninja, and Eternal Flower Floette during Pokémon Legends: Z-A can bring those Pokémon into Champions via Pokémon HOME to claim their respective Mega Stones (Chesnaughtite, Delphoxite, Greninjite, and Floettite) from the in-game mailbox.

Ranked Battles, Casual Modes, And Seasonal Battle Pass

Online ranked play is live from day one. Trainers compete against players worldwide and earn Season Points based on match performance. Casual Battles offer a lower-pressure alternative for testing new teams, while Private Battles let you challenge friends directly.

Season Points feed into a seasonal Battle Pass system. Both wins and losses contribute toward progression depending on how you perform, so you are not punished for taking on tough opponents. Cosmetic rewards, avatar customisation items, and progression bonuses unlock as you advance through each season’s pass. A Premium Battle Pass is also available, unlocking exclusive seasonal outfits and additional rewards. Certain Mega Stones can be earned through the Battle Pass or purchased with Victory Points in the shop.

Read More: Pokemon Champions Mobile Release Date

Read More: Pokemon Showdown Vs Pokemon Champions, Will They Coexist After Release?

Read More: Pokémon Champions Accessibility Explained As Dev Targets New Competitive Players

How Team Building Works

Instead of catching Pokémon through exploration, Champions uses a recruitment system. You can trial a selection of Pokémon once per day before deciding whether to permanently recruit them using Victory Points. Those same points also let you adjust stats, modify Abilities, and change movesets for your permanent team members, removing the traditional grinding loop entirely.

Pokémon HOME compatibility expands your options further. Supported Pokémon from titles like Pokémon GO and Pokémon Legends: Z-A can be brought into Champions as visiting partners. Visiting Pokémon retain their training adjustments if returned through HOME in the same form. However, Pokémon obtained directly inside Champions cannot be sent back to HOME.

Pricing For The Starter Pack And Membership

While the base game is free to start, optional paid content is available for players who want more flexibility. The Starter Pack costs $6.99 and includes additional Pokémon box space along with faster training tools to help with early team experimentation.

Early Download Bonus And Launch Tournament

Players who log in before 31 August 2026 can claim a free Dragonite from the in-game mailbox. A Dragoninite stone, which allows Dragonite to Mega Evolve into Mega Dragonite, is available through the first season’s Battle Pass. The stone may also appear in the shop or other areas of the game at a later date.

A launch tournament called the Warm-up Challenge is already running. It pits trainers against each other worldwide, with rewards based on performance. Entry remains open until 13 April at 01:59 UTC. Finishing three or more matches with at least one win or loss earns you a Gardevoir and 100 Quick Coupons after final rankings are posted.

Nintendo Switch 2 Visual Upgrade

Pokémon Champions supports both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 as a single download. Switch 2 owners can grab a free visual enhancement update that improves the game’s graphical presentation. The game runs in TV mode, tabletop mode, and handheld mode across both systems.

Competitive Scene Starts At Indianapolis

The first official VGC event to feature Pokémon Champions will be the 2026 Indianapolis Regional Championships, running from 29 May to 31 May. That tournament serves as a preview ahead of the 2026 North America International Championships, scheduled for 12 June through 14 June. With Champions now being the game used for official championship events going forward, the competitive ladder is essentially live practice for anyone with tournament ambitions.

The post Pokemon Champions Is Out Now as a Free-to-Start Battle Game on Switch and Switch 2 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Pokémon Champions launches on Nintendo Switch this Wednesday, April 8, but if you were planning to hold out for the mobile version, you might not have to wait long. A listing spotted on the Korean Pokémon website has pointed to a June 2026 release window for the iOS and Android versions of the arena-focused battler.

According to the Pokémon Korea website, Pokémon Champions for mobile launches in June. pic.twitter.com/K0O2KctupL

— Centro LEAKS (@CentroLeaks) April 7, 2026

Korean Website Briefly Listed A June Launch

The leak came from the official Korean Pokémon Champions website, which advertised the game for mobile platforms with a June 2026 window before the listing was noticed and circulated online. No exact date was given, but a June release would place the mobile launch roughly two months after the Switch version hits shelves.

