The world of Pokémon games is ever-expanding, with the Nintendo Switch alone going through two generations of new critters. Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, remakes like Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, plus spin-offs like Pokémon Legends Arceus – the franchise is showing zero signs of slowing down. It’s been a wild ride (yes, pun intended).
A new contender is set to join the ranks of Pokémon spin-offs: Pokémon Friends. No, this isn’t an app where trainers congregate to debate whether Charizard is a dragon-type or not. Pokémon Friends is a puzzle game designed to test your noggin’ through short challenges. Think Brain Training, but with more Pikachu than floating head.
Apart from attempting to best personal records, there is a main goal in Pokémon Friends: Build an army of adorable plush toys. Doing so will require a bit of brain power, however. The game sees players completing sets of puzzles to unlock yarn to make familiar faces from across the Pokédex.
It uses a gacha system, where different types of yarn determine which plush Pokémon you’ll get. For example, the “Fiery” yarn may spawn a charming Charmander, the “Soggy” variety could yield a Psyduck, and so on. The yarn types correspond to Pokémon with a matching typing, in a nutshell.
It does sound like a bit of a gacha gimmick initially, but over time there is an appeal of repeatedly zipping through the challenges in a bid to pump out more plush creatures. Already unlocked Pokémon can be made again, on demand, providing players have the corresponding yarn type. It is a shame the initial unlock is fully random though. The option to have specific criteria could have made collecting certain Pokémon feel more rewarding.
The drive to build up a horde of plush pals does ultimately come down to which version of Pokémon Friends you play. The free iOS/Android edition comes with the usual caveat: one puzzle round per day. It makes wanting to unlock more yarn a bit more of a struggle and easily forgotten.
The paid Nintendo Switch edition, however, is less laborious. The paid version still includes the daily calendar with three puzzles but removes the playtime cap. Essentially – unlimited puzzle sessions. Being able to keep going without the cap is, of course, far more compelling. There is an option, though, to add a manual cap per day – useful for younger players or those with slightly addictive personalities!
The initial base release includes 30 puzzle types, each spread over multiple levels of difficulty, with extra paid DLC bringing the total up to 50. The puzzles themselves are varied and test number, logic and spatial awareness skills. Draw lines, figure out silhouettes, count objects, slot Tetris-inspired shapes, solve 3D block puzzles – Pokémon Friends does have a good variety to keep things interesting.
How well do they put brain power to the test? At first glance, the initial levels are easy. It’s ideal for younger players and families. But the more the difficulty starts to ramp up, the more genuine second guessing there’ll be on some of the puzzles! The base package’s selection is a good mix, and though there are some fun highlights in the DLC, it does come at a fairly steep cost. It’s always recommended to try the initial selection first, before diving into the optional, paid extra content.
Could these puzzles, however, work without the Pokémon wrapper? For a fair few, yes. The critters are relegated to background fodder sometimes. They could really have been ripped out of any puzzle game. That said, where the developer has involved Pokémon directly in the puzzles, it feels far more cohesive and better stitched together. From guiding Pikachu across a line of lightbulb to smashing rocks as Makushita, digging with Drilbur or hopping about as Scorbunny – these fit better in the Pokémon context.
The Nintendo Switch edition does also offer multiple play styles. Docked uses a controller and touchscreen for handheld play. Controller use does work, for the most part, but some platformer puzzles are a touch fiddlier.
Ultimately Pokémon Friends is a mobile-orientated game first and foremost. The mechanics are just designed for a touchscreen. It is a shame that the console version couldn’t go a little further, though. Additional modes that make use of the Joy-Con controllers and marathon features could have provided extra, much needed value.
A mode that doesn’t bode well for either controller or touchscreen is the plushie display room. Being able to put these woven creatures to good use is integral for replaying the puzzles over and over but arranging them is a struggle. The drag-and-drop placement feels fiddly, especially when trying to align toys neatly.
These spaces can be decorated with extra props and backgrounds, though, and multiple rooms are available for plush enthusiasts who run out of space (something some players would likely want in reality, too!) Extra décor can be unlocked by completing missions for townsfolk – a neat extra, but not the most compelling of rewards.
