Meet The Gen 8 Starter Pokémon Of Sword And Shield

The Nintendo Switch has unveiled its Pokémon games to the world – and not a moment too soon.

Entitled Sword and Shield, they’re due to hit Nintendo’s hybrid console by late 2019, when wide-eyed trainers will embark on a journey like no other. And like all great Pokémon adventures, your story begins with a choice – a choice that will define the journey ahead. It is, quite simply, which loveable critter will you choose as your companion?

The Big N and developer Game Freak have narrowed that choice down to three: Grookey, Scorbunny and Sobble. Frankly, at this point, Nintendo’s seemingly infinite Pokémon name generator is beginning to show its age (this is Gen 8, after all), but at least based on visuals alone, Sword and Shield‘s starter Pokémon are incredibly cute. And you can get acquainted with your new digitized pet down below.

Grookey (Grass): A mischievous Chimp Pokémon that is full of boundless curiosity.

Scorbunny (Fire): A Rabbit Pokémon that is always running about, bursting with energy.

Sobble (Water): A somewhat timid Water Lizard Pokémon that shoots out attacks as it hides itself in the water.

Fire, water, grass – the three staples of Game Freak’s Pokémon series. Each starter will come bearing its own strengths and weaknesses and, much like Pokémon Go, we expect some form of connective link between Sword and Shield Niantic’s mobile phenomenon by the year’s end. Because if the real, overriding objective is to catch ’em all, the Big N has just added another three to the Pokédex.

Set in the lush 3D world of Galar, Pokémon Sword and Shield hits Nintendo Switch later this year, and now joins Super Mario Maker 2, Yoshi’s Crafted World, Astral Chain, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, Animal Crossing, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Fire Emblem: Three Houses on the Big N’s stacked 2019 schedule.