Released by Game Freak, Pokémon Quest is a free-to-play game available on the Nintendo eShop. Taking place on Tumblecube Island, this addition to the Pokémon franchise is embracing a different and distinctive look, with its cube-shaped ‘Pokéxel’ sure to be a favourite for all ages.
The game in itself is very straightforward: you explore various dungeons with your assembled team. To begin with, you will befriend either Eevee, Pikachu, Charmander, Bulbasaur, or Squirtle. From here, you’ll set-up and customise your base, befriend more Pokémon by cooking, and level-up your squad by using power charms.
This game is recommended to be played using the touchscreen feature on the Nintendo Switch; however, it is entirely possible to play it by using the Joy-Con controls listed below.
In this guide for the Pokémon Quest controls on the Nintendo Switch, the left and right analogues are shown as (L) and (R), with the buttons of the d-pad shown as Up, Left, Right, and Down.
Pokémon Quest controls on Nintendo Switch
Here is the set of Pokémon Quest controls available to you when playing with a Nintendo Switch controller.
| Action | Switch Controls |
| Pause | +/- |
| Cursor Movement | (L) |
| Move Camera | (R) |
| Toggle Auto Play | Up |
| Tell Your Team to Scatter | B |
| Toggle Pokémon | L / R |
| Confirm | A |
| Cancel | B |
| Pokémon’s 1st move | Y |
| Pokémon’s 2nd move | X |
As stated previously, Game Freak intended for this game to be as touchscreen friendly as possible, so you can perform these actions by pressing the button on the Switch in handheld mode.
How the controls work for Pokémon Quest
Dissimilar to other games in the franchise, Pokémon Quest uses an auto-move feature, enabling your team to move around the expedition map without your direct input.
The game also offers an ‘Auto’ feature, making it possible to play the game without even touching the controls. To use the ‘Auto’ button, press the button on the left of your screen when you are on an expedition and let your Pokémon do all of the work for you.
Without the ‘Auto’ feature, you have more control over the game and can direct when your Pokémon uses their moves, as well as which one they use.
In the game, you’ll be given a battery that consists of five bars: you’ll lose one bar every time that you embark on an expedition. They recharge over time, or you can use the in-game currency ‘PM Tickets,’ which are awarded daily.
You should also note that Pokémon Quest doesn’t include a save feature and instead auto-saves your progress as you go.
How to power-up your Pokémon in Pokémon Quest
Another difference between this instalment and other Pokémon games is the powering up process. Whilst battling through expeditions in Pokémon Quest, you’ll pick-up various items. You’re also able to receive ‘Wait Less Stones,’ which will decrease the cooldown of the move that you attach it to.
The power charms are used to increase a Pokémon’s Attack or Health trait. As you increase your Pokémon’s level, more slots will unlock for you to put power charms into. As is standard in Pokémon games, defeating enemies will earn your team Exp. to level-up.
How to recruit new Pokémon in Pokémon Quest
Whilst collecting the aforementioned power charms, you will also be picking up cooking ingredients. These are used at your base to create different meals, attracting new Pokémon to your base for you to befriend and add to your team.
To get cooking and bring more Pokémon to your island, you’ll need to select the cooking pot in the middle of your base camp. The recipes that you use will dictate the type of Pokémon that appears, so be mindful of this when creating your meals.
After putting the ingredients into the cooking pot, a number will show above it to indicate how many expeditions that you need to embark on for it to attract a Pokémon.
Now you know the Pokémon Quest controls and the fundamental mechanics of the free-to-play Nintendo Switch game.
Pokémon Quest FAQ
Here, you can find answers to some frequently asked questions about Pokémon Quest.
How many Pokémon are there to befriend in Pokémon Quest?
There are 151 Pokémon available to collect in Pokémon Quest.
How long does it take for your battery to refill in Pokémon Quest?
It takes 30 minutes for a single bar of your battery to refill, but you can use PM Tickets to add charge to your battery immediately.
What happens when your team faints on an expedition on Pokémon Quest?
You can either spend PM Tickets to retrieve your collected loot from the expedition, or you can leave the quest empty-handed. Both of these options will use a charge of your battery.