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GAMES Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Series)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Series) Review
Posted: 18 months ago, last updated 9 days ago.
Author: Ben Kendall, @GeekDadGamer and Jo Robertson.
Overview
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon is a series of fighting games where you control different cartoon creatures as they make their way through randomly-generated dungeons, defeating enemies and adding them to your team. It's a simple roguelike game where you take repeated runs at the dungeons, slowly gaining more power and getting further each time. The intuitive and strategic gameplay cycle makes these games stand out.
The latest game is Rescue Team DX, a remake of the original. It offers a unique watercolour art style and wide ranging battles with the 100's of different Pokemon. You take a personality test at the start to decide which Pokémon you become. The dungeons are then generated fresh each time you enter them. As you encounter and defeat more Pokémon in the turn-based battles, you build your team.
Both movement and actions are turn-based letting you take things at your own pace and employ deep strategies. In battles you use regular attacks, moves from the main series of games, and special items to give you an advantage over your opponents. Between dungeons, you explore the village and surrounding area, buying items for your fights and doing jobs that give you useful items.
While all the games have similar gameplay, Rescue Team DX has some extra features, such as Mega Evolutions to the Pokémon and an autosave feature. There have been several Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games on many platforms since the original release in 2005, meaning you don't need the latest console to play:
Throughout the series there is an emphasis on lighthearted and accessible fun, but also require strategy to overcome the challenges you face.
The latest game is Rescue Team DX, a remake of the original. It offers a unique watercolour art style and wide ranging battles with the 100's of different Pokemon. You take a personality test at the start to decide which Pokémon you become. The dungeons are then generated fresh each time you enter them. As you encounter and defeat more Pokémon in the turn-based battles, you build your team.
Both movement and actions are turn-based letting you take things at your own pace and employ deep strategies. In battles you use regular attacks, moves from the main series of games, and special items to give you an advantage over your opponents. Between dungeons, you explore the village and surrounding area, buying items for your fights and doing jobs that give you useful items.
While all the games have similar gameplay, Rescue Team DX has some extra features, such as Mega Evolutions to the Pokémon and an autosave feature. There have been several Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games on many platforms since the original release in 2005, meaning you don't need the latest console to play:
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team (2005) DS, Game Boy Advance
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness (2007) DS
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (2009) DS
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Keep Going! Blazing Adventure Squad!, Let's Go! Stormy Adventure Squad!, and Go For It! Light Adventure Squad! (2009) Wii
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (2013) 3DS
- Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon (2015) 3DS
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (2020) Switch
Throughout the series there is an emphasis on lighthearted and accessible fun, but also require strategy to overcome the challenges you face.
Game Details
Release Date: 17/11/2005, updated in 2020
Platforms: 3DS and 2DS, DS, Switch and Wii
Content Rating: PEGI 7
Skill Rating: 7+ year-olds
Players: 1
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fighting and Role-Play
Developer: Spike Chunsoft e (@SpikeChunsoft_e)
Lists
View our choice of games like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. This game is good if you want to:
Duration
Play Time: This game will take between 10 hours and 20 hours to complete. The time to beat the game's main story will vary quite a lot due to the semi-random nature of the gameplay. For players less experienced in the genre, the levels may take a couple of attempts to beat which may reault in play sessions of over an hour.
Play Style
This is a single-player game.
You can play this game in the following styles:
Age Ratings
Content Rating
Rated for younger players in the US. Rated ESRB EVERYONE for Mild Cartoon Violence. From an overhead perspective, players meet various characters, traverse dungeon environments, and battle wild Pokémon in turn-based combat. During combat, players use a menu system to select various actions/attacks (e.g., chop, sting, and ember); damage is indicated by blinking effects (occasional explosions) and a loss of hit points.
Skill Rating
7+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Younger players need to be able to make choices in combat and explore the dungeons relatively systematically. There is also an underlying mystery to solve that requires some comprehension to understand.
Costs
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon usually costs £8.99 to £34.99.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates To Infinity
Does not offer in-game purchases, 'loot boxes' or 'battle/season passes'.
Accessibility
We haven't documented accessibility features for this game yet. Our Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Accessibility Report details system-wide settings that may help, and suggests similar games with accessibility features. Tweet the developer (@SpikeChunsoft_e) to let them know about our Accessibility Questionnaire.
Diversity and Inclusion
We haven't documented diversity and inclusion information for this game yet.
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