Pokémon Sword & Shield review

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are the easiest main-series games to pick up on Switch, and they rank fifth. Nintendo's store page starts you with Grookey, Scorbunny or Sobble in the Galar region, where you face Team Yell and look into the Legendary Zacian and Zamazenta. The Wild Area is a large space with free camera control, and Max Raid Battles let you team up with three other players locally or online against giant Dynamax Pokémon, some of which can Gigantamax. Poké Jobs, Pokémon Camp and clothing shops add side activities. Nintendo lists one player on a single system, 2 to 4 over local wireless and 1 to 4 online. Each version costs $59.99, and the Expansion Pass with The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra adds $29.99. Outside the Wild Area the routes are more linear than Paldea or Hisui, which keeps its capabilities score lower.

Who it is for

Younger players and groups who want an easy-to-follow adventure and 4-player raids.

Price

$59.99 one-time digital purchase on the US Nintendo eShop.

Pokémon™ Shield 11/15/19 Regular Price: $59.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Grookey, Scorbunny or Sobble as your first partner
• The Wild Area, where you can freely control the camera
• Max Raid Battles with up to three other players locally or online
• Dynamax and Gigantamax forms with G-Max moves
• Poké Jobs, Pokémon Camp and clothing and hair customization

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The clearest multiplayer support listed here: 2 to 4 locally and 1 to 4 online
• Strength: Expansion Pass adds The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra for $29.99
• Strength: Mild ESRB descriptors, Comic Mischief and Mild Cartoon Violence
• Weakness: Most of the region outside the Wild Area follows set routes
• Weakness: Expansion Pass costs extra
• Weakness: Online raids need a Nintendo Switch Online membership

Key facts

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release date: November 15, 2019
• ESRB: Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence
• File size: 12.4 GB
• Expansion Pass: $29.99

Where it ranks

Pokémon Sword & Shield is No. 5 in our Best Pokémon Games verdict.