Pokémon Scarlet and Violet did a lot right when they launched. With a fully open world and the ability to explore the region freely alongside friends for the first time in the series, on paper, it was the evolution of the franchise that many fans had been wanting for years.
Co-op play is the main feature that not only enhanced my experience of wandering through the Paldea region for the first time but also continues to play a huge part in its replayability. Generally speaking, I’d argue that it’s what Scarlet and Violet does best. I’ve spent more hours than I can count running around the various locales with my friends, fighting in Tera Raid Battles, and looking for shiny Pokémon (extremely rare, differently colored Pokémon variants) together - and yes, that latter activity has caused arguments in the past. Playing alongside someone with the opposite version of the game to your own even allows you to encounter their version-exclusive Pokémon, rather than having to trade for them. All in all, it’s always made the world feel more alive to adventure together, chatting about the things we’ve found and battles we’ve fought.
