If you’ve been living under a Geodude, here’s the gist: Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are the latest "mainline" Pokémon games for the Nintendo Switch. Unlike the older games that forced kids down a specific path, these games drop the player into the Paldea region—a massive, Spain-inspired world—and say, "Go nuts."

The story is framed around a school (Naranja Academy or Uva Academy, depending on the version). Your kid plays as a student sent out on an "independent study" project called The Treasure Hunt. They can tackle three different storylines in any order: beating gym leaders, taking down a group of rebellious students called Team Star, or hunting giant "Titan" Pokémon.

The "open world" aspect is the big draw here. In previous games, if a kid got stuck on a hard boss, they were just stuck. In Scarlet and Violet, they can just turn around, ride their legendary dragon-bike (Koraidon or Miraidon), and go explore a different province until they’re strong enough to come back.

There's also the "Terastal" phenomenon. It’s a mechanic where Pokémon turn into sparkling, crystalline versions of themselves with funny hats. It sounds ridiculous (because it is), but for a kid, it adds a layer of strategy and "cool factor" that keeps them engaged.

Finally, there’s the social aspect. Roughly 60% of elementary and middle school gamers are playing some form of Pokémon. Being able to talk about their "Shinies" or their raid builds is the current currency of the playground.

Ask our chatbot about the differences between Scarlet and Violet versions

Let's not pull punches: when these games launched, they were a technical mess. We're talking about characters disappearing, frame rates dropping to a slideshow, and trees looking like they were drawn in MS Paint circa 1995. Even now, after several patches, it’s not the most beautiful game on the Switch.

However, kids generally do not care. While we might grumble about the graphics, they are having the time of their lives catching a Lechonk (it’s a round pig Pokémon, and yes, it’s adorable). The gameplay loop is incredibly satisfying, and the "Let's Go" feature—which allows Pokémon to auto-battle enemies in the overworld—removes a lot of the tedious grinding that older games required.

Ages 7-9: This is the sweet spot. The game requires a decent amount of reading, though nothing too complex. If your child is still a developing reader, you might find yourself acting as the narrator for the school sequences.

Ages 10-12: Most kids this age will fly through the main story. This is where the "post-game" and competitive scene starts to matter. They’ll likely want to engage in Tera Raids (co-op battles) or online trading.

Safety Considerations: The Nintendo Switch is generally a "walled garden," which is great for parents. There is no built-in voice chat in Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. Communication with strangers is limited to pre-set emotes or trade requests.

The main "risk" is the Union Circle, where players can invite friends (or strangers via a code) into their world. If your kid is watching a YouTuber who shares a "Link Code" for a trade, they might end up interacting with people you don't know. It’s low-risk, but worth a conversation.

Check out our guide on Nintendo Switch Parental Controls

Pokémon games are designed to be "sticky." There is always one more Pokémon to catch, one more level to gain, or one more raid to finish.

The biggest hurdle for parents is the Tera Raid events. Nintendo frequently runs limited-time events (like a "7-Star Charizard" weekend). These events create a massive sense of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Your kid might feel like they have to play on a Saturday morning because that specific Pokémon won't be back for months.

Pro-tip: The game saves frequently, and you can save almost anywhere. There is no "I can't save right now" excuse unless they are in the middle of a specific cinematic battle or an online raid. A standard Tera Raid takes about 5-7 minutes. If you’re calling them for dinner, "finish the raid" is a reasonable 5-minute request. "Finish the gym" might take 20.

Unlike Roblox or Fortnite, Pokémon isn't trying to nickel-and-dime your kid every five seconds with "skins." However, there are two financial things to watch:

If you want to connect with your kid about their Paldea adventures, skip the "how's school going?" questions (they get enough of that in the game) and try these:

Learn more about why kids are obsessed with Shiny Pokémon

Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are high-quality, relatively safe, and deeply engaging games. They encourage strategic thinking, reading comprehension, and even a bit of resource management. The technical bugs are annoying for adults but rarely deal-breakers for kids.

If your family is looking for a way to bridge the digital gap, consider picking up the opposite version and playing alongside them. It’s one of the few games where a parent and child can truly cooperate toward a goal without it feeling patronizing.

Ask our chatbot for more Nintendo Switch game recommendations for 8-year-olds