Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Open-world Pokémon games with three story routes.
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are role-playing games that came out in 2022 for the Nintendo Switch. Game Freak developed them, while Nintendo and The Pokémon Company handled publishing. These titles mark the start of the ninth generation of the main Pokémon video game series. An announcement happened in February 2022, and the release date was 18 November 2022. A downloadable content expansion pass called The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero followed. Its first part, The Teal Mask, arrived on 13 September 2023, and the second part, The Indigo Disk, came out on 14 December 2023. A post-game epilogue named Mochi Mayhem, which wraps up the DLC and the main games, was released on 11 January 2024.
The setting is the Paldea Region, which draws inspiration from the Iberian Peninsula. Unlike earlier Pokémon games, this one uses an open world. Players can tackle three separate storylines. The games introduce 120 new Pokémon, plus two new regional forms and time-displaced creatures called Paradox Pokémon. A new mechanic called the Terastal phenomenon lets a Pokémon change into its exclusive "Tera Type." Features from recent Pokémon games, like large open areas and Pokémon visible in the overworld, are kept.
Development started right after the previous games, Pokémon Sword and Shield, were finished. The team at Game Freak wanted a new art style, blending a more realistic world with stylized character designs. Pokémon models and animations were redone from earlier games to match this fresh look.
Critics gave Scarlet and Violet mixed reviews. The story was praised, but technical problems drew criticism. In their first three days, the games sold over 10 million copies, making them Nintendo's biggest launch ever. By December 2025, sales had passed 28 million copies. A free update for the Nintendo Switch 2, which improved visuals, performance, and other aspects, came out on 5 June 2025.
Gameplay follows the usual Pokémon structure: players catch and trade creatures called Pokémon, then use them to explore and battle other Trainers. A new option lets players choose to battle Trainers along set paths. The games add 112 new Pokémon, including three starters—Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly—and two new Legendary Pokémon, Koraidon (Fighting/Dragon) and Miraidon (Electric/Dragon), who accompany the player throughout the adventure.
The open world includes both urban areas and
- Release date
- 18 November 2022
- Developer
- Game Freak
- Publisher
- Nintendo and The Pokémon Company
- Platform
- Nintendo Switch
- Genre
- Role-playing
- Sales
- Over 10 million in first three days; over 28 million by December 2025
Lore & Background
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet take place in the Paldea Region, based on the Iberian Peninsula. Unlike previous installments, the games feature an open world with urban areas and wilderness without borders. Players can complete three separate stories: Victory Road (defeating Gyms), Path of Legends (hunting Titan Pokémon), and Starfall Street (defeating Team Star). Completing all three unlocks a fourth story route. The games introduce 120 new Pokémon, two new regional forms, and Paradox Pokémon, as well as the Terastal phenomenon, which changes a Pokémon's type to its exclusive Tera Type.
Reader's Guide
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet marked a significant shift for the series by adopting a fully open world, allowing players to tackle objectives in any order. The games sold over 10 million copies in their first three days, making them Nintendo's biggest launch of all time, and over 28 million copies by December 2025. Despite mixed reviews due to technical problems, the games were praised for their story and new mechanics such as Auto Battle, picnics, and Tera Raids. A free update for the Nintendo Switch 2, including improved visuals and performance, was released on 5 June 2025. The games also received a DLC expansion pass, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, with parts released in 2023 and 2024.
Did You Know?
- The games were announced in February 2022 and released on 18 November 2022.
- They are the first installments in the ninth generation of the Pokémon video game series.
- The games sold over 10 million copies in their first three days, Nintendo's biggest launch of all time.
- A free update for Nintendo Switch 2, with improved visuals and performance, was released on 5 June 2025.
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