Pokémon GO

"Pokémon GO is a popular, award-winning mobile game that encourages exploration of the real world to discover and catch Pokémon. Compete in gym battles, team up with other trainers for raids, and journey with a buddy Pokémon to make it stronger. The game uses Adventure Sync to track walking distance even when the app is closed."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,000 reviews

gameplay107 positive mentions

stability995 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay that encourages physical activity and exploration.
Frequent updates and events keep the game fresh and exciting.
Strong community aspect, allowing players to connect and play together.

Frequent crashes and bugs, especially during battles and raids.
Pay-to-win mechanics and rising costs for in-game items frustrate players.
Limited interaction distance for trading and battling makes it difficult for rural players.

stability
997 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and glitches that severely impact gameplay. Players have noted that issues often arise during critical moments, such as battles or catching Pokémon, leading to frustration and loss of progress. Despite some improvements over time, the overall consensus is that the game remains plagued by bugs, making it increasingly difficult to enjoy the experience fully.
- “A great game! I've played this for a long time with no lag and no glitches—perfect to play in various places.”
- “Overall, it's great! I would have rated it 5 stars if it weren't for some bugs.”
- “But the latest update made the game quite unstable and it freezes or crashes randomly when I look at my items, Pokémon, or start battles.”
- “The game is unplayable; there are times it won't load at all, all because it glitches out when you click on a Pokémon.”
- “Constantly freezes, players in airplane mode have been told to interrupt connection and get advantages, and it shows when I'm connected to Wi-Fi even.”
gameplay
348 mentions
31 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Gameplay in the game is generally enjoyable and engaging, with a variety of mechanics that encourage exploration and social interaction. However, many players report significant issues such as lag, bugs, and frustrating mechanics, particularly in PvP battles, which detract from the overall experience. While the game offers frequent updates and new content, the balance between fun and the need for in-app purchases, along with inconsistent performance, has led to mixed feelings among users.
- “The gameplay is engaging and interesting, and though a lot of people have said this already, the graphics really are amazing.”
- “The game is good, especially if you want to get outside, and the game is regularly updated.”
- “Gameplay is great - I came back after playing in 2016 and they added a lot of stuff.”
- “I found that they didn't help me enough on how to get better at PvP, and even with prior knowledge of type advantages and the individual Pokémon, there are many mechanical inconveniences that make me not even want to play the game.”
- “The gameplay experience has drastically changed, making us pay for everything.”
- “The game has progressively gotten worse with its mechanics; the Go Battle League is still buggy even after 3 months of fixing, the raids kick you out half the time, and the free stuff is getting much worse.”
story
225 mentions
9 % positive mentions
86 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is often criticized for being frustratingly convoluted and riddled with bugs that hinder progress, such as missions that cannot be completed due to technical issues or the unavailability of required Pokémon. Players express a desire for a more engaging narrative and streamlined quest mechanics, as many missions require social interaction or specific conditions that are difficult to meet, especially for solo players. While the game offers a variety of quests and events, the overall experience can feel tedious and overly reliant on external factors, leading to dissatisfaction among long-time players.
- “The game has improved a lot over the course of 2 years with the whole new gym system, friendship, research quests etc. it is more fun to play than it was initially 2 years ago and on top of that Niantic tries to make the playing experience more fun for everyone.”
- “With the addition of new features (such as research missions, gifts, trades, and now trainer battles), the game has not only gotten back its thrill of the hunt, but now gives a directional end goal.”
- “I love completing missions & visiting new parks, while playing a game I've been a fan of since childhood.”
- “The lack of healing item drops makes story progression impossible.”
- “It's not 5 stars because the game itself is very challenging; you have to do a gazillion quests just to pass less than a quarter of the game.”
- “I love this game, but I have been stuck on the mission 'a thousand-year slumber' for over 9 months.”
graphics
193 mentions
48 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their quality and detail, particularly in the Pokémon models and environments. However, several users report issues such as lag, graphical glitches, and a lack of options to adjust settings for lower-end devices, which detracts from the overall experience. While some find the visuals stunning and engaging, others express a desire for improvements and optimizations to enhance performance and reduce graphical clutter.
- “The graphics are amazing and gameplay is pretty much perfect!”
- “The graphics are great, the tracking is good too.”
- “I absolutely love the graphics and sounds but you should make the Pokémon sound like they do in other Pokémon games.”
- “My primary issue that has me torn between a 3 and 4 star rating is that the game is too graphically busy in places that it shouldn't be.”
- “The graphics on my new phone, however, are stilted and not smooth like on my previous phone.”
- “It's hard to look at this game and give it 5 stars when there are numerous bugs and glitches that should have never made it out of the testing phase, along with some basic quality of life visuals that are just flat out awful.”
monetization
155 mentions
23 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
39 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to aggressive microtransaction strategies and rising costs for in-game purchases. While some users appreciate the absence of ads and the ability to play without spending money, the overall sentiment reflects frustration over the increasing emphasis on pay-to-win mechanics and the perception that developers prioritize profit over player experience. Despite these concerns, a few players still find enjoyment in the game without engaging heavily in its monetization practices.
- “It's free, no ads, and you can enjoy the game to the fullest without any of the in-app purchases.”
