Adult Swim Games really did something weird back in 2016. They looked at the massive, global phenomenon of Pokémon and thought, "What if we just replaced Pikachu with a traumatized teenage boy?" It worked. It worked surprisingly well. If you've ever dipped your toes into Pocket Mortys, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It isn’t just some cheap mobile tie-in designed to fleece fans of their Shmeckles. It’s a genuine, surprisingly deep RPG that captures the nihilistic humor of the show while delivering a gameplay loop that actually respects your time. Mostly.
The game has evolved. A lot. What started as a relatively simple parody has ballooned into a massive collection-fest with over 400 Mortys. You’ve got Cronenberg Morty, Mustache Morty, and even things as obscure as the Terminal Morty. It's a lot to keep track of. Honestly, it’s a bit overwhelming if you’re just jumping back in after a three-year hiatus.
The Weird Logic of Pocket Mortys
The core loop is basically digital dog fighting, which the show itself eventually parodied. You play as a Rick. You’re wandering around the multiverse, catching feral Mortys, and pitting them against other Ricks to earn badges. It’s a familiar rhythm. But the "type" system is where things get interesting in a very Rick and Morty way. Instead of Fire, Water, and Grass, you have Rock, Paper, and Scissors.
It's simple. It’s elegant. It’s also incredibly frustrating when you realize your high-level Scissors Morty is about to get absolutely decimated by a low-level Rock Morty because the type advantages in this game are incredibly punishing. You can't just power-level a single unit and hope for the best. Well, you can, but the Council of Ricks will eventually humiliate you.
One of the most authentic things about this Rick and Morty game is the crafting system. You aren't just buying potions at a shop. You’re rummaging through trash in various dimensions to find scrap metal, circuit boards, and batteries. You have to combine them at a crafting station to make "Great Curative" or "Level Up Mega Seeds." It feels like something Rick would actually do—cobbling together genius-level tech from literal garbage.
Multiplayer and the Meta Shift
If you haven't touched the multiplayer mode lately, you’re in for a shock. The meta has shifted toward specific "Exotic" Mortys that are frankly a nightmare to face if you aren't prepared. The One True Morty used to be the ultimate goal. Now? He's still good, but the introduction of Raid Bosses and seasonal rewards has introduced a level of power creep that would make even a veteran MMO player sweat.
The social aspect is surprisingly active. You’ll see Ricks running around the central hub, showing off their rarest finds. It creates this weird sense of community. We’re all just a bunch of Ricks trying to be the "Rickest" Rick, which usually involves a lot of grinding and some very strategic use of the "Meeseeks Box" item. That item is basically a "get out of jail free" card for tough fights, but they are rare. Use them poorly and you’ll regret it when you’re facing a Council member with one health point left on your last Morty.
Why the Humor Doesn't Get Old
Most licensed games fail because they try too hard or not enough. Pocket Mortys succeeds because it leans into the absurdity. The descriptions of the Mortys are often darker than the show itself. You’ll find a Morty whose entire existence is pain, and the game just kind of shrugs and asks if you want to use a strength buff on him.
The voice acting—while repetitive—features Justin Roiland’s iconic (and now controversial) delivery that defined the early era of the show. Even with the behind-the-scenes changes at Adult Swim, the game remains a time capsule of that specific 2016-2020 energy. It’s cynical. It’s loud. It’s exactly what you expect from the franchise.
Managing the Microtransactions
Look, it’s a free-to-play mobile game. There are microtransactions. You can buy "Blips and Chitz" coupons to get random pulls. Is it pay-to-win? In the high-level multiplayer ranks, yeah, it kinda is. If someone drops a hundred bucks on coupons, they’re going to have a better roster than you.
But for the single-player campaign? You don't need to spend a dime. The game is incredibly generous with how it hands out rewards if you’re willing to explore. You can find coupons in the wild. You can earn them by beating bosses. The "ads for rewards" system is there, but it isn't forced down your throat like in some other mobile titles. It’s a fair trade.
Real Tips for Navigating the Multiverse
If you're actually going to sit down and play this Rick and Morty game, you need to stop treating it like a casual tapper. It’s an RPG. Treat it like one.
First, stop ignoring the crafting recipes. Everyone wants to just fight, but if you don't have a steady supply of Plutonic Rocks to restore AP, you’re going to get stranded in a dimension with no way to attack. It’s a miserable way to lose a run.
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Second, understand the evolution chains. Not every Morty evolves. Some are "singular," meaning they are as strong as they’ll ever be from the moment you catch them. Others, like the basic Morty you start with, don't evolve through traditional means—you have to use seeds or specific events. If you’re trying to evolve a Morty that doesn't have an evolution path, you’re just wasting time. Check the Deck in your menu; it tells you if there’s a silhouette for a next stage.
Third, the "Buff" and "Debuff" moves actually matter here. In most Pokémon clones, you can just spam attack moves. In Pocket Mortys, especially against the Council, lowering an opponent's accuracy or defense is often the only way to survive. A Morty that can paralyze or poison an opponent is worth three Mortys that just hit hard.
The Best Mortys to Look For
If you see a "Egg Morty," catch it. Do not trade it. Do not let it go. It’s useless in a fight—it literally has no attacks—but if you level it up to level 20, it hatches into The One True Morty. He’s a Scissors type with some of the highest base stats in the game. It’s a grind, but it’s the ultimate flex.
Also, keep an eye out for Mortys with "Regenerate" abilities. Healing items are expensive to craft and buy. A Morty that can heal itself during a fight saves you a massive amount of resources over the long haul. Mortys like the Robot Morty or various "Scary" variants often have utility moves that keep them in the fight longer than they have any right to be.
The Verdict on the Rick and Morty Gaming Experience
Is it the best RPG ever made? No. Is it the best Rick and Morty game available? Honestly, it’s a toss-up between this and Virtual Rick-ality for VR fans, but for pure accessibility and longevity, Pocket Mortys wins. It captures the "gotta catch 'em all" addiction and filters it through a lens of sci-fi madness.
The game is still getting updates. New Mortys are added almost every time a new season of the show airs. That kind of support is rare for a mobile game that’s been out this long. It shows that there’s a core audience that isn't going anywhere. Whether you're a hardcore fan of the show or just someone who likes monster-collecting games, it’s worth the storage space on your phone.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re ready to dive in or restart your journey, here is how you should actually approach your first hour:
- Don't Spend Your First Coupon Immediately: The game gives you one early on. Save it until you’ve leveled up your main Morty a bit; the level of the Morty you pull from the machine is tied to your Rick’s level.
- Farm the First Dimension: Don't rush to the boss. Walk around, collect every piece of junk on the ground, and get into at least five wild fights. You need the materials for crafting more than you need the badge right now.
- Check the Daily Requests: There’s a guy in the central hub who asks for specific crafted items. These are the easiest way to get high-value currency early on.
- Join a Club: As soon as you hit the level requirement, join a multiplayer club. The rewards for even passive participation in club events are significantly better than what you’ll find solo.
- Focus on "Paper" Early: Many of the early-game Ricks you face lean heavily on Rock-type Mortys. Having a solid Paper Morty in your second slot will make the first two Council fights a breeze.