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Pokémon Unite was released on the Nintendo Switch in July and is set to release on other mobile platforms next week. As a lot of new players are going to be jumping in soon, we think this is a good time for a fresh look at the game.

Pokémon Unite is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game. It plays similarly to other moba titles such as Dota 2, League of Legends, and Smite. As in those other games, in Unite you control your chosen Pokémon and defeat wild mobs and enemy team Pokémon to level up and to gain Aeos energy. You need to deposit Aeos energy into the enemy goal zones to destroy their zones and score points. The winning team is the team that scores the most Aeos points.

Unlike most other titles in the same genre, Pokémon Unite shines in its simplicity. The game is designed for anyone to be able to jump into the gameplay and have an easy time with the combat, while still allowing for mechanical complexity in high end play for those who really want to dive into the ranked ladder. Each match starts off with your Pokémon at level one, and you have to level up by defeating mobs and enemy players. Depending on which Pokémon you choose, it may evolve at different levels. You will also need to choose which moves to keep or discard as your Pokémon learns and unlocks new moves and attack abilities as it levels up. 

A single Pokémon can have multiple playstyles depending on which items it has equipped and which moves it learns throughout the game. Combat itself is fairly simple as a Pokémon can have only two moves learned at a single time in addition to their unique Unite move that is a special ability that unlocks as it levels up. The game also offers many mobile-friendly quality of life features such as auto-targeting abilities or priority targeting mobs/players when multiple Pokémon are in range at once.

The current Unite roster consists of 23 different Pokémon - including fan favorites such as Pikachu and all three Gen 1 starters. The developers are keen to keep the game active as they have regularly added new events and new Pokémon to the game since release. The way to acquire new Pokémon is by obtaining their Unite license. Some Pokémon licenses are given out as a reward for leveling up or for completing event objectives. You can also directly purchase specific Pokémon licenses by using Aeos Coins or Aeos Gems. You earn Coins by simply playing the game and Gems are the premium currency you can purchase from the in-game store. Pokémon Unite does provide a free rotating cast of Pokémon that changes each week for those who want to try them out as well. 

There’s a lot to like about Pokémon Unite. It’s a free-to-play title that anyone can download and start playing on their phones or Switch. The game caters to a casual audience so newcomers will feel more welcome. Daily/weekly tasks and battle pass challenges usually take around half an hour of playing a day to complete so it doesn’t feel like a chore to play daily either. Even children and those who usually don’t play games can team up and play together just for fun - it’s a Pokémon game after all. The game also has a wide variety of customization options available with uniquely different clothing styles for the player characters and colorful costumes for the Pokémon. 

But the game does fall to the trappings of f2p titles - an overreliance on monetization. While the Battlepass, skins and customization options are available for Gems they also don’t have a direct impact on the gameplay experience. What does have a direct negative impact on players is the fact that the currency needed to upgrade items are available for purchase via Gems. And because this upgrade currency is so hard to obtain in-game, you will have to grind for a long time to fully kit out your favorite Pokémon if you’re not willing to whip out your credit card.

Pokémon Unite will release for Android and iOS devices on September 22nd with pre-registration open now for everyone. Despite some flaws in the game design, it is still a very welcoming game that anyone can try out. Newbie-friendly combat combined with the usual colorful Pokémon aesthetic makes this game something you’ll want to try out at least once.

About the author: Maldivian Gaming League is a team of e-sports organizers and competition promoters based in the Maldives. For more information, check them out on Facebook or Instagram.