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Best Switch games 2024: Mario, Metroid, Pokémon, Zelda and more
16. Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Best Pokémon Game
Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes the Pokémon franchise into a whole new era with a semi-open world, slick game mechanics, a detailed plot, and a focus on building the Pokédex and exploring the region, instead of classic gym battles.
Each part of the Hisui region acts as its own open world section, from rolling hills and lush fields to swampy swamps and volcanic islands, there’s plenty of variety. However, the graphics could use a little more polish. The presentation feels unrefined and grainy at times, and some textures and Pokémon look janky.
Nevertheless, the graphics don’t detract from the fact that this is the most refreshing take on a Pokémon story we’ve seen in years, with plenty of adventure and some challenging battles that make for an immersive experience.
It has an edge over the latest main series, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. While this game operates with a truly open world with three different stories to follow and more traditional gameplay than Arceus, it is riddled with bugs and generally feels unfinished.
It’s a shame, as the gameplay of the Gen 9 series is incredibly fun – and if more time and care had been put into the development process, it would certainly have been one of the best titles yet.
