Pokémon SoulSilver Version cover art

Pokémon SoulSilver Version

Plannable type-matchup progression through two regions of fixed trainers.

Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION0 /10READS1 /10VARIANCE3 /10OPTIMIZATION8 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    0/10

    Menu-driven battles have no physical component

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    1/10

    Trainer AI is scripted; human battles are an optional sideline

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    3/10

    Catch rates, crits and encounters are bounded randomness

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    8/10

    Team building against known gyms is fully plannable

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Stardew Valley cover art

Stardew Valley

Pure Optimization · farming life sim

E
R
V
O
Stardew Valley
Persona 5 cover art

Persona 5

Pure Optimization · social sim JRPG

E
R
V
O
Persona 5
Planescape: Torment cover art

Planescape: Torment

Pure Optimization · narrative RPG

E
R
V
O
Planescape: Torment
Fire Emblem: Three Houses cover art

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Pure Optimization · tactical RPG

E
R
V
O
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Sid Meier's Civilization cover art

Sid Meier's Civilization

Pure Optimization · 4X strategy

E
R
V
O
Sid Meier's Civilization
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle cover art

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Pure Optimization · tactical strategy

E
R
V
O
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Game details

Released
2009
Developer
Game Freak
Franchise
Pokémon
Platforms
NDS
Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB critics
90/100
IGDB users
90/100
Role-playing (RPG)Turn-based strategy (TBS)AdventureActionFantasy