The Pokémon Company has not officially confirmed the June window, and the listing appears to have been a premature reveal rather than a planned announcement. Still, given that it appeared on an official regional site rather than a third-party source, it carries more weight than a typical rumour.

What Is Pokémon Champions?

Pokémon Champions is a new title developed by The Pokémon Works in partnership with The Pokémon Company. Unlike mainline entries, the game focuses exclusively on Pokémon battles within an arena setting, stripping away the exploration and story-driven structure of traditional games in favour of pure competitive battling.

The game is free-to-play, which aligns with the mobile release making strategic sense. A free arena battler is a natural fit for phones and tablets, and launching on mobile shortly after the Switch version could help the title build momentum quickly across both platforms.

Read More: Pokemon Showdown Vs Pokemon Champions, Will They Coexist After Release?

Read More: Pokémon Champions Accessibility Explained As Dev Targets New Competitive Players

A Busy Year For Pokémon

Pokémon Champions arrives in a year that has already seen Pokémon Pokopia dominate sales charts and player attention. Adding another title to the lineup signals The Pokémon Company’s confidence in expanding beyond its core RPG formula, with Champions representing a distinct competitive angle that complements rather than competes with Pokopia’s appeal.

For now, Switch players can jump in from April 8, while mobile players will likely need to wait until sometime in June for official confirmation and a concrete launch date.

The post Pokemon Champions Mobile Release Expected in June 2026 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Pokémon Champions now officially has a release date, and it’s arriving sooner than many expected.

The The Pokémon Company has confirmed that the new battle-focused title launches on April 8, 2026 for the Nintendo Switch, with support for Nintendo Switch 2 via a free upgrade patch. Alongside the date, we’ve also got a clearer look at how the game plays, plus some genuinely interesting new Mega Evolution abilities that could shake up competitive strategies.

Pokémon Champions Release Date And Platforms

Pokémon Champions will launch globally on April 8, 2026, bringing a battle-centric experience to Nintendo Switch players. A version optimised for Nintendo Switch 2 will also be available through a free update, offering improved visuals, though the exact upgrades haven’t been fully detailed yet.

The game is positioned as a free-to-play experience, meaning players can jump in without paying upfront. However, a Starter Pack bundle will be available on day one, offering optional extras like additional Pokémon storage, bonus music tracks, and other in-game perks for those who want a bit more.

A mobile version is also in development, and importantly, cross-platform play is confirmed. That means Switch players will be able to battle against mobile users, expanding the competitive pool significantly from day one.

Classic Battles With A Competitive Focus

At its core, Pokémon Champions sticks closely to traditional Pokémon battle mechanics. You’ll still be working with familiar systems like types, moves, and Abilities, which keeps things grounded for long-time players.

What sets it apart is its clear focus on battling as the main experience. Rather than a full RPG journey, this is built around competitive play, offering both Ranked Battles for players chasing the top and Casual Battles for those who just want to experiment or play more casually.

The game also connects with Pokémon HOME, allowing players to bring in select Pokémon from past games and even Pokémon GO. That opens the door for long-time fans to reuse their collections in a new competitive environment.

New Mega Evolution Abilities Introduced

One of the biggest surprises is how Mega Evolution is being handled. While the mechanic itself isn’t new, Pokémon Champions introduces entirely new abilities tied to Mega forms, something we haven’t seen before.

Several examples have already been confirmed, including Pokémon originally introduced in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Mega Meganium – Mega Sol

Mega Meganium gains a new Ability called Mega Sol. This allows it to use its moves as if harsh sunlight is active, effectively boosting certain strategies without needing to set up weather conditions manually.

Mega Emboar – Mold Breaker

Mega Emboar comes with Mold Breaker, an Ability that lets its attacks ignore the opponent’s Ability entirely. That can be a major advantage in matchups where defensive or reactive abilities would normally disrupt damage output.

