Pokemon Ultra Moon

Pokemon Ultra Moon is the sister version to Ultra Sun and, like it, expands the original 2016 Moon game with new content set in the tropical region of Alola. The player goes through island trials instead of traditional gym battles, collects pocket monsters, and builds a team heading toward the final champions' league. The Ultra versions weave mysterious Ultra Wormholes into the story, through which beings from other dimensions enter Alola.

Compared to the base version, Ultra Moon offers a revised and expanded postgame, new side scenes, and the chance to catch exotic Ultra Beasts through special dimensional challenges. As is traditional between the two Ultra versions, the availability of certain Pokémon species differs, along with minor story deviations, giving series fans a reason to play both variants. The battle system stays true to the classic turn-based concept with type advantages and island Z-Moves, which let you unleash an especially powerful, type-bound attack once per battle. The game also offers a rich postgame - battle facilities, beauty contests, and the hunt for a complete Pokédex, including rare and legendary species available only in this version.

Ultra Moon was among the last major additions to the series on 3DS before the main line moved to Nintendo Switch, and for fans of the handheld era it represents one of the most extensive and longest adventures the platform has to offer. Together with Ultra Sun, it forms a pair that closes out the Alola chapter of the series on this handheld.

Why play: A supplemented version of the Alola adventure with bonus content missing from the base Moon.