Pokémon Ultra Moon
IGDB
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About Pokémon Ultra Moon
Pokémon Ultra Moon dropped on November 17, 2017, for the Nintendo 3DS. Game Freak developed this title while Nintendo of America handled publishing. It is a role-playing adventure that expands heavily on the original Sun and Moon entries set in the Alola region. Players step into the shoes of a new trainer navigating an island chain where they must solve mysteries surrounding Legendary Pokémon like Necrozma. This version adds significant story content, new locations, and alternate forms for existing creatures. It remains a single-player focused experience with optional multiplayer features for trading or battling. The game asks you to catch monsters, train them, and defeat gym leaders in a colorful world filled with puzzles and battles.
Gameplay
You spend most of your time traveling between islands using the Pokémon Bank system or specific story events. The core loop involves exploring towns and routes to find wild encounters, then managing a team of six creatures in turn-based combat. Battles require you to select moves, switch out weakened fighters, or use items like potions mid-fight. Ultra Moon introduces new mechanics like Z-Moves that allow a single Pokémon to unleash powerful attacks once per battle. You also engage in post-game story segments where you chase down Necrozma and its forms across different dimensions. The overworld movement feels snappy on the 3DS hardware, letting you sprint through tall grass or use surfing to cross water. Multiplayer lets you trade with friends or challenge them in ranked battles using your collected roster.
What Players Think
Data from IGDB shows an average score of 74 out of 100 based on 111 user ratings. The community generally views this as a solid entry rather than a masterpiece. Average playtime for completionists hovers around 35 hours, though casual players often finish the main story in under 25 hours. Review snippets highlight the expanded narrative as the primary draw, with many users noting it fixes pacing issues from the base game. Community moods lean toward nostalgic and satisfied, particularly among fans who missed out on the original release. Some critics point out that the graphics remain identical to the previous generation, but the added story content keeps engagement high throughout the full 40-hour runtime required for 100% completion.
PlayPile's Take
This title is worth playing if you own a 3DS and want more Alola story without waiting for future hardware. The price point on the secondary market varies, but the extra content justifies buying it over the original version. Players can earn all 25 achievements by capturing every Pokémon form and completing the post-game raid dungeons. It is not impressive in mechanics, but it offers a tighter narrative than its predecessor. You will spend significant time grinding for rare encounters to complete your Pokédex. If you enjoy turn-based strategy and collecting, this delivers a satisfying 30-plus hour experience without major technical flaws holding it back.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB Rating
74.0
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