Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet largely follow the same basic gameplay structure of previous Pokémon games, where players obtain creatures known as Pokémon, primarily through catching and trading, and use them to explore the world and battle other Pokémon trainers. However, a new feature has been added which allows players to choose to battle trainers on paths.^[1] The games introduces 112 new Pokémon, including three new starter Pokémon, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly, which act as the first Pokémon players can obtain in-game^[2] and two new Legendary Pokémon, Koraidon and Miraidon, who accompany players throughout the games.^[3]

Scarlet and Violet have open worlds, which include both urban areas and open wilderness without borders between the two, unlike previous installments in the Pokémon series.^[4][2] Players can use either Koraidon or Miraidon, depending on the games’ version, as a mount in the overworld, allowing access to several tools that can be used to traverse Paldea’s terrain.^[5] Players can also use a new “Auto Battle” feature, allowing them to send out their Pokémon in the overworld and defeat Pokémon without having to enter turn-based battles.^[6] In addition to this, players are given the option of participating in three different story routes,^[7] and objectives within routes can be done in any order.^[8]

The three routes each have different gameplay styles. The first route, Victory Road, has players attempting to defeat Pokémon Gyms, a recurring goal in the series, to obtain a badge from each “Gym Leader” after defeating them in battle. Gyms can be fought in any order, unlike prior entries in the series.^[7] Once eight badges are obtained, players can battle the Elite Four and their Champion, Geeta.^[9] The second route, Path of Legends, involves players attempting to hunt down massive and powerful “Titan Pokémon” in order to defeat them and obtain Herba Mystica items.^[7] The third route, Starfall Street, has players attempt to defeat a villainous organization consisting of rebellious students called Team Star. Players must defeat a set number of Team Star members within a time limit before proceeding to battle with their base leader. Players are tasked with defeating five of these Star Bases in order to encounter the route’s final boss.^[10] Once all three routes are completed, players unlocks a fourth and final story route, which resolves the games’ main story.