I’m sorry, but Pokemon Cafe Mix isn’t very good

Another day, another Pokemon game. This time it’s Pokemon Cafe Mix, a puzzle game featuring pocket monsters working at a budding cafe shop. The Pokemon Company’s latest title aims to capitalize on Android and iOS users who once obsessed over Candy Crush, a similar title that’s well past its prime. Where the predecessor soared and the new game fails lies with the complexity and difficulty of the game. It’s nearly impossible NOT to form a link in Cafe Mix because the drag design lets you move matches that aren’t even connecting. And that’s just the start of its problems.

Part of the joy that millions of Pokemon lovers experience is the ability to capture and train new friends. Cafe Mix has this, to an extent, but not in the traditional way you’re probably looking for. You can “capture” new Pokemon by earning their friendship and inviting them to join the cafe as staff members. They can aid you in making new links in further puzzles with their own unique attack, but there’s no Pokedex to fill out, no true leveling system and no bonding that exists in the last two generations. The companion feature is basically all but lost.

The primary focus of Pokemon Cafe Mix is to make matches to clear levels, and by doing so you unlock new recipes, expand the cafe, increase your customer service and hire new staff members. I got as far as adding Charmander to my payroll before I couldn’t play any longer. If you want to know how I’d rate Cafe Mix among the other Pokemon titles on smart phones, it would go exactly like this from best to worst: Pokemon Go, Pokemon Shuffle, Pokemon Quest, Pokemon Masters, Pokemon Duel, Pokemon Playhouse, Pokemon Cafe Mix and Magikarp Jump.

Seriously, if you want a Pokemon game like Candy Crush, just download Pokemon Shuffle!

The one and only highlight in regards to Pokemon Cafe Mix is its incredible graphics. It looks high quality for something you’d find on Android and iOS, but that’s due to the fact that it was also made available on the Nintendo Switch. The graphics lean more towards the audience playing that platform, while being stylish and modern on your phone. However, I’ve seen gaymers complaining about the use of in-app purchases on the Switch version and the grey area between content and price of additional downloads. If you don’t wish to add any further payments to your credit card, I’d just stick with the cell phone version where you have the ability to turn it off when your battery dies.

I played Pokemon Cafe Mix for about forty minutes and I never plan on playing it again. It brings nothing new to the table, because we already have working Pokemon in Detective Pikachu, and there’s other titles that are more alluring and worth your time. Skip. Skip! SKIP!