(originally named ''Pokémon Masters'') is a free-to-play

mobile game A mobile game, or smartphone game, is a video game that is typically played on a mobile phone. The term also refers to all games that are played on any portable device, including from mobile phone (feature phone or smartphone), tablet, PDA to ...

for Android and

iOS iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also include ...

developed and published by

DeNA Dena (in Luri and fa, ) is the name for a sub-range within the Zagros Mountains, Iran. Mount Dena, with length and average width, is situated on the boundary of the Isfahan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Prov ...

. It is based on the ''

Pokémon (an abbreviation for in Japan) is a Japanese media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures (company), Creatures, the owners of the trademark and copyright of the franchise. In terms of ...

'' media franchise. Set on the artificial island of Pasio, the game allows players to battle and recruit various prominent Pokémon Trainers from the main series games and anime. Originally named ''Pokémon Masters'' and released in August 2019, it was renamed ''Pokémon Masters EX'' in August 2020 on the 1st anniversary of the game.

Gameplay

There is a tournament of 3-on-3 battles being held on Pasio Island called the Pokémon Masters League. The main goal is to become its Champion. To enter the Pokémon Masters League, players must collect at least five Badges by defeating the PML Leaders located in Pasio. When recruiting a sync pair, the player can unlock a sync pair story. Players can also participate in limited-time events which are regularly added and updated. Events feature both single-player story events and also co-operative multiplayer events in which players must team up to defeat powerful enemies in order to receive event rewards and prizes.

Sync pairs

A sync pair is a pair consisting of one

Pokémon Trainer (an abbreviation for in Japan) is a Japanese media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures, the owners of the trademark and copyright of the franchise. In terms of what each of thos ...

who had previously appeared in the core games or the anime (many of whom, similar to '' Super Smash Bros.'', have their designs taken from their most recent appearances, i.e. Ash being depicted in his ''Journeys'' design) and one

(again, usually one that is best associated with that character, i.e. Ash being paired with his Pikachu) in Pokémon Masters. Each sync pair has one of three roles: strike sync pairs, which are focused on attacking; support sync pairs, which are focused on defending, healing HP, and increasing stats of the whole team; and tech sync pairs, which are focused on different tactics, such as inflicting status alterations. Sync pairs can be recruited by playing the main story, through scouting or by completing certain timed events. Occasionally, a character will get a variant of themselves that sees them wearing an alternate costume (whether it's a "Sygna Suit", a "seasonal costume", a "special costume", or a "classic" design) that also pairs them up with a different Pokémon that usually relates to that costume

Development and release

''Pokémon Masters'' was first announced by

The Pokémon Company The Pokémon Company (株式会社ポケモン, ''Kabushiki gaisha Pokemon'') is a Japanese company responsible for brand management, production, publishing, marketing, and licensing of the '' Pokémon'' franchise, which consists of video game ...

on May 29, 2019, alongside some other ''Pokémon'' games. It represents the first collaboration between the company and mobile game developer

, it had been released for Android and

. The concept of the game came from series artist and designer

Ken Sugimori is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, manga artist, and director. He is best known as the primary character designer and art director for the ''Pokémon'' franchise. Sugimori is also credited with the art direction for other titles, in ...

who proposed the idea of having all past characters from the main series together in one game. A preview version of the game was released in Singapore on July 25, 2019 and in Canada on August 6, 2019. The game was released worldwide on August 29, 2019 for iOS and Android phones. Unlike most other Pokémon games, Pokémon Masters was not released in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

and

The Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, likely due to bans on

loot boxes In video games, a loot box (also called a loot crate or prize crate) is a consumable virtual item which can be redeemed to receive a randomised selection of further virtual items, or loot, ranging from simple customization options for a player ...

. In commemoration of the game's 1st anniversary, ''Pokémon Masters'' was updated with new features as ''Pokémon Masters EX'' on August 25, 2020.

Reception

''Pokémon Masters EX'' received “mixed or average reviews” according to the review aggregator

Metacritic Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...

. Within four days of its global release, ''Pokémon Masters'' has been downloaded 10 million times and recorded $10 million in revenue. Within its first week, the revenue figures were increased to $26 million. In its first month, the game generated $33 million in revenue and $75 million within its first year.

References

Notes

External links

* {{Nintendo mobile games 2019 video games Android (operating system) games DeNA Free-to-play video games Gacha games IOS games Video games developed in Japan Video games featuring protagonists of selectable gender Video games set on fictional islands Masters Multiplayer and single-player video games Cooperative video games