100
Pokémon Sun and Moon make terrific changes the twenty-year-old formula, allowing new fans and returning ones back into the series with a wonderful lively and colourful world. It's just a little too easy for us who have been here from the start - but it's easy to forgot that when you're having such a blast.
90
If you’re a newcomer to the series, this is an excellent opportunity to learn the fundamentals in a laid-back setting. If you’re a pro, you’ll relish the new options in place for making your Pokémon all they can be. Sun & Moon is a Pokémon vacation we’d gladly take again.
90
These games exceeded my expectations by a mile. Pokemon Sun and Moon are games that every Pokemon fan and every 3DS owner needs to own. Nintendo and Gamefreak did an awesome job creating a great story and the changes they made for the format make the game feel fresh and exciting more so than ever before. The game has its minor issues like the end game and some performance issues on Old 3DS models but the soundtrack, the story and the new features more than make up for it, to make an unforgettable experience.
8
a very decent game the main issue is the way that the games wants to makes everything easier for you and the never lasting cutscenes
1
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
0
If you thought Pokémon Sun would be a bold new step for the franchise, think again. This game is nothing more than a hollow shell wrapped in flashy colors and nostalgia bait.Difficulty: Laughably easy. Battles feel like autopilot, with the EXP Share trivializing any sense of challenge. Even the so-called “trials” are a joke compared to the gyms of earlier generations.Fanservice: Instead of innovating, Game Freak shamelessly leans on Kanto fanservice. The Alolan forms are nothing but lazy reskins designed to milk nostalgia from Gen 1 loyalists.Route Design: Alola’s routes are embarrassingly linear. Exploration is dead — you’re funneled down narrow corridors with zero incentive to wander. The world feels sterile, lacking the magic of discovery that once defined Pokémon.Audience Targeting: This isn’t a game made for fans of RPGs or strategy. It’s a marketing product aimed at the lowest common denominator, pandering to anyone who will buy anything with Pikachu’s face slapped on it.Verdict: Pokémon Sun is a shallow, uninspired entry that insults the intelligence of long-time fans. It’s not a true adventure — it’s a glorified commercial designed to keep the brand alive.
Pokemon Sun
3DS
Released On:
Nov 18, 2016
Metascore
Generally Favorable
87
User score
Generally Favorable
7.5
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
87
98% Positive
85 Reviews
85 Reviews
2% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Apr 8, 2017
100
Pokémon Sun and Moon make terrific changes the twenty-year-old formula, allowing new fans and returning ones back into the series with a wonderful lively and colourful world. It's just a little too easy for us who have been here from the start - but it's easy to forgot that when you're having such a blast.
Mar 19, 2017
90
If you’re a newcomer to the series, this is an excellent opportunity to learn the fundamentals in a laid-back setting. If you’re a pro, you’ll relish the new options in place for making your Pokémon all they can be. Sun & Moon is a Pokémon vacation we’d gladly take again.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.5
65% Positive
1087 Ratings
1087 Ratings
21% Mixed
349 Ratings
349 Ratings
14% Negative
238 Ratings
238 Ratings
Sep 11, 2025
10
The 7th generation is my absolute favourite! Balanced leveling, well designed Pokemon and a good story.
Jul 20, 2025
10
This game is one of the best games for new comers as it is the game that started telling you what was super effective. As for the older players it is an enjoyable journey that you will want to go back to even though it's not as difficult as most of the other games in the series.
Nov 15, 2016
90
The result is a vibrant, energetic game in a manner Pokemon hasn't managed since Gold & Silver. Sun & Moon have clearly been made with a love and reverence for the series' past but also, crucially, with an eye on evolution. It's all the better for it.
Nov 20, 2016
86
So after smashing out this game over the weekend, I found myself quite engaged with the gameplay, story and fun characters. Sure it’s Pokémon but there’s a true sense of progression that when linked to the entertainment factor creators not the best Pokémon experience but one that succeeds with both newcomers and fans alike.
Dec 12, 2016
80
The visual overhaul makes this the best looking Pokémon yet. Naturally, the amount of Pokémon on offer is almost insurmountable and will have you catching them all for quite a while, but be aware, they are a needy lot.
Nov 18, 2016
60
It is not the blow-away game of 2016, nor does it seem to have the staying power of Ruby and Sapphire, but it’s enjoyable. Pokémon games are their own beasts, and hopefully Sun and Moon is a show of further changes and things to come for the franchise.
May 6, 2025
7
I think the game was good, but I don't remember it as fondly as White 2 or X. Maybe I had just grown out of pokemon or something. I'm sure the game is good though.
Aug 1, 2023
4
I cannot believe these people at game freak actually thought that ditching the very successful mega evolutions and replace it with z moves. I mean it isint BAD but what the heck
May 5, 2023
4
mediocre boring game riddled with unskippable cutscenes and useless tutorials which fans of the franchise would've rather skipped. (imo) worst designed mons of the bunch, forgettable rival team, only redeemable qualitiies is a change of the original formula which was ditched for the next entry, and the rise in difficulty. probably the worst entry of the franchise on the 3ds.
SummaryUsing Pokemon Bank, you'll be able to transfer Pokemon you've caught in the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console versions of Pokemon Red, Pokemon Blue, and Pokemon Yellow into your copy of Pokemon Sun or Pokemon Moon. Pokemon from Pokemon Omega Ruby, Pokemon Alpha Sapphire, Pokemon X, and Pokemon Y can also be brought into Pokemon Sun and Pokemo... Read More
Rated Efor Everyone
