Released on August 29, 2019 on iOS and Android as Pokémon Masters, and renamed Pokémon Masters EX a year later, this free game developed by DeNA brings together the most famous Trainers in the series and their Pokémon. Real-time 3-on-3 battles, a brand-new island, Pasio, and hundreds of Sync Pairs to collect: a generous tribute to Pokémon’s characters, weighed down by a very present business model.
The series’ heroes together
On the artificial island of Pasio, Prince Alexis organizes the World Pokémon Masters, a tournament where each Trainer battles with a single Pokémon, on a team of three. The player, with their Pikachu, builds their team and crosses paths with Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, Masters and rivals from every region. Meeting up again with Brock, Misty, Cynthia or Red, each with their partner, is the game’s great pleasure. Our 2019 review stressed it: having a team of the Trainers who made us dream is “damn satisfying.”
Battles that are finer than they look
Battles are played in real time, three Sync Pairs against three. A shared gauge fills up over time and pays for attacks: you have to choose who attacks, and when, and keep enough in reserve to trigger the Sync Move, a special attack that can include Z-Moves or Mega Evolution. There are no dual types, but managing the gauge and the complementarity of Sync Pairs (Strikers, Supports, Techs) give it depth. See getting started.
The downside: the paid currency
New Sync Pairs are mostly obtained through Pair Scout, a random draw paid for with gems, earned by playing or purchased. At launch, the game pushed hard for purchases, and it was not released in Belgium because of loot box laws. Updates have since made progression gentler: daily scouts, moves learned automatically, a points system guaranteeing a Sync Pair.
A game that has grown
Since 2019, Masters EX has been enriched with new storylines, including one devoted to Arceus, the Battle Villa, Dynamax Sync Moves, Sync Abilities and EX roles. It remains one of the most followed Pokémon mobile games.
Our verdict
A successful tribute to Pokémon’s characters and an accessible battle game, held back by its reliance on random draws.
What we like
- The most famous Trainers in the series
- Real-time battles more tactical than they look
- A brand-new island and story
- Regular and numerous updates
What we like less
- A random draw at the heart of progression
- A strong push toward purchases at launch
- No customization of the Sync Pairs' Pokémon