- “In-app purchases are completely optional, and one can reasonably reach maximum level and form a solid team without spending anything.”
- “No ads, which is rare these days!”
- “Microtransactions have ruined this game as the devs use FOMO tactics and actual scamming to wring money out of the player base.”
- “It is nothing but a supreme cash grab, and the people working on it and delivering us new content do not care about us or our experience with this slap-in-the-face of a product.”
- “The entire game is just a shameless cash grab now.”
optimization
84 mentions
14 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
35 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, lag, and poor performance across various devices, particularly on older or lower-end models. While some updates have improved performance slightly, many players still experience significant issues, including unresponsive gameplay and visual glitches. Overall, the lack of customizable graphics settings and persistent bugs contribute to a frustrating experience, overshadowing the game's fun elements.
- “Its performance gets better with every update.”
- “Been playing since late 2016 and this game has seriously come a long way, lots of people complain about the updates etc but it's quality of life changes, better performance than it's ever been and in a really good spot right now.”
- “The graphics and performance are great even for 2 GB RAM users; this game helps to interact us with others and the real world seamlessly.”
- “Horribly unoptimized, riddled with bugs, and the company is making more and more bad decisions.”
- “This is literally one of the most horribly optimized games I have ever played.”
- “The game seems poorly optimized and is glitchy even on up-to-date devices.”
music
68 mentions
10 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its low quality and intrusive nature, often leading to frustration when trying to enjoy their own music simultaneously. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements, like the inclusion of classic tracks, others find the sound effects and vocals annoying, especially when they disrupt gameplay or reset settings. Overall, players express a desire for more music options and improvements to the audio experience.
- “I love how they kept the Lavender Town music for Halloween.”
- “Rather fun and enjoyable game with cute graphics, cheery music, and a steady stream of fresh content.”
- “I love the game, and I play it a lot, but a feature that I feel like should be in the game is an option to change the menu music, instead of the normal music that plays while you're walking, spice it up a bit with a couple of options to choose from.”
- “The music and sound quality in this game is absolutely horrible; personally, I would play it more if the sounds were pleasing.”
- “Also, just wanted to mention music and sound effects are probably the worst of any game ever.”
- “Disappointing soundtrack; the Pokémon games always had such memorable music and noises, and the sounds in this game sound like the noises from a 2004 dial-up internet online game.”
grinding
64 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious, repetitive, and overly reliant on RNG, leading to a frustrating experience for many players. While some enjoy the grind as a means to engage with the game and socialize, others find it a significant barrier to enjoyment, especially at higher levels where progress feels slow and unrewarding. Overall, the game is seen as heavily focused on grinding, often pushing players towards spending money to alleviate the grind.
- “The game, however, is boring and frustrating, and grindy, and really just wants to motivate you to spend money.”
- “Getting to rank 10 or desirable rewards for both premium pass and free users is simply a long and tedious grind in which most players (casual and dedicated) are very unlikely to succeed; every match you'll encounter lag and glitches that make the mode just a frustrating experience.”
- “The leveling system is way too grindy, and as per usual, in-game items are too expensive.”
humor
19 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often derived from its quirky bugs and glitches, such as animation errors and absurd gameplay scenarios, which players find amusing despite their frustrations. Many users appreciate the comedic elements of the game, like the absurdity of being told they're moving too fast while sitting still, and the unbalanced nature of league battles adds a layer of humor to the competitive experience. Overall, while the game has its share of issues, players often find themselves laughing at the bizarre situations that arise during gameplay.
- “I don't have a problem with this, I just think it's funny; one time I was sitting down not moving and it told me I was going too fast and that driving while playing is dangerous lol.”
- “Somewhere out there a dev is laughing hysterically every time this game crashes at a critical point in a battle.”
- “It's just hilarious that the original turn-based gameplay would fit this app so much better than what's actually implemented.”
emotional
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express significant emotional frustration with the game due to persistent glitches, bugs, and unresponsive features that detract from the overall experience. Many feel disheartened by the game's inability to function properly, leading to a sense of disappointment and anger, despite recognizing its potential for enjoyment. The emotional toll of these technical issues has prompted some users to consider stepping away from the game altogether.
- “It made me feel really bad.”
- “This was heartbreaking.”
- “Fix your game and do not make it hair-pulling, teeth-grinding hard, making your players want to cry and rage quit.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Replayability is rated as extremely high, with players finding the game fun and engaging enough to return to frequently. However, some users have noted performance issues, such as lag, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, recent updates have improved playability, enhancing the game's replay value.
- “Replayability is extremely high.”
- “It's a really fun and replayable game; the only problem I have with it is that it is very laggy almost all the time.”
- “At least that game is more playable.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Character development is criticized for lacking diversity in design elements, including hairstyles, facial features, height, and body types, which limits the overall variation and depth of the characters.
- “There isn't enough variation in terms of character design, such as hairstyles, facial features, height, and body types.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression throughout the game.”
- “I was disappointed by the limited options for customizing my character's personality and backstory.”