10 INSULTING Nintendo Switch Games

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet were, in several respects, a bold effort to revitalize the DNA of the series. Franchise fans have long wished for a free-roam, Pokémon-filled, open world to explore, and the Paldea region represents its biggest step yet in that direction.

Players can choose to follow the usual Gym Challenge route, tackle the Titans, attack Team Star’s bases, or all three, plotting their own route around the game’s large map and prioritizing the objectives they wish to.

However, all this comes at a cost. With opposing Pokémon’s levels not scaling, there’s something of a ‘correct’ route to take that will prevent your challenge being rather harder than it needs to be.

Additionally, the game’s performance remains questionable at best, even after significant DLC releases and updates. Pop-in, visual glitches, and lag are frequent, sometimes making what should be the thrill of roaming the world feel more like a chore.

This is particularly disheartening in the wake of Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Sword and Shield, both Nintendo Switch experiences that were considerably more technically stable. As it is, Scarlet & Violet could be considered both a step forward and back for the series.