Mega Feraligatr – Dragonize

Mega Feraligatr introduces Dragonize, which converts Normal-type moves into Dragon-type moves and boosts their power by 20 percent. This gives it access to a broader offensive toolkit while increasing its damage potential.

A Growing 2026 Pokémon Line-Up

Pokémon Champions joins what is shaping up to be a packed year for the franchise. Between recent releases, remasters like FireRed and LeafGreen returning, and new projects on the horizon, 2026 is clearly a major moment for Pokémon.

Within that line-up, Champions fills a specific niche. It leans into competitive battling, cross-platform play, and ongoing updates, rather than the traditional single-player adventure structure.

With its free-to-play model, integration with Pokémon HOME, and new twists on Mega Evolution, it looks designed to keep players engaged long-term rather than delivering a one-and-done experience.

What To Expect At Launch

When Pokémon Champions arrives on April 8, players can expect a mix of familiar mechanics and new competitive features. Ranked and Casual modes will be available from the start, along with access to Mega Evolutions and their newly introduced abilities.

The addition of cross-platform play and connectivity with Pokémon HOME suggests the game is aiming for a broad, connected player base right out of the gate.

If the balance holds up and the new abilities land well with players, Pokémon Champions could easily become a central hub for competitive Pokémon battles going forward.

The post Pokemon Champions Release Date Set For April 8, New Mega Abilities Revealed appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

A newly revealed game called Pickmon is already stirring up controversy online, with players accusing it of copying ideas, designs, and even marketing language from several well-known franchises including Pokémon, Palworld, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The multiplayer survival game recently appeared on Steam as the first non-mobile title from developer PocketGame. But instead of excitement around a new monster-taming adventure, much of the early reaction has focused on how closely the game resembles existing titles, and how little effort some players believe was made to hide those similarities.

Pickmon’s Steam Reveal Immediately Sparked Copycat Claims

According to its Steam page, Pickmon is described as a “multiplayer open-world survival crafter” where players explore a vast continent filled with creatures called Pickmon. Players can team up with these monsters to fight enemies, gather resources, farm land, and build large industrial settlements.

The problem, many observers say, is that the description itself appears strikingly similar to the one used for Palworld, which describes players fighting, farming, building, and working alongside creatures called Pals in an open-world survival crafting game.

Pickmon’s reveal trailer quickly amplified those comparisons. Within seconds, viewers are greeted by gentle piano music that strongly resembles the style used in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, before a blond protagonist who closely resembles Link glides off a cliff over a landscape that looks similar to the Great Plateau starting area.

Trailer Footage Shows Familiar Mechanics And Designs

As the trailer continues, more similarities appear.

The main character travels alongside a creature that strongly resembles Pikachu, while other monsters featured in the footage look similar to well-known Pokémon such as Charizard, Lucario, Ceruledge, Cobalion, and Meganium.

Some creatures are also shown carrying firearms, a mechanic that became widely associated with Palworld when it launched in 2024.

Several gameplay clips show additional mechanics that echo Nintendo titles. Players appear to use a glider to travel across the world, and large towers emitting beams of light into the sky resemble the Sheikah Towers used to reveal the map in Breath of the Wild.

One moment even shows a character riding a creature that transforms between vehicle and monster forms, which some players say resembles rideable Pokémon like Miraidon and Koraidon from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Allegations Of Stolen Pokémon Fan Designs

Beyond visual similarities to existing games, Pickmon has also drawn criticism from artists who believe their work was used without permission.

An artist known online as Elpsy claimed on X that one of her fan-created Pokémon designs appeared in the game’s promotional art without credit. The design, a bug and fairy style creature she had named Meganium, is reportedly featured prominently in Pickmon’s key artwork.

Pickmon stole one of my designs! #Pokémon #pokemonart #pokemonfanart pic.twitter.com/ua1za5XzcM

— Elpsy (@ElpsyFake01) March 9, 2026

Other fan artists have also shared examples of fictional Pokémon designs that they believe were copied into the game.

