Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Games review
As of Jul 13, 2026, Pokemon Legends: Arceus is rated 83/100 on OpenCritic (148 critic reviews), and 83/100 on Metacritic (125 critic reviews). Each source is shown in its own units, never blended into one score.
Is Pokemon Legends: Arceus worth it in 2026?
An 83 from both OpenCritic and Metacritic, 148 and 125 critic reviews respectively, is a consistent signal, and the praise is substantive: eight reviewers flagged genuine series evolution, four called it the best main-series Pokémon game in years, and the rebuilt catching mechanics and overhauled battle system are the core reasons why. That said, poor graphics quality was the most-cited complaint in sampled reviews, and for a 2022 release it is a recurring problem rather than a minor quibble, one critic went so far as to call it the franchise's biggest disappointment. The world itself drew criticism as drab and empty, trainer battles are thin on the ground, and the early game grinds before it opens up, so the praise this game earns comes from mechanical reinvention, not from delivering a rich or polished world.
Lapsed Pokémon fans who burned out on the locked-in formula and want the catching and battling loop rebuilt from scratch, the moment-to-moment gameplay is where this earns its reputation.
Trainer battles are a reduced presence here, not a side note, if that is the core of why you play Pokémon, you will feel the absence. Add persistent graphics complaints and a world critics described as hollow, and this is a game that rewards patience with its systems more than immersion in its
ReviewPond's conclusion, drawn only from the verified scores and review themes below. Not a paid or editorial opinion.
Different sources measure different things, so each is shown in its own units and never merged into one number.
Pros
- series evolution and innovation8
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- There's room for improvement in a potential Pokemon Legends: Arceus sequel, but what's here will still keep Pokemon fans busy for hours on end. Pokemon Legends: Arceus's gameplay i...
- But Pokemon Legends: Arceus is proof that Pokemon can evolve. It's taken 25 years but this feels like the first true evolution of the series; a far bigger change than moving from 2...
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus charts an exciting new direction for the series, while still maintaining many of the core tenants that made Game Freak's franchise so beloved in the first p...
- best pokemon game in years4
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- Technical shortcomings and minor frustrations can’t take away what this game achieves elsewhere; it’s the best main-series Pokemon game in a long, long time.
- It wouldn't be difficult to claim that Pokémon Legends: Arcues is the strongest Pokémon title the series has had since the DS era.
- If this is the future of the series, I'll be incredibly happy, because this just might be the best Pokemon game ever made.
- engaging exploration and world3
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- Pokémon Legends: Arceus struggles with graphics and certain aspects of gameplay, but its expansive world, endless Pokémon to find, and strong storyline make it worth playing.
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus feels like the result of Game Freak learning lessons for 25 years, refining the formula, and finally taking the franchise in a new, incredible, exciting dir...
- "Pokémon Legends: Arceus" is a masterpiece made, not only for fans of the franchise's video games, but for lovers of the Pokémon World in general. That living ecosystem, full of m...
Cons
- poor graphics quality4
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- But Pokemon Legends: Arceus is proof that Pokemon can evolve. It's taken 25 years but this feels like the first true evolution of the series; a far bigger change than moving from 2...
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a refreshing take on the Pokemon formula, stripping back the game to focus on the titular creatures with such great success. It's just let down by the gr...
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus struggles with graphics and certain aspects of gameplay, but its expansive world, endless Pokémon to find, and strong storyline make it worth playing.
Themes and quotes are drawn from 20 sampled reviews with text; the scores above reflect all 273 ratings. Counts are how many of the sampled reviews mention each point.