Parents' Guide to

Pokémon Unite

By Erin Brereton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Teamwork can be tricky -- but battles still offer some fun.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android Free Action Games
Pokémon Unite Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Pokémon Unite Screen Shot #1
  • Pokémon Unite Screen Shot #2
  • Pokémon Unite Screen Shot #3
  • Pokémon Unite Screen Shot #4

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 6 parent reviews

GodOfChunder
GodOfChunder Parent of 9-year-old
May 28, 2022
age 13+

Waste your money on imaginary clothes

I despise this game. I have never seen anything this addictive to children under the Pokémon brand before, but this is next level. My normally reasonable child has turned aggressive over buying skins. Let that sink in for a moment. He is desperate to earn money to buy imaginary clothes, and in a few months he will lament his wastefulness. But right now he has become downright aggressive and inexplicably angry about this game. It is like a gambling addiction. I genuinely suggest that you avoid this cynical cash grab of a game like the plague. We never experienced serious behavioural issues around gaming before this Pokémon offering, and the experience has been downright disturbing.

This title has:

Too much consumerism
3 people found this helpful.
Deemon8
Deemon8 Parent of 6 and 9-year-old
November 12, 2021
age 7+

Interesting Game play suitable for kids with PG

Gameplay is fun and illustrative of pokemon battles , no violent depictions and scenes messages are currently limited to positive dialogue so far. Appears to have option to "chat" virtually which could be risky as we are unable to monitor and navigate what goes on there . Apart from that , simple game which supports teamwork and strategy .

This title has:

Easy to play/use
2 people found this helpful.
See all 6 parent reviews

What’s It About?

POKÉMON UNITE is the app version of the Nintendo Switch game with the same name. Kids and other trainers compete against other teams in battles. Each tries to score the most points in the allotted time period. Kids can communicate with their team via pre-written chat messages and might level up mid-battle, based on how they play. If attacks deplete their energy, though, they have to restart from home base. Kids will also get new moves as they advance and earn Aeos coins and gems, which can be used to buy items like gear for your Pokémon.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (5 ):

While teamwork in this game can be hit or miss, the fun of fighting through various battles will keep players coming back for more. Pokemon Unite features impressive graphics and ample battle action. Characters swivel, jump, and produce bright bursts of light when striking to convert energy into points. Pokémons swell into a massive version of themselves when kids level up in battles, and they can perform a variety of moves, ranging from shooting flame to producing protective stone walls.

Unless kids play with friends, their experience may be determined by who they end up on a team with. The wait time for other players to be found is impressively brief, but the process doesn't guarantee you'll get people who agree with your game strategy. Teaming up against opponents can be a successful approach. Kids may notice, though, some people are more active in battles than others. Playing, as a result, can feel a little bit chaotic at times. A map shows your location and where your opponents are, but characters sometimes just seem to be wandering around, or you may stumble on a fight between two of your allies and one person from the other team where you're not really needed. Without a safety-in-numbers approach or a dedication to individually attacking opponents, winning the battle may be challenging -- and coordinating the team's plan isn't always easy. While players can communicate via chat, the only option is to use messages such as "I need backup!" that may go unnoticed amongst all the activity on the screen. But the game wasn't designed to lock kids out soon after they start playing, and the lack of ads or intense pressure to buy things is a huge plus. Kids can choose different characters to use as well, which helps keep battles from feeling monotonous. Realistically, even if all teammates can't get on the same page about how to proceed in a Pokémon Unite battle, kids can still have fun showing off their moves and trying to take out their rivals one by one, regardless of whether they ultimately win or lose the fight.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Pokémon Unite affected by the lack of blood and gore? Does the game make violence seem like it's no big deal? What are some other ways you could potentially resolve a conflict?

  • How can you determine what the best option to use in a battle would be? Is there a rationale behind your decisions? Can you use this planning in other games?

App Details

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