These claims have not yet been publicly addressed by the developers.

Even The Studio Name Has Raised Eyebrows

The developer behind the game, PocketGame, has no previous titles listed on Steam. The game’s publisher, NETWORKGO, previously released a lesser-known fantasy game called Hainya World.

Some observers have pointed out that the studio name PocketGame itself closely resembles Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld.

At the end of the Pickmon reveal trailer, the studio logo even briefly appears misspelled as “PokeGame,” something viewers quickly noticed and shared across social media.

Pickmon Also Borrows Elements From Other Games

The comparisons do not stop with Pokémon, Zelda, and Palworld.

Some players say characters in the trailer resemble other gaming figures as well, including what appears to be a version of Roadhog from Overwatch. Others have spotted creatures similar to animals from farming games such as Story of Seasons.

The one mechanic that appears slightly different is how players capture monsters. Instead of using Poké Ball style items, Pickmon uses cards to tame creatures.

While that small change might help distinguish the mechanic on paper, most reactions online suggest it has not done much to convince players that the game offers something genuinely new.

Questions Around Pickmon’s Summer Game Fest Claim

The reveal trailer also claims Pickmon is part of Summer Game Fest 2026, although the event is still months away and organiser Geoff Keighley has not mentioned the game publicly.

That has raised additional questions about the project, including whether the trailer was officially associated with the event or simply used the branding.

The developers are currently encouraging streamers and content creators to contact them to participate in an early access experience ahead of the game’s planned public early access launch in 2027.

Nintendo’s Ongoing Legal Battles Add More Context

The Pickmon controversy arrives while Nintendo is already engaged in legal disputes involving monster-catching mechanics.

The company filed a lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair in late 2024, arguing the game infringed on patents related to monster summoning mechanics associated with Pokémon.

However, the legal situation has grown complicated. Japanese authorities rejected Nintendo’s attempt to patent certain Pokémon-style capture systems in 2025, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office later re-examined one of Nintendo’s previously granted patents.

Nintendo is also currently involved in a separate legal battle over tariffs imposed on imported products in the United States.

Even with those cases ongoing, the company has historically been very aggressive when defending its intellectual property. That reputation has led many players to speculate that Pickmon could eventually face legal scrutiny if it continues development.

For now, the game remains listed on Steam with early access expected sometime in 2027.

The post Pickmon Accused Of Copying Pokemon, Palworld And Zelda After Steam Reveal appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

A planned Pokémon card game event at Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine has been canceled after sharp criticism from Chinese state media and social media users, prompting an apology from The Pokémon Company. The incident has unfolded against a backdrop of worsening diplomatic tensions between Japan and China.

The event, which had been scheduled for Saturday, was listed on Pokémon’s official website despite being privately organised by a certified third party. After the listing drew international attention and criticism, the company removed the notice and confirmed the cancellation.

Why The Location Sparked Outrage

Yasukuni Shrine commemorates roughly 2.4 to 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including more than 1,000 convicted war criminals, 14 of whom were charged with Class A crimes following World War Two. For China and the Koreas, the shrine remains a powerful symbol of Japan’s wartime aggression and a perceived lack of remorse.

As news of the Pokémon event spread, Chinese state media highlighted angry reactions trending on social platforms. While China’s online discourse is tightly controlled, editorials and selected comments were widely amplified.

Chinese State Media Response

The People’s Daily, the Chinese Communist Party’s official newspaper, warned that companies seen as dismissive of historical suffering would face consequences, writing that brands which “hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will ultimately be abandoned by the market”.

State-run outlet Global Times went further, calling any entertainment activity at Yasukuni an affront to historical truth. It also criticised the fact that the Pokémon event was aimed at children, describing that detail as particularly egregious, while praising Chinese youth for speaking out.

