Pokemon Unite has been crowned Best Game of 2021 in Google Play’s Best of Play 2021 awards.
Best of Play 2021 is a game awards ceremony focused on mobile gaming and beyond. Google has called it a celebration of the games that “made positive contributions to culture” in 2021. Pokemon Unite took home the highest honor of the ceremony as the Best Game of 2021.
“We tried to distill the best parts of the MOBA genre to create a new kind of game, but I must admit that I was unsure if it would be well-received by players around the world,” Pokemon Unite producer Masaaki Hoshino said. “This award shows that our game has been positively received by fans and the media, and while this is a great relief, at the same time it reaffirms our determination to continue doing our best to make Pokémon Unite an even more exciting experience that meets our players’ expectations.”
Pokemon Unite named Best Game of 2021
On September 20, 2021, Pokemon Unite announced that Pokemon Unite had surpassed 9 million downloads. All of these downloads were on Nintendo Switch only. Since then, Pokemon Unite has launched a mobile version as well, meaning there are even more players at this point.
Pokemon Unite has over 354,000 followers on its Twitch category. It has fallen in viewership since launch, when it saw a peak viewership of over 225,000 concurrent users on Twitch. It now hovers around 3,000. But the player base seems to have remained strong.
With free content updates and an active community of fans, it’s no surprise that Pokemon Unite has made such a big impact on the gaming world in 2021.
What Pokemon are in Pokemon Unite?
Pokemon Unite features a lot of popular Pokemon as well as some more surprising additions that most fans didn’t expect to see. In October, developers revealed how they chose the Pokemon to include in the MOBA. The Pokemon are picked to create a variety of playing styles. This includes “eccentric” picks that introduce new possibilities to the Pokemon MOBA.
- Pikachu (Attacker)
- Charizard (All-Rounder)
- Snorlax (Defender)
- Crustle (Defender)
- Greninja (Attacker)
- Eldegoss (Supporter)
- Talonflame (Speedster)
- Lucario (All-Rounder)
- Venusaur (Attacker)
- Mr. Mime (Supporter)
- Slowbro (Defender)
- Absol (Speedster)
- Machamp (All-Rounder)
- Wigglytuff (Supporter)
- Alolan Ninetales (Attacker)
- Cramorant (Attacker)
- Gengar (Speedster)
- Garchomp (All-Rounder)
- Cinderace (Attacker)
- Zeraora (Speedster)
- Gardevoir (Attacker)
- Blissey (Supporter)
- Blastoise (Defender)
- Mamoswine (Defender)
Each Pokemon has a different role within the MOBA, similar to champions in League of Legends or heroes in Dota 2. Each Pokemon has abilities based on their attacks from the original game series. Some of the strongest Pokemon in competitive Pokemon Unite include Snorlax, Lucario, Venasaur, Wigglytuff, and Sylveon.
Google Play Best Of Play 2021 Winners
Top Awards
Users’ Choice 2021
- App: Paramount+
- Game: Garena Free Fire MAX
Best App
Best Game
Best Of Play 2021 Game Winners
Best Competitive
- League of Legends: Wild Rift
- MARVEL Future Revolution
- Pokémon Unite
- Rogue Land
- Suspects: Mystery Mansion
Best Game Changers
Best Indies
Best Pick Up & Play
Best for Tablets
- Chicken Police — Paint it RED!
- League of Legends: Wild Rift
- My Friend Pedro: Ripe for Revenge
- Overboard!
- The Procession to Calvary
Best of Play 2021 App Winners
Best Apps for Good
Best Everyday Essentials
Best for Fun
Best Hidden Gems
Best for Personal Growth
Best for Tablets
Best for Wear
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