This New Free Mobile Pokemon Puzzle Game Lets You Weave Digital Plushes
The latest Pokemon mobile game is a puzzle game where you untangle threads of yarn in order to weave Pokemon plushes for your in-game collection. You can play it now on iOS and Android devices for free, or you can buy it for $10 on the Nintendo eShop.
Here's what you should know to get started with Pokemon Friends.
Puzzles, yarn and Pokemon
To earn yarn, you have to solve puzzles in the game. To get to these puzzles, tap the Psyduck tile with the word Untangle near the bottom of the screen in the main room of the game -- poor Psyduck is always tied up in knots. Some of the puzzles include connecting a string of lightbulbs using only one line and rotating a box in order to free Pokemon, like Slowpoke, from the box.
Slowpoke are always getting themselves into some kind of mess.
The Pokemon Company/Screenshot by CNET
After solving the series of puzzles, you are rewarded with a certain number of inches of yarn. Your reward depends on how quickly you solve the puzzles, so if you want the most yarn to make more Pokemon plushes, you have to be faster than an Electrode.
How much yarn you get depends on how fast you solve the puzzles.
The Pokemon Company/Screenshot by CNET
Once you have your yarn, you'll stamp your calendar, which shows all the days you've solved puzzles for. You can use your calendar to keep track of what days you've solved puzzles, and you can use it to go back to older puzzles and try to beat your high score.
You can revisit old puzzles from your calendar.
The Pokemon Company/Screenshot by CNET
When you have your yarn, tap the Plush-O-Matic -- the machine that looks like a giant Pokeball -- and you'll be able to make plushes with your yarn. Then tap Make and you can choose which yarn to create a Pokemon plush with. Certain yarns are used to make a handful of Pokemon, but it only took one bundle of yarn to make my first few Pokemon.
However, I can't see a way to make one particular Pokemon. For example, when you select Fiery Yarn, you can tap Plush Rates in the bottom right corner of your screen to see what Pokemon that yarn can create. I found that my Fiery Yarn could create a Charmander, Charizard, Scorbunny or Fuecoco plush, but I had a 25% chance to make any of those Pokemon -- I got a Scorbunny!
It's a cute little Scorbunny!
The Pokemon Company/Screenshot by CNET
After tapping the Plush-O-Matic, you can also tap Catalog to see details of which plushes you've created, like their size, how many of them you own and what yarn it takes to create them.
Decorate with your new Pokemon friend
After you've woven your Pokemon plush, it's time to decorate. From the main room of the game, tap the tile in the bottom left corner of your screen that has a Scorbunny on it -- it was like that before I got my own Scorbunny. This will take you to your own room, which you can decorate with your plushes.
Once in the room, tap the tile with the Pawmi and Buneary in the left corner of your screen to pull up all the plushes. Tap the plush you want to decorate with and then you can drag and place it anywhere in the room.
Scorbunny and Pikachu are friends so they are sharing the basket.
The Pokemon Company/Screenshot by CNET
You can also tap the green chair under the Pawmi and Buneary tile to add or change furniture in the room. Beneath that tile is an hourglass icon. Tap and hold the hourglass to rewind your room, kind of like an Undo button.
And in the bottom left corner of your screen is a toy chest with Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly Pokemon. This is the Tidy Up button. Tap this and then tap Pokemon plushes or furniture around the room to remove them from the room. And if you accidentally remove something, no worries, tap and hold the hourglass to undo the change.
After decorating, tap the green door in the top right corner of your screen to go back to the main room.
The mobile version is free but…
The mobile version of Pokemon Friends is free up to a point. I could only solve the second series of puzzles the first time I played the game, but that might be different for you.
After you solve your daily puzzles, Pokemon Friends says you can buy DLC to keep playing. To do so, tap Shop in the top left corner of your screen and you can buy different bundles.
You might have to buy DLC at a point if you want to continue in Pokemon Friends.
The Pokemon Company/Screenshot by CNET
The Basic Pack ($10) lets you play puzzles as often as you like. Other packs include new puzzles, wallpapers for your plush room and more, and those packs start at $15.
It's unclear if you can solve a limited number of puzzles every day without issue, or if you'll have to buy the Basic Pack at some point to continue playing.
The Pokemon Company did not immediately respond to my request for comment.
