Released in November 2022, Gen 9 was met with a storm of contradictions—unprecedented player freedom and creative ambition, weighed down by glaring technical instability. This write-up explores what Scarlet/Violet got right, where it faltered, and why it remains one of the most fascinating entries in the series. Paldea, inspired by the Iberian Peninsula (Spain/Portugal), is the franchise’s first true open world. Its most distinctive feature is the Great Crater of Paldea at its center, a mysterious, glittering chasm that serves as the game’s final dungeon.

For now, Pokémon Scarlet/Violet are the best-worst games you’ll love despite yourself.

1. Introduction: Breaking the Formula For over 25 years, the core Pokémon formula followed a predictable path: a linear journey through eight gyms, an Elite Four, and a rival. Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022) was the first major tremor, introducing action-RPG elements and semi-open zones. But with Scarlet and Violet , Game Freak attempted a true seismic shift: a fully seamless open world .

In a strange way, they mirror their own Legendary Pokémon— (the past, rough and unpolished but full of power) and Miraidon (the future, sleek and fast but prone to glitching out). The games are a mess, but a beautiful, heartfelt mess. If Game Freak can learn from these stumbles—optimize performance, implement level scaling, and flesh out interiors—the next generation could be the masterpiece this one almost was.

However, the disjointed structure hurts investment. You might beat the entire ghost-bike Titan questline in two hours, then spend ten hours on gyms. The narrative lacks the cohesive rhythm of Black/White or Sun/Moon . Standout characters include (a rival whose motivation is saving his dying Mabosstiff—genuinely heartbreaking) and Nemona (a battle-maniac friend whose enthusiasm is endearing, if one-note). 6. Multiplayer and the Union Circle For the first time, up to four players can explore the same open world simultaneously. You can see each other running around, trade, battle, and even join Tera Raid battles together. It’s not an MMO—there’s no global chat, and you can’t battle wild Pokémon together—but running through Paldea with a friend is a low-key delight.