Is Pokemon GO worth playing in 2024?

Pokemon GO is one of the most popular mobile games on the market, despite being over eight years old now. Understandably, some mobile users looking to get into the gaming scene may want to know if Niantic's mobile geocaching experience is worth the time and effort to play.

With reception online being somewhat mixed, it can be difficult for potential players to get a definitive opinion on the game in regards to whether it is worth the investment. While it ultimately comes down to personal preference, here are some things players should know about Pokemon GO before they download it.

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Everything to know before downloading Pokemon GO

Pokemon GO has many appealing qualities for hardcore players (Image via Niantic)

Pokemon GO is a geocaching game, which uses the player's device's GPS and mobile data to track their location, giving the user content depending on where they are. This means the game will constantly use the player's GPS connectivity to find their location, requiring it to be on at all times during play.

With this in mind, the game is not recommended for lower-end smart devices. Given its requirements for both performance and gameplay, the game can lead to increased battery consumption, which can be exponentially worse for those with older smart devices. Thankfully, Pokemon GO includes battery-saving and reduced graphic quality options in its settings menu to help with these issues.

Pokemon GO's undying success can be greatly attributed to it constantly receiving content updates. Much like many other online games, GO features rotating content in the form of events and Raid Battles. This works to freshen the playing experience by exposing players to many different species of Pokemon to encounter and catch.

Pokemon GO features varieties of different gameplay, even featuring a competitive league for Pokemon Battles (Image via Niantic)

The game also features Trainer Battles, both against NPCs and other players. These NPCs appear as Team GO Rocket grunts and leaders, rewarding those who defeat them with rotating varieties of Shadow Pokemon. Battles against other players can take place casually among friends or be fought out competitively in Pokemon GO's Battle League.

Fans of the main series also like to play Pokemon GO due to many creatures being much easier to obtain in the mobile game. With the help of Pokemon Home, an app that allows players to send creatures from GO to their home consoles, many fans of the main series use the mobile game to complete their Pokedexes.

In a nutshell, Pokemon GO has many great qualities that make it a worthwhile experience even eight years after its launch. The game is a great way for fans of the main series to see their beloved creatures in a different context, with the added benefit of being able to easily find Shiny Pokemon and other rare monsters for their collections on the home console.

However, the casual experience for this game is a bit dry, with most of the game's modern content being focused on providing more "post-game" content for the hardcore player base with maxed-out creatures and profiles. With this in mind, users looking for a casual, yet rewarding experience may want to look elsewhere.