Pokémon Company Apology And Explanation

In statements released in both Japanese and Chinese, The Pokémon Company said the event “should not have been held to begin with”. It explained that the listing appeared on its official site due to a lack of due diligence and insufficient understanding of the shrine’s historical sensitivity.

The company confirmed the event had been promptly canceled once the issue was identified and said it would review and strengthen its internal approval processes. Referencing its long-standing motto about connecting the world through Pokémon, the firm pledged to be more considerate of historical and cultural contexts in the future.

The Pokémon Company operates as an affiliate of Nintendo, whose brands have traditionally maintained a cautious public stance on political and historical disputes.

Rising Japan China Tensions Add Pressure

The controversy arrives during a period of escalating friction between Tokyo and Beijing. In November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Japan could become involved if China were to take military action against Taiwan, a self-governing island claimed by Beijing. The remarks angered Chinese officials and were followed by diplomatic and economic retaliation.

China’s Foreign Ministry has since urged its citizens to avoid travel to Japan, citing safety concerns. Reports have also indicated widespread flight cancellations between the two countries for February 2026, along with delays to the release of Japanese films in China.

Takaichi herself was previously known for visiting Yasukuni Shrine, though she has not prayed there since taking office in October.

A Shrine Under Ongoing Scrutiny

Founded in 1869 by Emperor Meiji, Yasukuni Shrine has long been a flashpoint in East Asian relations. Official visits by Japanese political leaders regularly trigger protests abroad. In recent years, the site has also been vandalised multiple times, including graffiti incidents and defacement of shrine property, reflecting the depth of international anger surrounding its symbolism.

What This Means For Pokémon

While the canceled event was small and locally organised, the fallout shows how global entertainment brands can quickly become entangled in historical and geopolitical disputes. For Pokémon, a franchise with deep roots in childhood nostalgia and family-friendly branding, the episode serves as a reminder that even minor promotional activities can carry international consequences when cultural context is overlooked.

The post Pokemon Card Event at Yasukuni Shrine Canceled After China Backlash appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

A stylish new chapter in gaming fashion

The worlds of gaming and fashion collide once again as 100 Thieves teams up with The Pokémon Company International to unveil The Pokémon + 100 Thieves ‘25 Collection. Building on their successful 2024 collaboration, this new line captures the adventurous spirit of Pokémon Trainers while staying true to 100 Thieves’ reputation for premium streetwear and cutting-edge design.

Get ready, Trainers! 👀

— Pokémon (@Pokemon) October 15, 2025

The Next Chapter of Pokémon x 100 Thieves

Described by the organisation as “a bold new apparel collection that perfectly fuses contemporary streetwear with the expansive world of Pokémon,” the ‘25 Collection showcases 100 Thieves’ signature craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each piece is designed to blend comfort, quality, and creativity, appealing to fans who want to express their love for Pokémon through premium fashion.

According to 100 Thieves, this drop “represents our deep commitment to quality and design, capturing the essence of a Pokémon Trainer’s ambitious journey.”

Expert Craftsmanship and Iconic Design

100 Thieves has evolved.

The iconic collaboration is back: Pokémon + 100 Thieves ’25 Collection

10.25.2025 pic.twitter.com/4zwr7tXAdE

— 100 Thieves (@100Thieves) October 16, 2025

Spanning 19 pieces in total, the Pokémon + 100 Thieves ‘25 Collection is one of the brand’s most detailed releases to date. It features a mix of high-quality cut-and-sew garments, including:

• Double knee carpenter pants
• Two premium jerseys
• A reversible vest
• A flannel jacket

These are complemented by a core line of four unique t-shirts and four hoodies, each spotlighting fan-favourite Pokémon like Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Dragonite, Mew, Umbreon, Lugia, and Ho-Oh.

Rounding out the drop is a Gyarados crewneck and a Kanto Region–inspired Ash Ketchum cap, embroidered with the classic 100 Thieves core logo, a subtle nod to the series’ roots and the timeless trainer aesthetic.

