Pokemon Go! Review

Posted: 7 months ago, last updated 2 weeks ago.

Overview

Pokémon Go is a game you play by walking outside. You play on a smartphone so it can use the GPS to locate, capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, called Pokémon, which appear as if they are in the player's real-world location.

Although this technology and game-play had existed previously in the developers games (like Ingress) Pokémon Go had huge success with families and people of all ages. By early 2019, the game had over a billion global downloads, grossing over $3 billion in revenue. The game also had over 147 million monthly active users as of May 2018.

Its unique collecting game-play combined with needing to explore your local area to find creatures was a big hit. The game converted local sites of interest, like Churches, Castles and rivers into elements in the game.

Ingres (2013)
Pokemon Go (2016) on iOS and Android
Ingres Prime (2017) on iOS and Android, updated with a superhero aesthetic and story.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (2019) on iOS and Android, with a Harry Potter theme.

It has been followed up by Harry Potter: Wizards Unite which offers a similar experienced, themed around the popular wizard rather than Pokemon creatures.

Details

Rating: PEGI 7+, ESRB TEEN

Release Date: 06/07/2016

Platforms: Android and iOS.

Genres: Action, Adventure, Fighting, Open World, Physically Active and Turn-Based.

Tips

View our choice of games like Pokemon Go!.

This game is good if you want to:

Commitment

Duration: This game will take between 70 hours and 140 hours to complete. Because of the game's collect them all nature, it will take a very long time to complete. However, you can play as little or as often as you like in relatively short sessions.

Players: You can play with 2 players in the same room and up to 20 players online. You can battle one on one when in the same place as other people. You can also compete in “raid” battles with up to 19 other people in the same battle.

Cross-Play: Play with people across iOS and Android.

Costs

This game is free to play. Additional in-game purchases are offered for items that enhance the experience.

You can purchase Pokecoins in the game to speed up progress.

Age Ratings

Rated PEGI 7+ for mild violence against fantasy characters. Users can engage the cartoon, fantasy characters in Gym battles, which involves two of them sending waves and elements between each other. When hit, they flinch and there is a brief flash. When defeated, they disappear and a glowing orb appears. They then evolve into their next character. Characters can be healed by buying potions.

The game contains in-app purchases and users can add friends and send gifts. You also need to take care when playing outside for dangers like traffic.

This game has been rated ESRB TEEN.

Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.

Accessibility

Accessibility for this game is as follows:

System Settings

Android has accessibility settings including ways to navigate and interact, although not all games support this. iOS has a very extensive suite of accessibility settings including ways to navigate with voice and comprehensive screen reading, though most of the features don't work with games... read more about system accessibility settings.

Games Like Pokemon Go!

The following games are like Pokemon Go!. They address a similar topic or offer a similar way to play. They are good options to play next and also good alternatives to Pokemon Go! for younger age ratings.

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