Pokémon X

Pokémon X and Y are role-playing video games with adventure elements, presented in a third-person, overhead perspective. They are also the first Pokémon games to include 3D functions compatible with the consoles in the Nintendo 3DS family. The player controls a young Pokémon Trainer who goes on a quest to catch and train creatures known as Pokémon and win battles against other Trainers. By defeating opposing Pokémon in turn-based battles, the player's Pokémon gain experience, allowing them to level up and increase their battle statistics, learn new moves, and in some cases, evolve into more powerful Pokémon.

Alternatively, players can capture wild Pokémon found during random encounters by weakening them in battle and catching them with Poké Balls to be added to the player's party. Players are also able to battle and trade Pokémon with other human players using the Nintendo 3DS's internet features, which were enhanced in the sixth generation games. Like with previous games in the series, certain Pokémon are only obtainable in either X or Y, keeping players encouraged to trade with others in order to obtain all Pokémon.

The games take place in the star-shaped Kalos Region, one of many such regions across the fictional Pokémon world. Centered around beauty, the region is heavily inspired by Metropolitan France and, to a lesser extent, Europe as a whole. Many locations and landmarks across Kalos have real-world inspirations, including Prism Tower (Eiffel Tower), the Lumiose Art Museum (the Louvre) and the stones outside Geosenge Town (Carnac stones). Wild Pokémon inhabit every corner of the Kalos region, many of which are only known to appear in this area.

Similar to previous Pokémon games, X and Y both follow a linear storyline whose main events occur in a fixed order. The protagonist of Pokémon X and Y has just moved to a small town called Vaniville Town with their mother Grace. They soon befriend four trainers—Shauna, Tierno, Trevor and their rival Calem or Serena,—all of whom were called to meet Professor Augustine Sycamore who is the leading professor in the Kalos Region in Lumiose City, the main city of Kalos. Receiving either Chespin, Fennekin or Froakie as their Starter Pokémon from Tierno, the player begins their adventure.

Development of Pokémon X and Y began in 2010. Director Junichi Masuda revealed the three main themes of X and Y to be beauty, bonds, and evolution. Beauty was the core focus and Masuda considered France to be a prime example of such; he sent a team to the country for study in 2011. Flowers were integrated into many routes across the game for visual aesthetics, something not done in previous iterations of Pokémon, and for unique wild Pokémon encounters.

With the games taking place in a region based on France, design inspiration stemmed more from European culture. The legendary trio of Xerneas, Yveltal and Zygarde have their roots in Norse mythology, for example. More focus than usual was placed on giving new Pokémon unique elements for this generation. The titles X and Y, representing the x-axis and y-axis—also reflecting different forms of thinking—were chosen early in development.

Pokémon X and Y were released to positive reception, garnering "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic. The positive reception allowed X and Y to claim the 15th and 13th highest-rated games on the Nintendo 3DS, respectively. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the games received "mighty" approval, being recommended by 84% of critics. Three of the four reviewers for the Japanese magazine Weekly Famitsu awarded the game a 10/10 score, earning it the publication's Platinum Award.

This made them the second-highest rated Pokémon titles by the magazine, behind only the perfect score awarded to Pokémon Black and White. Two of the reviewers found the new graphics and 3D display made the game feel fresh and fun, as well as praising the newer gameplay mechanics such as mega evolutions and super training.