The Pokemon series has dabbled in a myriad of different genres over the last two decades. Games in the franchise range from puzzle games to fighting games, but the launch of Pokemon Unite marks the franchise’s first foray into the popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre.
When it was first announced at Pokemon Presents in June 2020, the announcement certainly caught some fans of the franchise off guard, as it welcomes trainers to a very different type of journey to what they will have previously experienced. It is currently only available on Nintendo Switch, but will be launched on mobile devices this September.
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Pokemon Unite brings several new and entirely unfamiliar elements of gameplay to the franchise. The game takes players to a new location called Aeos Island, where Battle Tournaments are run by the Unite Battle Committee (UBC).
As a 5v5 strategy game, Pokemon Unite is similar to most MOBAs, but it differs in one crucial way: Instead of destroying an enemy base, players have to cooperate with their team members to defeat enemy players and any wild Pokemon that appear on the map. After completing the short tutorial, players choose their starting Pokemon. As they progress, they can unlock more licenses both for free and through in-app purchases; once players have a Pokemon’s license, it is essentially part of their battle Pokedex.
Before each battle, players choose which of the Pokemon in their collection they will control during the match. All Pokemon that can evolve begin the match in their unevolved form at level one, but by defeating other Pokemon during the match they can gain Aeos energy. This allows Pokemon to level up and evolve, if they chose a Pokemon that can do so.
One of the big differences between Unite and other games in the franchise is Pokemon in this game do not have type weaknesses and strengths. Instead, each Pokemon has unique stats and a certain role — Attacker, Defender, Speedster, Supporter, or All Rounder. Players will therefore need to examine these and decide which Pokemon best suits their playstyle. They will also each have a signature “Unite Move” that can be learned upon reaching the higher levels. Before each battle, players will also be able to equip items to improve their gameplay. Pokemon can hold up to three items during a battle, of which there are more than 15 to choose from.
Each team begins with five goals on their side of the map. To earn points, players must gather Aeos energy by defeating other Pokemon. The energy is then deposited into the opposing team’s goals, and the team with the most points wins. In the last few minutes of each battle, a Legendary Pokemon will appear, and the team that deals the final blow to this Pokemon earns an abundance of points that can ultimately tip the scales in their favor.
The rules of the game are deceptively simple; where the real challenge arises for players is the team-based gameplay. Pokemon Unite was designed for multiplayer, and this adds to the game's unique appeal. While Pokemon battles have always been a fundamental part of the franchise, working with a team to coordinate attacks and defenses is a new experience. Past Pokemon titles have generally centered all around a solitary battle playstyle, and so players will need to incorporate a very different kind of strategy in Pokemon Unite.
Like most MOBAs, Pokemon Unite has a ranking system that pits players of the same skill level against each other. As players win more matches, they will earn performance points which enable them to move on to higher divisions with the ultimate goal being to participate in the Master Cup. There is also a global ranking ladder where players can check out the top Pokemon Unite players.
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Pokemon Unite is free-to-play, which is certainly a big incentive for fans of the franchise who may be on the fence over whether to download it or not. Although there are in-game purchases available, they’re completely optional. Aeos Gems are paid for with real money, and can be used to purchase special items, skins, and battle passes. Aeos Coins, on the other hand, which are used to purchase new items and Pokemon licenses, can be obtained through playing the game. There are also Aeos Tickets, which can be earned as rewards.
As of now, the game is currently only available on Nintendo Switch. Players who log in on this platform by August 31 will receive the license for Zeraora as a launch bonus, which is a big incentive for players. Zeraora is a powerful Pokemon who can move at rapid speed and deal enormous amounts of damage. Its Unite Move also poses a significant advantage as it sends out a powerful electric blast.
Launching first on Switch means Unite's launch is exclusive, but its popularity is sure to increase when it is released on mobile devices as well. Of course, this gap does give Switch owners an advantage over mobile players, in both skill and in-game items earned over time. The overall popularity of the Pokemon franchise is a guarantee that Pokemon Unite will start off strong, and the fact that the game is free-to-play means that everyone can pick it up without risk.
Branching into the MOBA genre could potentially earn the franchise some new fans, too. When the game was originally announced, however, the initial response to Pokemon Unite was largely negative. Prior to the announcement, Unite was was teased as a "big project" and many fans felt like the release of a new mobile game was underwhelming.
It is too early to truly establish how positively the game has been received, but hopefully it will serve as a rewarding and innovative addition to the franchise. Ahead of the much-anticipated launch of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, this MOBA flavor of the Pokemon franchise could pave the way toward more original titles.
Pokemon Unite is now available to download for free on the Nintendo Switch, and will be launched on mobile devices in September.
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