When and Where to Get It

The Pokémon + 100 Thieves ‘25 Collection launches Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 10 AM PST, available exclusively through 100Thieves.com.

Given the success of their previous collaboration, fans should expect items to sell out quickly. This collection blends nostalgia with modern design in a way that only 100 Thieves can deliver, making it a must-have for collectors, fashion enthusiasts, and Pokémon Trainers alike.

The post 100 Thieves and Pokemon Reunite for Premium ‘25 Collection appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

I never checked out the original Detective Pikachu game, despite being super curious about it.

A detective adventure game with a talking Pikachu, it couldn’t sound more up my alley. After watching end enjoying the movie far more than I should have, I still didn’t play the game. Now the sequel Detective Pikachu Returns is out, I figured I’ll jump in.

The game kicks off with a short synopsis of the first game, which turns out was pretty close to what happened in the movie. Tim meets Pikachu who not only talks, but is a great detective. The kicker, only Tim can understand him. They are doing some investigating when an issue of rampaging Pokémon leads to them finding a mysterious drug called R has been getting released. So pretty much what we saw in the movie.

Detective Pikachu Returns kicks off 2 years later. There is a celebration of what Tim and Pikachu achieved two years earlier when a raging corviknight attacks. Here Tim and Pikachu need to get to the bottom of it. The reason I am not touching the story much is because a lot of the story is pretty obvious, and a lot of it is also in the movie. It’s an odd choice, but yeah, it is what it is.

The bulk of the game is walking around, talking to people and getting past puzzles. The puzzles themself are consistently incredibly easy, and I don’t know how I feel about that. It’s clearly an excellent entry point for our younger nerds to get into detective games which is cool. But it would have been awesome if it needed a little bit more brain power and let there be accessibility options and hints for younger players.

The art style is, well, fine.

They have used some chunkier styles to make it simple and look OK, but it just never gets past OK. Like, it’s not bad, it’s just not good. Not a lot of detail, not the cleanest lines, again, just kinda OK. The voice acting is pretty similar as well, with being totally fine. Pikachu’s deep voice really threw me off as I was expecting Ryan Reynolds voice to come out, but yea, it’s good enough.

Whether you will enjoy Detective Pikachu Returns will really depend on your mood, or age. If you want a chill as, silly, detective adventure, there is fun to be had here.

If you’re younger and want to try something different, this is a great gateway into the genre. If you want to engage your brain, this won’t be what you’re looking for.

The post Detective Pikachu Returns (Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

When I checked out Pokémon Scarlett I was in love.

The game’s story was better than expected but running around the open world was fun as hell. Annoyingly the bugs and performance issues held the enjoyment back from being the amazing game it should have been. Well now the first of 2 parts of a DLC package have dropped so I was ready to jump back in and see how much the game has improved.

Let’s see.

The DLC kicks off with you jumping back into the world and getting a call to return to the Academy’s Entrance Hall.  Here you meet Miss Briar from the Blueberry Academy in the Unova region. It turns out you have been chosen to go on an exchange program, so it is time to venture off to a new land.

Well new to Juliana, we saw Unove in Black and White. And don’t get too amped that you’ll be going back to this old school map either, it is just a small area based on that continent.

Anyway, back to the game. The storyline is not too long, so I won’t spoil too much, but the big mystery is a local legend about a legendary Pokémon and 3 others that protect the land from it. You investigate, learn more, and well…. Fight some Pokémon. On the whole the story is nice and light, and enjoyable enough for a Pokémon game.

Fortunately the DLC isn’t just this short story. There are some new Pokémon to catch, both from history and some brand newbies, and heaps of additional side quests to tuck into. I spent easily 6 hours fluffing around in the DLC, which is pretty dang solid. You get a new Pokédex to fill up, but you get a head start with any you caught in the base game.

