Pokemon UNITE is Pokemon’s first 5v5 MOBA set in Aeos Island, where players compete in UNITE battles. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Overview
What is Pokemon UNITE?
Pokemon UNITE is a MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) set in the Pokemon universe, first announced in a special Pokemon Presents broadcast back in June of 2020. It released on the Nintendo Switch on July 21, 2021 then eventually on Mobile on September 22, 2021.
Breaking from the game franchise's signature 1v1 turn-based gameplay, Pokemon UNITE features 5v5 team battles with emphasis on fast-paced, real-time strategic planning and execution. It is the first of its kind in the franchise’s decades‑long history.
Pokemon UNITE features:
⚫︎ 5v5 Team battles
⚫︎ Action-packed gameplay
⚫︎ Various game modes
⚫︎ Roster filled with iconic Pokemon
⚫︎ Familiar Pokemon items
⚫︎ Quirky cosmetics
| Digital Storefronts | ||
|---|---|---|
 Switch |
 Google Play |
 App Store |
| Free to Play | ||
Pokemon UNITE Review: A MOBA on a Slow Decline
MOBA at its Core, Pokemon in its Spirit
MOBA demands quick decision-making, teamwork, and mastery of complex mechanics— skills that can feel daunting to newcomers. Pokemon UNITE serves as a promising entry point to the genre, blending the familiar Pokemon charm with the core features of MOBA to invite a wider audience. Engaging in chaotic team fights, pushing lanes, taking objectives, thinking of builds, and more, Pokemon UNITE definitely fits the genre.
However, the game isn't merely a clone of the others in the genre, it stood on its own. It implemented a few key features—such as focusing on scoring points instead of destroying the opponents' base to win, implementing a 10-minute timer for each match, and making players choose their items before the match instead of during it—all of which worked surprisingly well and made it highly addictive.
Of course, despite the game's promising debut, it's not without its criticisms. For one, making scoring points as the main objective of the game and limiting each match to just 10 minutes made it look more like a sports game rather than a MOBA. Additionally, the item system feels counterintuitive. Instead of obtaining and upgrading items through in‑match farming—a staple of the MOBA genre—you’re required to grind matches simply to unlock and enhance them outside of battle. This design choice undermines the flow of gameplay and makes progression feel disconnected from the matches themselves. It also locked out new players from getting the full experience at the start and forced them to play more matches to become stronger rather than improve their skills to win.
While some flaws might be excused as quirks players could eventually adapt to, the game’s ranking and matchmaking system is a fundamental failure. Its broken design impairs competitive integrity and cannot be overlooked.
From a Broken Ranking System to a Stable One
The game’s ranking and matchmaking system—arguably the backbone of any MOBA—was a disaster at launch, leaving players furious. The simplistic win‑or‑lose model meant ranks rose or fell with each match, but the real issue was the constant mismatch in teams. Skilled players were thrown together with novices, and item disparities created unfair advantages, trapping many in stagnant ranks regardless of performance.
This not only undermined competitive integrity but also eroded player motivation. Victories felt hollow when achieved against weaker opponents, while defeats felt punishing when caused by teammates far below one’s skill level. Progression became less about mastery and more about luck, reducing ranked play to a frustrating grind rather than a meaningful measure of skill. For a genre where fair competition is everything, such a flawed system was more than a nuisance—it was a fundamental betrayal of what players expect from a MOBA.
Fortunately, the system was overhauled in December 2025: matches became more balanced, and a points‑based ranking replaced the binary win/loss model. The revamp finally gave players a fairer path to climb the ladder, restoring some confidence in the game’s competitive scene.
A Familiar Gameplay Loop
Even with its unique twists, Pokemon UNITE still captures the familiar MOBA gameplay loop at its core. Players begin by selecting a Pokemon and planning their items, then enter the arena where they farm wild Pokemon for experience, level up, and unlock stronger moves. The loop revolves around controlling lanes, coordinating with teammates, and securing objectives like Regieleki, Regirock, or Rayquaza to gain or swing momentum.
What sets UNITE apart is its streamlined pacing: matches are capped at ten minutes, condensing the traditional MOBA grind into a fast, accessible format. Scoring points by dunking Aeos energy adds a distinct win condition, shifting focus from base destruction to territory control and timing. This design keeps the loop recognizable to MOBA veterans while offering a simpler rhythm for newcomers, proving that the genre’s strategic depth can coexist with Pokemon quick‑play accessibility.
An Art Style True to its Roots
One of the game’s redeeming qualities is its art style. Unlike other MOBAs that lean on violent or gory themes, Pokemon UNITE embraces a whimsical, cartoonish look, proving that an action‑packed MOBA can be captivating without graphic violence. This choice isn’t just cosmetic—it broadens the game’s appeal, making it suitable for younger audiences and more inviting to casual players who might be turned off by darker aesthetics. At the same time, the inclusion of familiar combat animations like punching, kicking, slashing, and elemental attacks ensures the action still feels dynamic and thrilling, striking a balance between appeal and excitement.
The game’s cosmetics, particularly its holowears for Pokemon, are also worth highlighting. These skins add special effects and animations, giving each Pokemon not only a stylish look but also a distinct personality—whether it’s Blastoise in a firefighter suit or adorned in traditional Kabuki attire. More than simple visual flair, holowears reinforce the game’s whimsical identity and keep matches visually fresh, offering players a sense of individuality and expression in a genre often criticized for repetitive aesthetics.
