Does anyone play Pokemon Sword anymore? Yes, the games remain popular.

Pokemon Sword and Shield continue to have an active playerbase of tens of thousands of daily users in 2024. While major updates and ranked battles will be discontinued this year, these Nintendo Switch games still engage fans with multiplayer raids, completing the Pokedex, and post-game content years after launch.

Pokemon Sword/Shield‘s Playerbase Over Time

Pokemon Sword/Shield were released in November 2019. Let‘s look at how the games‘ active playerbases have trended over time using statistics from PlayerCounter:

As you can see, while the player count has unsurprisingly declined since the initial launch hype, the games have maintained an impressively large community years later.

For comparison, here is how Sword/Shield‘s playerbases compare to other major Nintendo Switch games in December 2022:

Pokemon Sword/Shield have the largest active playerbase other than Mario Kart 8, outperforming other massive Switch titles. This demonstrates how the Pokemon games continue to engage players even 3 years after release.

Why Are People Still Playing Sword/Shield?

Multiplayer Integration

Sword/Shield have several integrated multiplayer features that extend gameplay longevity:

• Max Raid Battles – Cooperatively battle huge Dynamaxed Pokemon with up to 3 other players.

• Trading – Exchange Pokemon locally or via online trade rooms.

• Ranked Battles – Official competitive rulesets and matchmaking for singles and doubles.

Being able to play with others gives you always-changing experiences and goals.

Post-Game Content Updates

Game Freak has continuously added new post-game content through free updates:

• Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra DLC – Two paid expansions adding new areas to explore and over 200 old Pokemon back to the games.

• Max Raid Events – Special limited-time Max Raids to capture rare Pokemon.

• Galarian Star Tournament – Battle all Gym Leaders in a grand tournament.

• Battle Tower Updates – Rotation of trainers/rules for the competitive gauntlet.

This meaningful post-game content expands the options for dedicated players.

Vibrant Competitive Scene

Sword/Shield‘s online ranked battles, tournaments, and official Video Game Championship circuit sustain an active competitive scene. Top players continuously devise new winning strategies and teams.

Completing the Pokedex

Catching one of every available Pokemon has always been a core goal. Trading and transferring is required to get version-exclusive and old Pokemon beyond the Regional Dex.

Sword/Shield Support Winds Down as Scarlet/Violet Rise

However, Pokemon Sword/Shield are beginning to wind down:

• No new DLC expansions have been announced since Crown Tundra in 2020.

• Online ranked battles and official tournaments will end in 2024 as Scarlet/Violet becomes the competitive focus.

• The final major content update was version 1.3.2 in November 2022.

While still popular, it‘s clear Sword/Shield are entering their twilight as the mainline Pokemon games. Scarlet/Violet will carry the torch forward as Game Freak shifts development and promotion efforts to Gen 9.

What Reviewers and Fans Are Saying

Let‘s examine some expert critiques and opinions on Pokemon Sword/Shield from reviewers and fansites to further analyze the games‘ strengths and weaknesses:

IGN – 8/10 Review

"Sword and Shield cut down on the tedious and protracted elements from previous games in favor of amplifying what makes Pokemon great in the first place."

GameSpot – 8/10 Review

"Sword and Shield cut out the excess and focus on the core virtues of the series: team building, battle strategy, and social play."

But common criticisms included linear routes, simple story, and lack of challenge.

Serebii

This hardcore Pokemon fansite calls the games "enjoyable but flawed" and took issue with removed Pokemon and limited endgame battle facilities.

While flawed, Pokemon Sword/Shield clearly do many things right to maintain such a large, passionate playerbase years after launch. Here are some of the key factors:

Satisfying Roleplaying for All Ages

The joyful fantasy of embarking on your own Pokemon journey still captivates young kids and nostalgic adults alike after 25 years. Sword/Shield deliver this core experience better than ever before.

Accessible Competitive Play

Ranked matchmaking, in-game rulesets, and a vibrant tournament scene make getting into Pokemon‘s highly strategic battles more appealing and beginner-friendly.

Multiplayer Integration

Playing together with other trainers increases engagement. Trading to fill your Pokedex and cooperating in Max Raids forges community.

Robust Post-Game Content

Expansions like Isle of Armor add meaningful new adventures that sustain players. Limited-time events like raid battles keep the experience feeling fresh.

The Pokemon Brand

Pokemon is the highest-grossing media franchise ever, built on creatures and lore loved by generations. This enduring brand power keeps fans invested in the games.

While imperfect, Sword/Shield leveraged Pokemon‘s strengths at the right time to capture millions of players for the long term. The games will clearly remain active even as the franchise marches onto Scarlet/Violet and beyond.