For more on the July Pokemon Presents, here's all the free stuff you can get from the event.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
3 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
7 hidden Roku tricks every user should know
Your Roku does way more than just stream Netflix and Hulu. Beneath its familiar interface lies clever features and shortcuts that can improve your streaming experience in surprising ways. Most people never discover these lesser-known tricks, missing out on convenient tools that save time and frustration every day. Some features help you navigate more efficiently, while others solve common problems you didn't even realize had solutions. There are also hidden settings that protect your privacy and secret screens that aren't mentioned anywhere in the official documentation. Whether you're a longtime Roku user or just got started, these hidden features will improve your experience with one of the best streaming devices. Instead of managing separate watchlists across Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and every other streaming service, Roku lets you create one master list that works across all services. Use the Roku OS to search for shows and movies you want to watch, then select Add to Save List on each title's details page. This saves everything to a universal watchlist that you can access by going to the Roku home screen and selecting What to Watch. Your universal list shows everything in one place, making it much easier to decide what to watch next. The physical Roku remote is functional, but your phone can do so much more. Download the Roku Official Remote Control app for iOS or Android and you'll get a full keyboard for easy searching, the ability to stream content directly from your phone, as well as voice search. The app also lets you browse and launch channels without looking at your TV screen. You can type search terms quickly and if you lose the physical remote, your phone becomes an instant backup. The app even shows what's currently playing and gives you playback controls. If your remote has vanished into the couch cushions again, you don't need to tear apart your living room. If you have a remote with a speaker grille, open the Roku app, tap the microphone, and say "Hey, Roku, find my remote." The remote will start beeping so you can track it down. For Roku Ultra devices, just long-press the button on the right side of the device and the remote will beep. If you have a Voice Remote Pro, you can say "Hey, Roku, find my remote" directly to the TV and it will start beeping. Once you find it, press any button to stop the noise. You can even customize the beeping sound in Settings if the default tone isn't loud enough. When friends or family visit, they can use your Roku without messing up your recommendations, watchlists, or personal settings. Go to to set up a PIN, then press the Home button on your Roku remote and navigate to Settings, System, Guest Mode, and Enter Guest Mode. Then enter your PIN and select OK to activate it. Now guests can sign into their own streaming accounts and use the device normally, but their viewing history won't affect your algorithms and they can't see your personal content. Late-night binge-watching doesn't have to wake up your household. If you have a first-generation Voice Remote Pro, you can plug headphones directly into the remote's headphone jack and audio will automatically redirect from the TV to your headphones. For newer remotes without headphone jacks, use the Roku mobile app's Headphone Mode to listen through your phone's headphones or earbuds. The TV audio gets muted while you get full sound through your personal audio device. This works great for apartments, shared living spaces, or when your partner goes to bed early but you want to keep watching. Roku has hidden diagnostic screens can help you troubleshoot problems. These secret screens let you run network speed tests, view detailed system information, check channel installation logs, and perform various resets when your device isn't working properly. You can access these by pressing specific button combinations on your remote or entering special codes. To run a network speed test, press Home 5 times, then Up, Down, Up, Down, Up and you'll get access to speed testing, reset, and logging options. For a soft reset when your Roku is acting up, press Home 5 times, Up once, Rewind twice, and Fast Forward twice and your device will restart without erasing settings. The speed test screen is particularly useful for diagnosing streaming quality issues, showing you exactly how fast your internet connection is performing on the Roku device itself. Tired of being blasted awake by loud commercials or having to constantly adjust volume between quiet dialogue and loud action scenes? To avoid this, press the star button on your remote during playback, then navigate to Sound Settings and Volume Mode. Turn on Leveling to prevent sudden volume spikes from commercials and channel changes. You can also enable Night mode to boost quiet sounds and reduce loud ones, which is perfect for late-night viewing when you don't want to disturb others. For Roku Streambars and Soundbars, you'll find these options under Settings, Audio and Volume Modes instead. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Digital Trends
a day ago
- Digital Trends
I have a big problem with how Nintendo has been treating collectibles
By the time I reached the fifth layer in Donkey Kong Bananza, I had already collected more bananas than there are Stars in the entirety of Mario 64. Without getting into exactly how long it takes to beat, that's a small fraction of the way through the game, with hundreds more bananas left to find. I am normally a completionist when it comes to collectibles in games, especially Nintendo franchises, but eventually found myself burnt out on chasing down all the stray bananas scattered through most of the levels. I would gladly take on the combat and puzzle-platforming challenges, but I was more enticed by the actual content of those challenges rather than the reward. It wasn't long before I simply ignored stray bananas buried in the earth or sitting atop a high perch. I could feel my inner child crying out for leaving these precious collectibles behind, but I realize now that Nintendo doesn't treat collectibles the way it once did, so neither should I. This new philosophy has infected almost all Nintendo