By blending creativity with charm, Pokemon UNITE’s holowears elevate the spectator experience and give players another reason to stay engaged.
Fun and Quirky Game Modes
Another area where Pokemon UNITE shines is its variety of game modes. These modes provide players with unique, light‑hearted experiences that emphasize fun over competition, offering a refreshing break from the grind of ranked matches while still keeping them engaged. Quick Battles, for instance, condense the MOBA formula into shorter, more chaotic matches where experimentation and casual play take center stage. Event modes also introduce playful twists—like themed maps or special rules—that showcase the game’s creativity and keep the experience from feeling repetitive.
This casual variety stands in stark contrast to the frustrations of ranked play, where broken matchmaking, pay‑to‑win imbalances, and erratic balance patches often ruin the competitive experience. By giving players an alternative outlet, these modes not only preserve the game’s whimsical identity but also provide a safety valve for those disillusioned with ranked, ensuring there’s still a reason to log in even when the competitive scene falters.
This creative detour highlights UNITE’s ability to balance competitive depth with accessible fun, ensuring players have reasons to stay invested beyond ranked progression.
The Gradual Decline
A huge part of being a MOBA and a live-service game is consistently pushing out new content to keep current players engaged and attract new comers. With Pokemon's vast lore and ever-growing roster, one would think that this wouldn't be an issue for the game. Unfortunately, the quality of new content is wildly inconsistent, sparking the game’s gradual decline.
To start off, the only major new content to earn widespread praise was the Theia Sky Ruins map, introduced in September 2022 as the new ranked battleground replacing Remoat Stadium. Larger, more visually striking, and equipped with fresh mechanics, it revitalized gameplay and reshaped the meta—suddenly making previously overlooked Pokemon viable. However, this success stood in stark contrast to the game’s approach to new Pokemon releases and others.
While new Pokemon are released regularly, they often are either uninspired or blatantly overpowered. The generic Pokemon are little more than copies of existing characters, offering the same functions under different movesets—redundant and uninteresting. On the other hand, overpowered Pokemon break the meta entirely, giving early adopters a glaring advantage regardless of rank. Furthermore, new Pokemon are often locked behind limited‑time events before becoming widely accessible. Worse still, they can be purchased outright with real money for immediate use—fueling the game’s pay‑to‑win reputation. For some, this imbalance may be entertaining, but for most players it quickly becomes frustrating to face.
Although imbalances are common in MOBAs, these are usually addressed through balance patches or updates. However, Pokemon UNITE's updates don’t make sense most of the time. Nerfs to overpowered Pokemon were so minor they left the problem intact, sometimes requiring multiple patches to fix. Meanwhile, unnecessary adjustments to balanced Pokemon became a recurring theme, often leaving players scratching their heads in confusion. For players who had already invested heavily, these erratic updates were especially frustrating.
Events are another area where Pokemon UNITE fell short, despite having the vast Pokemon universe to draw inspiration from. New events were often recycled versions of old ones, offering the same dull rewards under different names. Even seasonal events like Battle Pass and Ranked—something that are usually unique in most games—follow the same pattern. This repetitive practice made events feel uninspired and hardly worth the effort to complete.
The game hit its lowest point with the announcement that, starting with Zapdos in February 2026, all new Pokemon would be restricted to a single moveset instead of the usual two. This stripped newer additions of flexibility, limiting their potential builds and playstyles compared to the older roster. To compensate, many of these one‑set Pokemon were released in an overpowered state, further destabilizing the meta. If this trend continues, balance issues will only worsen, dragging the game into an even deeper decline.
With all these concerns, Pokemon UNITE is in a precarious position. While the game has shown flashes of brilliance—most notably with the Theia Sky Ruins map—its inconsistent content quality, erratic balance updates, repetitive events, and restrictive design choices have eroded player trust. The decision to limit new Pokemon to a single moveset only deepens concerns, signaling a troubling trend that undermines both variety and competitive integrity. With no clear roadmap or assurance of meaningful improvements, the future of Pokemon UNITE remains unclear, and players are left questioning whether the game can recover or if its decline will continue unchecked.
Is Pokemon UNITE Worth It?
Yes, If You Just Want a Fun and Quick MOBA Match
Despite its many flaws, Pokemon UNITE still has value for casual players seeking quick, low‑commitment matches. It’s a convenient way to pass time, offering fast MOBA action with little investment—and as a free‑to‑play title, it’s easy to pick up and drop whenever you like. The variety of game modes also offer players a fun detour should they feel the need to take a break from the grind of ranked matches.
However, for those who have already poured significant time or money into the game, its current state makes further spending hard to justify. With no clear direction or promise of meaningful changes, the future of Pokemon UNITE remains uncertain.
Pokemon UNITE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Much Does One Skin Cost in Pokemon UNITE?
There’s no definitive price tag for each skin cosmetic in Pokémon UNITE, as prices can range from $1 to $100 depending on a skin’s rarity and the Pokémon’s popularity. Players use Aeos Gems to purchase these skins, with gem bundles typically costing between $5 and $10.
What is Pokemon UNITE Club Membership?
The Pokémon UNITE Club Membership is a premium subscription that costs $9.99 per month. It rewards subscribers with daily Aeos Gems, exclusive cosmetics, and other in-game perks.
Does Pokemon UNITE Have Crossplay?
Yes, Pokémon UNITE supports full cross-play and cross-progression across Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android devices.
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