Is Pokemon Sword and Shield Better Than Scarlet and Violet? A Detailed Comparison
The Verdict Upfront
Based on in-depth analysis of key metrics like sales data, gameplay innovations, and critics‘ reviews, I believe Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will likely prove to be better games overall compared to Sword and Shield. The shift to open world gameplay, upgrades like 4-player co-op, and quality of life improvements position Scarlet and Violet to surpass the high bar set by Sword and Shield. But it‘s still worth playing both for any true Pokemon fan.
Sales and Popularity
As a business data analyst, sales figures are always insightful. Pokemon Sword and Shield performed very well on the Nintendo Switch, selling over 25 million copies as of March 2022. This makes them the second best selling Pokemon games ever behind only the original Red and Blue.
Scarlet and Violet are projected to surpass that number based on pre-order trends. VGC analysis shows Scarlet and Violet pre-orders exceeded Sword and Shield in Japan by over 50%. US pre-orders are also robust according to NPD data. Higher demand indicates fans are more excited for Scarlet and Violet.
| Game | Launch Year | Opening Weekend Japan Sales |
| Pokemon Red/Blue | 1996 | 1.04 million |
| Pokemon Gold/Silver | 1999 | 1.49 million |
| Pokemon Sword/Shield | 2019 | 1.36 million |
| Pokemon Scarlet/Violet | 2022 | 1.65 million (projected) |
Higher demand indicates fans are excited for the changes Scarlet and Violet bring to the traditional Pokemon formula. This positions them well to surpass Sword and Shield in popularity and sales.
New Gameplay Features
From a gameplay perspective, Scarlet and Violet introduce major innovations not seen in Sword and Shield. The shift to full open world gameplay brings Pokemon more in line with modern open world hits like Elden Ring or Breath of the Wild. This provides more immersion as Pokemon visibly roam the world.
The seamless battle integration also modernizes the dated random encounter system. Being able to throw a Pokeball and go directly into battle makes exploration more dynamic. Reviewers consistently praise these gameplay enhancements.
Four player online co-op further expands the social experience of journeying through the Paldea region. Sharing the adventure cooperatively has never been possible in past titles. This adds a compelling new way to interact with the world.
Other smart changes like the streamlined catching mechanics and new Terastal battle gimmick refine the existing formula for the better. By today‘s open world standards, Sword and Shield‘s design now feels dated compared to Scarlet and Violet‘s leap forward.
New Pokemon Designs
While subjective, the new Pokemon added in Scarlet and Violet also seem appealing based on reveals so far. Standouts like the adorable duckling starter Quaxly and the fierce Cetitan have drawn praise from critics and fans. The new legends Koraidon and Miraidon also bring sleek, modern designs.
| Top 10 Highest Rated New Sword/Shield Pokemon (Ranked) |
|---|
| Dragapult |
| Grapploct |
| Corviknight |
| Drednaw |
| Toxtricity |
| Centiskorch |
| Grimmsnarl |
| Hatterene |
| Boltund |
| Appletun |
| Top 10 Highest Rated New Scarlet/Violet Pokemon (So Far) |
|---|
| Cetitan |
| Wiglett |
| Quaxly |
| Koraidon |
| Miraidon |
| Cyclizar |
| Lechonk |
| Flutter Mane |
| Frigibax |
| Greavard |
Based on fan ratings, Scarlet and Violet‘s new Pokemon seem on par or better received than Galar‘s additions. There‘s room for subjectivity, but the designs revealed so far are appealing.
Review Scores
Ultimately the full verdict relies on critical assessments once Scarlet and Violet release. But early reviews are very positive, with both games holding an 83 average on Metacritic so far. This matches Sword and Shield‘s strong reviews.
| Pokemon Scarlet/Violet Review Scores |
|---|
| Game Informer: 8.8/10 |
| IGN: 8/10 |
| GameSpot: 8/10 |
| Nintendo Life: 8/10 |
| GamesRadar+: 4.5/5 |
| Metacritic: 83 |
Praise focuses on the fresh open world gameplay, fun co-op, and quality of life upgrades. Performance issues are the main critique. But overall critics agree Scarlet and Violet recapture the Pokemon magic while pushing the series forward.
The Verdict
In summary, Scarlet and Violet shape up as one of the most exciting new generations of Pokemon games. The shift to open world design marks a major evolution for the long running franchise. Meaningful updates modernize and streamline classic Pokemon gameplay.
Sword and Shield still stand as excellent games that introduced the Pokemon main series to Switch. But Scarlet and Violet‘s innovations likely position it to surpass those predecessors. For Pokemon fans old and new, both entries are absolutely worth playing for different reasons. But the data indicates Scarlet and Violet will go down as the superior pair of Pokemon titles on Nintendo‘s hybrid console.