franchises now, and I don't think I can stomach another Switch 2 game that makes collectibles feel so meaningless again. More isn't necessarily merrier Some of the most ingrained memories for me as a kid playing Ocarina of Time are when I found a precious piece of heart. These were typically tucked away in hidden areas or locked off as rewards for specific challenges. As always, collecting four would grant you a new heart container — perhaps the most meaningful upgrade in the game outside of equipment. They were rare, making each one feel meaningful to get, even if it wasn't the final one needed to get that new heart. The same can be said for Stars in Mario 64. Stages only had around 5 on average, and none of them were just lying around for me to pick up just for walking by. 120 sounds like a lot, but when each one presents a challenge to collect, they never feel less special to grab. Recommended Videos I imagine the excitement I felt each time I managed to snatch a new Star or root out a piece of heart as a kid is what set me on the path to becoming a completionist. But right at the launch of the Switch, Nintendo seemed to completely flip its approach to designing collectibles. Breath of the Wild was the canary in the coal mine, as it were, with 900 Korok seeds sprinkled around Hyrule. This was one of many design changes that going open-world necessitated for Zelda, and I don't think it was a poor one on its face. Yeah, it was the first time I decided early on that I wouldn't even attempt to 100% complete the game, but treated that absurdly high number as a kind of design failsafe — players who explored the world naturally would always have plenty to find no matter which direction their curiosity took them. I don't think it was necessarily made this way with the intention of most players feeling compelled to get them all, especially when you look at the joke of a final reward for getting all 900. The problem lies in the fact that this new more is more mentality surrounding collectibles wasn't contained to Zelda's open world games. Super Mario Odyssey was the first proper 3D Mario game since 3D World and inflated the number of collectibles from the usual 120-ish to around 300 on the higher end on a first playthrough, to 880 unique Moons. But Mario hadn't undergone a massive reinvention in the way Zelda had which made increasing the collectible count feel appropriate. To sell an amazing game very short, it is still a level-based platformer. The new levels are bigger, but they're not that big, and Moons still act as progression tools. Nintendo had to rework a lot of other aspects of a Mario game to make this change fit. Being kicked out of a level after collecting a Star or Moon was a long overdue upgrade, but Nintendo also had to cut the fanfare. Instead of a rewarding and celebratory animation as a reward for managing to get a Star, Odyssey pauses for as brief a time as possible to avoid interrupting the flow of gameplay. It's a better solution than keeping the longer animations, but a self-inflicted problem by cramming the game full of Moons. Without that struggle to find them or the feedback from the game cementing my achievement as something worthy of praise, collecting Moons started to feel only slightly more enticing than standard coins. How much could I care about them when I could literally buy a dozen from the shop in one go if I wanted? It makes perfect sense that Bananza treats its bananas this way after learning the Odyssey team was behind it. To its credit, Bananza does at least try to give bananas a different function than Stars and Moons by making them act as upgrade points for DK's stats and skills. But the core issue of importance remains. I'm still tripping over bananas and able to purchase them in batches at a shop. If bananas are meant to be the ultimate prize to chase, how come there are more of them than fossils? There's nothing wrong with taking this approach to collectibles. I think it made sense for Zelda, and I think it was a smart choice to try and shake up the platformer formula, even if it didn't land for me. What I don't want is for this to be the only approach Nintendo takes with platformers going forward. Go ahead and cram in tons of fossils, coins, and other supplemental collectibles if you want, but I need there to be at least one collectible that makes me feel excited to get again.
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
I bought the Switch 2 Pro Controller for its remappable back buttons — but this feature makes them an absolute game changer
From the moment I first laid hands on it, I knew I had to get the new Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Back in April, I was one of the first people to go hands-on with the Switch 2 at an event in New York. While it was awesome finally getting to see the new console up close, I couldn't believe that Nintendo had finally added the feature I always wanted to its pro controller: remappable back buttons. As someone who's been playing video games with a controller for over 30 years, my right thumb has certainly taken a beating. That's why, when possible, I prefer to play on a controller with remappable back buttons or rear paddles. This lets me avoid putting unnecessary strain on my thumb but I've also found that it makes playing certain games a lot easier for me. While plenty of the best Nintendo Switch controllers have remappable back buttons, this is the first time that Nintendo has added them to one of its first-party controllers. Likewise, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is one of the most comfortable gamepads I've ever held with plenty of refinements over the original. After picking up a Switch 2 and the new pro controller at a midnight launch though, I quickly realized that Nintendo didn't just add remappable back buttons to the controller, it completely changed how you use them. If you're like me and use remappable back buttons in every game you play, here's why you should definitely consider picking up a Switch 2 Pro Controller for the Nintendo Switch 2. This new and improved pro controller for the Switch 2 features Nintendo's HD Rumble 2, a C button for GameChat, remappable GL/GR buttons and a 3.5mm headphone jack along with support for motion controls and scanning amiibos. It's very comfortable to hold in hand and can last for up to 40 hours on a single retailers: Target, Best Buy, GameStop Normally on a controller with