Pokémon GO review
Catch Pokémon on real streets and battle at local gyms
- Scopely Explore
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android
4.0 from 656.3K App Store ratings 500M+ Google Play downloads
Does it deserve #7?
Is Pokémon GO worth it?
It depends on what you need. Pokémon GO scores 7.7/10 and ranks #7 in Casual & Party Games. It's best for Pokémon fans and walkers who want a reason to explore their neighborhood. Skip it if you live somewhere with few PokéStops or gyms nearby. Price: Free; PokéCoins from $0.99 and event tickets from $1.99 in the App Store.
The verdict
Pokémon GO turns a walk into a hunt. You catch Pokémon on real streets, spin PokéStops for items, hatch eggs by distance and team up for raids at local gyms. Ten years in, the calendar is packed with Community Days, raid days and seasonal events. It's free and fair if you play casually, but raid passes and event tickets add up, and constant GPS use is hard on your battery.
- Catch Pokémon in the real world
- Raids and Max Battles with friends
- Community Days and seasonal events
- Egg hatching by walking distance
- Trading and GO Battle League
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Oct 2026Zorua Community Day and Hatch Day, then Halloween costumed Pikachu, Zubat and Sinistea from Oct 27
- Jul 2026The Niantic games team behind Pokémon GO became Scopely Explore
- Jul 2026Pokémon GO marked its 10th anniversary
Privacy 5.4/10
App Store label: identifiers are used to track you. Health and fitness, location, contacts, contact info, purchases, user content, identifiers, usage and diagnostics are linked to you.
What we like
- Gets you outside and walking
- Busy calendar of events and raids
- Free to play at a casual pace
What could be better
- Heavy on battery and mobile data
- Wide data collection, including location and fitness
Pokémon fans and walkers who want a reason to explore their neighborhood
you live somewhere with few PokéStops or gyms nearby
Questions about Pokémon GO
Is Pokémon GO worth it in 2026?
It depends on what you need. Pokémon GO scores 7.7/10 and ranks #7 in Casual & Party Games. It's best for Pokémon fans and walkers who want a reason to explore their neighborhood. Skip it if you live somewhere with few PokéStops or gyms nearby. Price: Free; PokéCoins from $0.99 and event tickets from $1.99 in the App Store.
Is Pokémon GO free?
Yes. It's free to play, with PokéCoins from $0.99 and event tickets from $1.99 to $4.99 in the App Store.
Is Pokémon GO pay-to-win?
Not really. You can catch, hatch and battle for free, but extra raid passes and event tickets speed things up for those who pay.
Is Pokémon GO OK for kids?
The App Store rates it 9+ with parental controls and Google Play rates it Everyone. It uses your location, so younger kids should play with an adult.
What are the best alternatives to Pokémon GO?
The closest alternatives are Minecraft, Roblox and Terraria. See all of them ranked on our Pokémon GO alternatives page.
Where does Pokémon GO rank?
Pokémon GO ranks #7 of 8 in our Casual & Party Games ranking, with an overall score of 7.7 out of 10.