Pokémon Sword

Overview

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are 2019 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch console. They are the first instalments in the 8th generation of the Pokémon video game series. First teased at E3 2017 and announced in February 2019, the games were released on 15 November 2019. The games were accompanied by a downloadable content (DLC) expansion pass consisting of Part 1, The Isle of Armor (released in June 2020) and Part 2, The Crown Tundra (October 2020); its launch marked the first ever DLC released as part of the Pokémon video game series instead of an improved version.

In the game story, a young Pokémon Trainer begins their adventure in the Galar Region along with their friend/rival Hop as they join the Gym Challenge that allows them to compete with others for the title of Galar League Champion, due to them both getting a letter from Hop's brother and undefeated Galar League Champion, Leon. The games introduced many new features including the Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanic, which causes a player's Pokémon to grow to a significantly larger size and use more powerful attacks in battle. Conceptualization of the game began immediately following the completion of Pokémon Sun and Moon in 2016, while full development began a year later. The games were designed around the intent of utilizing the improved hardware capabilities of the Nintendo Switch. The Dynamax mechanic was similarly designed around the ability to see larger battles than were previously possible in the series.

Pokémon games feature a system where Pokémon from past games are able to be transferred into newer installments; when it was announced that Sword and Shield would exclude many pre-existing Pokémon from being usable in the games, it triggered a backlash from fans who called it "Dexit" as a nod to Brexit and resulted in an extensive controversy. Sword and Shield received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the games' gameplay, exploration, and mechanics, although the lack of innovation and mediocre visuals received some criticism. As of December 2025, the games had sold more than 27 million copies worldwide, making them the third best-selling titles in the Pokémon video game series. The games won awards at the SXSW Gaming Awards and Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards 2019.

Official trailer

E3 2017 Developer Announcement. Watch on YouTube

Gameplay

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 - Galar Region Intro! (Nintendo Switch), ZackScottGames. Watch on YouTube

Screenshots

Game details

Genres

Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure

Developer

Game Freak

Publisher

Nintendo

Series

Pokémon

Platforms

Nintendo Switch

Age rating

ESRB E

Modes

Single player

Yes

Co op

No

Age ratings

ACB

PG

CLASS IND

L

PEGI

7

USK

6

GRAC

ALL

CERO

A

ESRB

E

Release dates

Editions

Check out the store

DLC

The Expansion Pass added two areas, The Isle of Armor (17 June 2020) and The Crown Tundra (22 October 2020), and is still sold for US$29.99.

Items

Name	Date	Adds	Price	Obtainable today
Expansion Pass	2020-06-17	The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra, new areas with stories, returning Pokemon and Dynamax Adventures	US$29.99	Yes

Playable today

Playable offline todayYes

The story, the DLC, local and online play all still work.

Online

Plays offlineYes

Reception

Aggregates

Outlet	Platform	Score	Scale
Metacritic	Switch	80	100

Critics

Outlet	Score	Scale
IGN	9.3	10
GameSpot	9	10
Game Informer	8.75	10
Destructoid	7.5	10
Easy Allies	7	10
Eurogamer	3	5
Game Revolution	7	10
Shacknews	8	10

Staff and cast

Staff

Role	Name
Developer	Game Freak
Publishers	Nintendo, The Pokemon Company (Japan)
Director	Shigeru Ohmori
Producers	Junichi Masuda, Hitoshi Yamagami, Akira Kinashi, Takanori Sowa, Mikiko Ohashi, Shin Uwai
Designer	Kazumasa Iwao
Programmer	Tomoya Takahashi
Artists	James Turner, Suguru Nakatsui
Writer	Toshinobu Matsumiya
Composers	Go Ichinose, Minako Adachi

Notes for collectors

• Shield is the paired version, with some different Pokemon and Gym Leaders.
• Not every older Pokemon is in the game; the cut, called Dexit by fans, drew a large backlash before launch.
• Max Raid Battles take up to 4 players, over local wireless or online.
• Over 27 million copies sold for both versions by December 2025.
• The Double Pack holds both versions on two cards.

Credits

Publisher

Nintendo

Developer

Game Freak

Director

Shigeru Ohmori

Released

2019-11-15

Age rating

ESRB E

Region

US

Time to beat

about 26.3 hours