# TLDR Review: Pokémon Scarlet

*Published: 2025-03-09 | Updated: 2025-03-09 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/reviews-tldr/pokemon-scarlet*

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## Product: Pokémon Scarlet
**Brand:** Nintendo

## Pros
- Considered one of the best Pokémon games with a high replay value and strong storylines.
- Offers extensive activities and content, particularly enhanced by DLC.
- Features an open-world structure, allowing players to choose their own path and progression.
- Includes excellent music and sound direction, noted for contributions by composer Toby Fox.
- Includes innovative gameplay mechanics such as Terastallization, adding depth to battles.
- Commended for its intriguing plot and well-developed character arcs.
- New Pokémon designs offer a fresh take, enhancing the competitive play aspect.
- Provides humorous moments, adding to the entertainment value.
- Pokémon school setting offers a unique twist, enhancing the in-game world and story context.
- Encourages collaboration through multiplayer features and the potential for unique challenges like nuz-lock runs.

## Cons
- Suffers from significant performance issues, such as framerate drops and graphical glitches.
- Bugs and glitches impact the overall experience, notably in multiplayer mode.
- Map navigation can be confusing for players due to unclear guidance.
- Limited and unattractive character customization options, mainly restricted to school uniforms.
- Lack of level scaling can lead to unintuitive progression and overleveling.
- Choppiness is noticeable in NPC animations and certain environmental effects.
- Camera controls are problematic, sometimes inadvertently showing undesirable areas.
- Pokémon storage box performance is sluggish, affecting user experience.
- Shiny hunting is challenging due to limited indicators and minimal color differences in shiny forms.
- Some players feel the game could have benefited from more development time to address these concerns.

## Bottom Line

Pokémon Scarlet brings exciting new elements and a vast open world to explore, making it appealing for fans of the series. However, the game grapples with notable technical shortcomings that might frustrate some players. If you’re a steadfast Pokémon enthusiast, the story and innovative features may overshadow these issues. For those more sensitive to performance problems, it might be wise to wait for updates or seek alternative gaming experiences until improvements are made.

## Pros vs Cons at a Glance

| Pros | Cons |
|------|------|
| Considered one of the best Pokémon games with a high replay value and strong storylines. | Suffers from significant performance issues, such as framerate drops and graphical glitches. |
| Offers extensive activities and content, particularly enhanced by DLC. | Bugs and glitches impact the overall experience, notably in multiplayer mode. |
| Features an open-world structure, allowing players to choose their own path and progression. | Map navigation can be confusing for players due to unclear guidance. |
| Includes excellent music and sound direction, noted for contributions by composer Toby Fox. | Limited and unattractive character customization options, mainly restricted to school uniforms. |
| Includes innovative gameplay mechanics such as Terastallization, adding depth to battles. | Lack of level scaling can lead to unintuitive progression and overleveling. |
| Commended for its intriguing plot and well-developed character arcs. | Choppiness is noticeable in NPC animations and certain environmental effects. |
| New Pokémon designs offer a fresh take, enhancing the competitive play aspect. | Camera controls are problematic, sometimes inadvertently showing undesirable areas. |
| Provides humorous moments, adding to the entertainment value. | Pokémon storage box performance is sluggish, affecting user experience. |
| Pokémon school setting offers a unique twist, enhancing the in-game world and story context. | Shiny hunting is challenging due to limited indicators and minimal color differences in shiny forms. |
| Encourages collaboration through multiplayer features and the potential for unique challenges like nuz-lock runs. | Some players feel the game could have benefited from more development time to address these concerns. |

## Current Prices

| Retailer | Price | Availability |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| VIP Outlet | $35.00  | Check |
| Blast From The Past | $39.99  | Check |
| Enjify | $41.60  | Check |
| Play-Asia.com | $41.99  | Check |
| Techinn.com | $42.49  | Check |
| Groupon.com | $44.99  | Check |
| Target | $44.99  | Check |
| The One Stop Shop Comics & Games | $44.99  | Check |
| TikTok Shop | $44.99  | Check |
| Woot | $44.99  | Check |
| Dick's Pawn Superstore | $45.00  | Check |
| Microless.com | $46.30  | Check |
| KaterUSA | $47.50  | Check |
| Macy's | $49.95  | Check |
| Geek Alliance | $49.99  | Check |
| Punch Out Gaming | $49.99  | Check |
| Mercari | $50.00  | Check |
| Uber Eats | $53.98  | Check |
| shopping.yahoo.com | $54.14  | Check |
| popmarket | $54.79  | Check |

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*About this review: We pulled together findings from professional and user reviews, and cross-referenced them with ShopSavvy's pricing data from thousands of retailers to give you the short version.*