Reviewed by JoJo, prohibit reproduce without permission.

Pokémon Quest is a free-to-play action-adventure game in the Pokémon series developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Reminiscent of Pokémon Rumble and Minecraft, Pokémon Quest takes the player to the blocky Tumblecube Island, where you're allowed to find awesome goodies supposedly hidden on the island with your cube-shaped Pokémon buddies! The player's main task is to complete all the levels on the island, beating the wild Pokémon. The game process can be divided into four parts: base camp management, going on expeditions, training and optimising Pokémon, and attracting new Pokémon.

Base camp management

Your base camp is your home for this adventure, and you can decorate it as much as you like with cute and fun decorations! These decorations can also make your adventure on the island even more rewarding. In camp, you can prepare dishes to attract new Pokémon, and new Pokémon will visit the camp every 22 hours. There is also a Poké Mart that allows players to purchase DLC packs, decorations, and box expansions. Players can also pick up 50 PM tickets (the game's currency) every 22 hours, with the amount players receive increasing as DLC packs are purchased. PM tickets can be used to purchase decorations and box expansions, as well as instantly complete a dish and refill energy for expeditions.

Getting new Pokémon

You can attract new Pokémon by exploring or recycling unused energy stones to get ingredients to cook delicious dishes. Depending on the ingredients you can cook up to 18 possible dishes, different dishes will attract different Pokémon. Ingredients are categorized by their color, hardness, type, and rarity. Rare Pokémon will be attracted to dishes that use rare ingredients. In addition, Obon has a cooking pot that determines the status of the reward and the level of the Pokémon it attracts, where the better the pot used, the more ingredients it must use to cook.

Expeditions

Attract different Pokémon through cooking, assemble a team of your own, and go on more adventures! Players' teams need to clear the island of wild Pokémon. To do this, players need to pass through 12 locations, each with three to seven levels. For each level, players can bring up to three Pokémon. Pokémon can not only attack but can also use special attacks or defense moves. In total, there are 167 unique movesets in the game, with each Pokémon having between 2 and 11 special moves. All of these are set in stone, except for the Pokémon's beginning moves. It becomes addictive and fun to pick which Pokémon to use, which moves to use, and which passive abilities to use.

Training & leveling up

Pokémon can level up by going on expeditions, or through training. One way is through training, including sacrificing other Pokémon to improve another, but don't worry they won't die, just leave your team. Think of it as a support group. Up to four Pokémon can be used to improve another. The other way is by using Power and Move Stones that you obtain through Expeditions. Each Pokémon has a Power Charm grid, which holds Power and Move Stones. As the Pokémon levels up, more slots open up.

Verdict

Unlike the traditional RPG style of previous Pokémon games, Pokémon Quest is designed as a mobile game. There is no overarching storyline or human NPCs, or even familiar graphics. The game relies more on time management than combat strategy. As with most mobile games, there is a lot of waiting time. Players who want to skip the wait times or unlock special items faster must spend money. If you're more of a traditional Pokémon player, then the simplicity and long wait times of this game may not be for you. But if you're passionate about cube pixel games and enjoy assembling the perfect team for more adventures, then this is for you!