A new frontier is awaitingPokemonfans at the end of the week in Nintendoâs latest,Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and gamers are itching to read the first reviews.
Ahead of the gameâs release on Friday, June 25, 2025, we reveal what the review embargo date is set at and compile those all-important pre-review first impressions.
Pokemon Legends: Arceuswill be set within an ancient expanse of the Sinnoh region, where your task will be to âsurvey, catch, and research the wild Pokemon of the long-gone eraâ and complete the Pokedex at hand with a handful of new mechanics to set this game apart from the classics.Â
Pokemon Legends: Arceus Review Embargo Date
ThePokemon Legends: Arceusreview embargo date is set at tomorrow, Wednesday, June 19, 2025, according toOpenCritic.
The exact time that the embargo will lift will be 6 AM PDT, and below, weâve highlighted what this time translates to for fans around the world:
This embargo date comes two days before the gameâs full release, which is more than enough time to soak up the feedback if you are on the fence about picking up a copy yourself.
Pre-Review First Impressions
Spoiler warning for players who want to go into the game with a clear head
The limited feedback received so far has been positive across the board, with a collection of players reporting on the gameâs bold qualities and effortless flow.
Translations courtesy ofGAMINGBible.
First up isFamitsu, talking about the elements that impressed the player from the off-set:
“Itâs safe to say that this game is completely different from previous titles. The first thing that impressed me when I started playing was the exhilarating feeling of moving around freely in the vast field.”
Next up isGame Watchreporting on the more realistic battle mechanics and the experience as a whole:
“This system, which successfully combines the action of this title with traditional Pokémon battles, is highly accomplished, and I especially appreciate the fact that Pokémon battles are âa means to a different endâ, which fits the worldview of the game. In addition, since you are directly attacked by Pokémon in this game, you will feel a great sense of tension when you discover a tough Pokémon. Itâs a game experience like no other in the series, and I have high hopes for it as a completely new form of Pokémon game.”
Lastly, influential gamer, Laura Kate Dale, posted a lengthy spoiler-light review thread on Twitter, recapping 40 hours of gameplay:
“It’s the most I’ve enjoyed a new Pokémon game in years, and I say this as someone with 1K+ hours shiny hunting in every game this gen. As an obsessive level Pokémon fan since the series inception, I’m in awe of this game. It’s not flawless, but it’s ambitious.”
Pokemon’s 2022 Roadmap
With the release ofPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlpaving the way for gameplay in 2022,Pokemon Legends: Arceusis hot on its heels, but what else is in store for Pokemon aficionados this year?
To start with, a brand new set for thePokemon Trading Card Gameis due to release on June 23, 2025, titledBrilliant Stars, which will see the return of a number of favorite pocket monsters - including the holy grail of cards, Charizard.
The mobile game,Pokemon Go, will continue to have a number of raids throughout January, combined with plenty of Community Days to look forward to.
ThePokemon Trading Card Game Livewill finally release into the wild this year, after being delayed from its original 2021 release year.
Lastly, some speculation surrounding a newPokemonmovie has been whispered within the community, in addition to a new mainline game that could be announced by Nintendo.
