It feels like a lifetime ago that we first stepped into the Galar region. Back in late 2019, the hype for Pokemon Sword and Shield was basically at a fever pitch, but it was also buried under a mountain of controversy. Remember "Dexpit"? People were genuinely furious that for the first time in the series' history, you couldn't bring every single pocket monster into the new game. It was a mess.
But honestly? Looking back from 2026, those games did a lot more for the franchise than we gave them credit for at the time.
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The Galar region—inspired by the United Kingdom—offered a specific kind of cozy atmosphere that subsequent titles like Scarlet and Violet arguably lost in their rush toward a fully open world. You’ve got these sprawling hills, industrial cities like Motostoke that feel ripped out of a steampunk novel, and a soundtrack that absolutely slaps. It was the bridge between the old "hallway" design of the 3DS era and the experimental chaos of the modern era.
The Wild Area was a bigger deal than we realized
Before the Wild Area in Pokemon Sword and Shield, the idea of seeing a giant Onix roaming around in the distance was just a pipe dream. It was the first time Game Freak let us control the camera. That sounds crazy to say out loud now, but for decades, Pokemon was fixed-angle only.
The Wild Area wasn't perfect. Let's be real—the trees looked like they were from a Nintendo 64 game, and the draw distance was pretty rough. When it rained in-game, the frame rate would sometimes chug. However, it introduced the concept of Max Raid Battles. This changed everything. Suddenly, you weren't just playing a solo RPG; you were teaming up with three other people (or some very incompetent AI NPCs with Magikarps) to take down a Kaiju-sized Pokemon.
It turned Pokemon into a "live" game. You’d check in every weekend to see if there was a special Gigantamax Snorlax or a shiny Magikarp event happening. It gave the game legs that lasted long after the credits rolled.
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Gigantamaxing vs. Mega Evolution
People still argue about this in forums today. While Mega Evolution is the fan favorite, Gigantamaxing was a brilliant spectacle. Seeing a Corviknight turn into a massive armored bird with glowing red energy birds flying around it was just cool. It was a mechanic designed specifically for the "stadium" vibe of Galar. Unlike the Z-Moves of the Alola region, which felt like a long cutscene you had to sit through, Dynamaxing felt tactical because it only lasted three turns. You had to time it.
If you popped your Dynamax too early and your opponent switched into a Ghost-type to stall you out, you were basically toast. That layer of competitive depth is something players still appreciate when revisiting these older titles.
The DLC changed the "Third Version" model forever
For twenty years, we were stuck with the "third version" or "sequel" model. You bought Pokemon Ruby, then you bought Pokemon Sapphire, and a year later, you paid full price again for Pokemon Emerald. It was a bit of a scam, honestly.
Pokemon Sword and Shield killed that.
Instead of Pokemon Gun or whatever the internet joked about, we got The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra. This was a massive shift in how Nintendo handled their biggest IP.
The Isle of Armor gave us Kubfu and a more focused, training-montage vibe. But The Crown Tundra? That was the real MVP. It introduced Dynamax Adventures, which is arguably the best way to catch Legendary Pokemon ever implemented in the series. It felt like a dungeon crawler. You and your friends had to choose paths, manage your health, and swap Pokemon strategically to reach the boss at the end. It was difficult. It was rewarding. And it actually made the post-game feel substantial.
Why Galar looks better than Paldea
This is a hot take, but I'm sticking to it. Even though Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are newer and have more "freedom," Pokemon Sword and Shield are technically more polished games.
Because Galar wasn't a "true" open world, the developers could curate the visuals more carefully. The interior of the boutiques, the lighting in Glimwood Tangle, and the polished look of the Pokemon models themselves feel more "finished." In 2026, if you go back and play Sword, you’ll notice the performance is significantly more stable. It doesn't have the same level of memory leak issues or the terrifying character model glitches that haunted the later ninth-generation launches.
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There is a sense of place in Galar. The gyms aren't just buildings; they are massive soccer stadiums filled with roaring crowds. The "Challenger" theme that plays during the final stretch of a gym leader battle—where the crowd starts chanting along to the beat—is peak Pokemon. It makes you feel like an actual athlete in a world that cares about the sport.
Competitive play and the "VGC" legacy
If you're into the competitive scene (VGC), Galar was a golden age. This was the era where "Rental Teams" became a thing. You didn't have to spend 40 hours breeding the perfect IV/EV Pokemon anymore. You could just put in a code from a top-tier player like Wolfe Glick and start battling on the ladder immediately.
This lowered the barrier to entry significantly. It made the game accessible to people who actually had jobs and lives but still wanted to test their strategies against the best in the world. Even now, the meta-game for Pokemon Sword and Shield is remembered for its variety, despite Zacian (the legendary dog with a sword) being absolutely broken for a significant portion of its lifespan.
Common misconceptions about the "National Dex"
We have to address the elephant in the room. The "National Dex" controversy suggested that the game would be "empty" without all 800+ Pokemon. In reality, the Galar Pokedex was curated specifically for balance.
By limiting the pool, Game Freak actually allowed some underused Pokemon to shine. It forced people to stop using the same six monsters they'd been using since 2006. While it sucked that you couldn't bring your specific starter from a 15-year-old save file initially, the DLC eventually added back hundreds of fan favorites. By the time the game was "finished" with both expansions, the roster felt massive.
What you should do if you're playing today
If you're picking up a copy of Pokemon Sword and Shield in 2026, maybe because you found a used copy or you're looking to complete your Home Dex, there are a few things you should know.
- Get the Expansion Pass immediately. The base game is okay, but it feels like a prologue without the DLC. The story in The Crown Tundra is genuinely some of the best writing in the series.
- Don't skip the raids. Even though the player base isn't as huge as it was in 2020, you can still find active Discord communities and subreddits where people host "shiny raids" or help with version exclusives.
- Appreciate the "Wild Area" for what it was. It was a prototype. Seeing it through that lens makes you appreciate how far the series has come, even if it feels a little janky compared to modern open-world standards.
- Use the Surprise Trade. It's still surprisingly active. People are always cycling through their "breedjects," and you can often get high-level or rare Pokemon just by trading away a Route 1 bird.
Galar might have been a divisive step for the franchise, but it was a necessary one. It pushed Pokemon into the HD era and proved that the series could survive—and thrive—by changing its oldest traditions. It's a cozy, vibrant, and surprisingly deep experience that holds up way better than the internet comments from 2019 would lead you to believe.
Next Steps for Players:
Start by focusing on the Max Raid Dens in the early Wild Area to stock up on EXP Candies. This avoids the need for tedious grinding later in the game. Once you reach the first train station, head straight to the Isle of Armor if you have the DLC; obtaining the "Exp. Charm" early will significantly smooth out the leveling curve for your entire team as you progress through the main Gym Challenge.