remappable back buttons, there's often an extra button on the back like with the PowerA OPS v3 Pro or on the front like with the 8BitDo Ultimate Controller. You press this button first to go into remapping mode before assigning inputs to either controller's back buttons. You'll notice though that the Switch 2 Pro Controller doesn't have a button like this on the this is the case, like on the Xbox Elite Series 2, you usually go into your console's settings menu to assign inputs to your controller's back buttons or rear paddles. However, when I opened up the Switch 2's settings menu and went to Controllers & Accessories and then GL/GR Button Settings, there was only a video explaining how they worked but not an option to map them to different buttons right then and there. The reason for this is surprisingly simple. Unlike with the remappable buttons on other pro-style controllers, you can't program the GL/GR ones unless you're in a game. While I wish Nintendo would let me do this as I like using a controller's back buttons to navigate through a console's menus and user interface, I quickly came to appreciate the company's unique and novel approach to assigning buttons. In fact, I now wish both Sony and Microsoft would follow suit. So how do you remap the GL/GR buttons on the Switch 2 Pro Controller? Well, to do so, you first have to open a game. From there, you hold down the controller's Home button to bring up the Switch 2's Quick Settings menu. Underneath the option to toggle Airplane Mode on or off, you'll see a section for the Switch 2 Pro Controller's GL/GR Buttons. Then you just select which one you want to remap and press the button you want to map it to on the controller and you're done. Not only does Nintendo make it quick and seamless to remap these GL/GR buttons but the best part is that how you configure them is saved on a per game basis. This means that while you might have them set up a particular way for Mario Kart World, you can have them mapped completely differently in another game. Then when you switch between games, the Switch 2 automatically reconfigures the controller's back buttons exactly how you had them. No other controller nor console does it this way. In the picture above, you can see I have the GR button mapped to A to make my cart go in Mario Kart World while the GL button is mapped to X so that I can quickly look behind me during the middle of a race. I had my Switch 2 Pro Controller's button remapped this way until earlier today when the idea struck me to map GL to the controller's right trigger so that I can drift as well as perform tricks without having to take my thumbs off the analog sticks. I've mainly been playing my Switch 2 in docked mode with the Switch 2 Pro Controller, so I've been using its remappable back buttons in every game I've played so far. For instance, in Donkey Kong Bananza which I recently reviewed, I have the GR button mapped to A for jump and the GL button mapped to Y to punch. If you've seen any gameplay footage, then you know Donkey Kong does a ton of punching in this game. With punch set to the GL button, this has made it a lot easier for me to not only defeat enemies but to also destroy the world around me as I'm hunting for gold and Banadium Gems. Before Donkey Kong Banaza came out, I was working my way through the end of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which runs and looks even better on the Switch 2. Here, I also have the GR button mapped to A since you use it for everything from jumping to climbing to talking to in-game characters and interacting with the world around you. However, you also frequently make use of Link's new abilities which you select from a wheel after pressing the left bumper or L button on your controller. To make it easier to pull up this wheel and switch between abilities, I mapped the GL button to L when I restarted playing Tears of the Kingdom on the Switch 2. The remapping possibilities are really endless on the Switch 2 Pro Controller as you can remap its GL/GR buttons to anything from the face buttons (A,B,X,Y) to the triggers and bumpers to the D-pad. Surprisingly, you can also remap the controller's new C button which brings up GameChat to either one of them as well. The same is true with the Capture button as well as both the Plus and Minus buttons. At $85, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is certainly an investment, especially as it costs more than the console's most expensive game so far. However, if you prefer playing in dock mode, have larger hands or use its remappable back buttons as much as I do, then I'd say it's definitely worth it. Pictures definitely don't do the Switch 2 Pro Controller justice either. Instead, this is the type of controller you need to hold in your hands to truly appreciate. It's slightly lighter than Nintendo's first Pro Controller for the original Switch but it also feels slimmer and more balanced in your hands. At the same time, it now also comes with a headphone jack and its two-tone gray and black design looks a lot sleeker too. If you don't have $85 to spend on a new controller but still want the experience of using remappable back buttons on the Switch 2, there is another option. Nintendo's Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip costs less than half the price at $40 but after buying one and testing it out myself, the way you remap and use its GL/GR buttons works exactly the is worth noting that the GL/GR buttons on the Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip — just like the buttons on the Joy-Cons themselves — are significantly smaller than the ones on the Switch 2 Pro Controller. This wasn't a deal breaker at all for me though, as I found them just as easy to press and use. If you're on a tight budget or even if you just have smaller hands, this might be the better option. Either way, it's great that Nintendo has finally added remappable back buttons to its first-party controllers. Still, what impresses me even more is how it came up with a novel new way to remap them on the fly and how you don't have to configure them all over again every time you switch between games. This accessory lets you attach your Switch 2 Joy-Cons to use them like a standard controller but it also features a USB-C port to charge them. Like the Switch 2 Pro Controller, it has remappable GL/GR buttons that can be mapped to whatever buttons you retailers: Target, BestBuy, GameStop