As for bugs, they aren’t gone yet. Within minutes of being in the new area  it was really struggling to play the game. It was chugging and the framerate dropped like crazy. I didn’t hit any hard crashes this time, which might be luck, but still, either this game isn’t optimized for the Switch hardware, or the Switch needs a beefy upgrade. It wasn’t enough to stop me enjoying the game, but it was bloody rough at times.

On the whole, The Teal Mask was a fun as hell bit of DLC.

The light hearted story, new Pokémon and just general fun is all there. I just hope the game runs smoother by the time the second part of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC releases. I’m not optimistic.

The post Pokémon Scarlet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Pokémon as a series has had its ups and downs, but they have provided a pretty consistent experience.

With the open world-ish area of Sword and Shield, and the world of Arceus there was some real potential to finally give fans the game they have been clambering for. An open world Pokémon game. Well, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have mostly delivered.

Pokémon Scarlet kicks off with your new character in a new land Paldea. She has just moved here and is signed up for school.  She is given a starter Pokémon and sent for her first day of school. This is the hardest part of the game, the initial slog. You walk to the school and learn the basics from an older student. Initially you get given an open area absolutely swarming with Pokémon that gives you a real taste of what the game offers.

The initial story sequence isn’t that long, but when you are chomping at the bit to start exploring it can feel longer than it is. What is on the other side of this intro is so much more exciting. Basically the school assignment is to make your way out into the world and either go tackle gyms, fight titan Pokémon, or defeat the menace that is Team Star. And this is where the game excels.

What you do is up to you.

The moment you leave the school you can just go wandering.

No more corridors funnelling you from town to town, just explore. Sure some areas you will have your ass handed to you pretty quickly if you don’t prepare, but you need some progression. There is a recommended way to progress which follows a levelling up, but that is a much more satisfying way to build a progression path.

One of the biggest things is the Pokémon wandering around the world.

You can see them, throw your ball at it to start a battle, or just run as fast as you can if you are running low on health. One interesting thing here is some wild Pokémon will be way stronger than those around which presents challenges. The first time this happened it annoyed me because it was unexpected. After that ass kicking I actually came to appreciate it.

The world having random stronger Pokémon around really adds a layer of character to the world.

You can also throw your Pokémon out and they will run around near you battling wild Pokémon. This is very useful because you don’t have to go through the battle process with 65 Lechonks to do some grinding.

Your Pawmi can run around battling them in seconds and you can move on to more interesting things. These battles will slowly knock health off your Pokémon, so it isn’t easy street, but it saves some serious time and repetition. This did annoyingly wind up with me being overpowered pretty early on, but thanks to the random difficulty spikes, the game still kicked my ass on occasion.

The game isn’t totally perfect.

I fell through the ground on occasion, the game crashed a couple of times, and there were some serious performance issues at times.

The wild pokémon could get really jittery when there were enough on the screen. Fortunately with a good auto save feature I never lost any progress and thanks to a simple fast travel system I was never more than inconvenienced by this stuff.

There is another story line where you come across a legendary Pokémon Koraidon. It is hurt and you help out, to find that it was already captured by someone at the school. They give you Koraidon but it can’t battle. What it does do is turn into a bike so you can travel faster on the open world. Defeating the handful of titan Pokémon powers him up enhancing your skills, but the whole story was a bit naff.

I would have been happier just getting a bike.

Another new addition, or modification of an old system, is the Terastal forms.

Basically you can make a Pokémon turn into a powered up Tera type with a new form for the rest of that battle. Once you have used that skill you need to power your crystal back up at a Pokémon centre. So you can use it liberally, but I tended to save it for bigger battles. Out in the wild are tera battles where you and multiple people take on a large powered up tera Pokémon. If this seems familiar, it’s essentially the dynamax feature from Sword and Shield,

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are in some ways the exact next Pokémon game I wanted. Some autonomy and an open world is a blast to explore. It has some polish issues, and carriers over some meh ideas, but in so many ways it is the exact Pokémon game I have been waiting for for years. Don’t let some minor bugs stop you enjoying this one.

The post Pokémon Scarlet (Nintendo Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.