Pokémon Quest
Pokémon Quest is a free-to-start spin-off of the Pokémon series, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo/The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo Switch and smartphone devices. The Nintendo Switch version was released in North America on May 29, 2018, with the rest of the world getting it a day after. The mobile version is planned to be released late June that same year.
The game takes place at the Tumblecube Island, where the environment is cube-shaped and even the Pokémon living there are made out of cubes (called Pokéxels). The player decided to explore the island in order to discover the island's loot. In order to make exploring easier, the player can befriend the Pokémon living there, starting with either Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, or Eevee as their chosen starter. The gameplay involves taking a team of up to three Pokémon into stages where they can explore, fight wild Pokémon, and find treasure. The player's Pokémon move on their own, though the player can manipulate when and what move they can use (otherwise they perform regular attacks on their own as well). Moves have cooldown, however, so it is important to know what move is best used in what situation. A stage consists of a few waves of wild Pokémon to be fought, ending with one boss Pokémon that is tougher compared to the rest. Defeated wild Pokémon drop loot, mostly ingredients that are used for cooking food at the Base Camp to lure more Pokémon to befriend. The player's Pokémon can grow stronger by clearing stages (rewards EXP and allows expanding their Power Charm (equipment slot)) and equipping them with Power Stones (the game's main treasure) which have various effects depending on what kind of Power Stone it is.
As the game is made for smartphones in mind, the game uses entirely touch controls. Also, the game features Microtransactions due to its free-to-start nature, with PM Tickets being the currency that can be bought with real money and useful various things, like speeding up the cooking process or buying things from Poké Mart. In addition to that, the game has its own DLC shop that allows buying expansion packs and certain Power Stones.
- Anti-Poopsocking: The game uses a "battery" system (basically the "stamina" system used in most free-to-play mobile games) that is consumed every time the player goes out to explore. It can only be refilled by either waiting for it to recharge, finishing certain quests, or using PM Tickets. The battery has a fixed max amount that can be extended, but only by buying the expansion pack(s).
- Arbitrary Headcount Limit: Up to three Pokémon can be deployed for explorations.
- Boss Battle: At the end of a stage, the player will get to fight a boss Pokémon that is tougher than the other wild Pokémon found in the same stage.
- Character Name Limits: The naming system limits up to 12 characters.
- Color-Coded Elements: Moves' buttons are colored based on their type.
- Cooldown: If a move is used, the Pokémon using it will go through this for a few seconds before they can use a move again.
- Com Mons: Well, "Common"-rated Pokémon.
- Die, Chair, Die!: Certain scenery objects in stages can be destroyed by Pokémon moves.
- Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors: As expected for a Pokémon game, each Pokémon have their own type(s) and thus their own strengths and weaknesses against certain move types.
- Experience Meter: Each befriended Pokémon has one.
- Featureless Protagonist: The player character's only presence is their in-game dialogue. They never physically appear in-game.
- Flunky Boss: If the boss Pokémon is accompanied by other weaker Mons.
- Friendly Fireproof: Pokémon on the same side cannot damage each other.
- Gameplay Automation: The player can choose to let the game fully control their deployed Pokémon via the Auto button so that they can unleash moves automatically in combat.
- Glass Cannon: Pokémon with high Attack but low HP.
- Green Hill Zone: First Steppe is a green forest that, as its name suggests, is the first accessible dungeon in the game.
- Hit Points: One of the two main Pokémon stats in this game.
- Life Meter: Shown during explorations, both player's Pokémon and wild Pokémon.
- Loads and Loads of Characters: As expected for a monster-collecting game. This game features the entire Kanto roster sans Mew.
- Microtransactions: The player can buy PM Tickets and special downloadable content with real money.
- Olympus Mons: Yes, Legendaries appear in this game too.
- Palette Swap: Shiny Pokémon can be found and befriended in this game.
- Play Every Day: The game will reward the player with 50 PM Tickets every day from the Poké Mart.
- Player Mooks: The befriended Pokémon are basically these for the player.
- Random Drop: Defeated wild Pokémon may drop random loot.
- Scratch Damage: The least damage a Pokémon can take if they are durable enough is 1.
- Stone Wall: Pokémon with high HP but low Attack.
- Upgrade Artifact: The Power Stones, which power up a Pokémon equipping them.