Skip the Hype: Pokémon Conquest — the DS Tactics Game Where Oda Nobunaga Commands Zekrom
Pokémon Conquest is a tactical spinoff released for the Nintendo DS in 2012, developed by Tecmo Koei and published by Nintendo together with The Pokémon Company. It blends Pokémon mechanics with historical strategy elements from Koei Tecmo’s Nobunaga’s Ambition series, and it places players in a made-up region called Ransei where historical warlords command Pokémon in grid-based battles.
What is Pokémon Conquest?
Pokémon Conquest sets its story in the fictional region of Ransei. There, players recruit historical warlords as allies and pair them with Pokémon. The game frames each territory as a kingdom to unite, and the overall goal is to bring together the region’s rulers to face a legendary threat. Notably, characters such as Oda Nobunaga appear in the game alongside signature Pokémon like Zekrom.
Gameplay and structure
Battles are turn-based and take place on small, diorama-like grids. Players control squads of up to six Pokémon, move them across tiles, attack enemies, pick up items, and use special Warrior skills. Type matchups matter, so choosing the right Pokémon for each encounter is important.
Additionally, the game’s combat is simplified compared to many traditional strategy titles: fights are relatively short and focused, and many objectives center on defeating a kingdom’s leader or capturing key points.
Kingdom management
Between battles, the game advances in monthly turns. During each month, every Pokémon can perform one task. For example, a Pokémon can be sent to a dungeon to recruit new warriors, placed in a gold mine to gather resources, or stationed to defend a kingdom. Each kingdom can hold up to six stationed Pokémon, and players must move units along connected regions when redeploying.
Also, bordering kingdoms that are not yet unified can attack claimed territories between months, so territorial defense is part of the strategic layer.
Reception
At release, critics generally gave Pokémon Conquest favorable reviews. In fact, it appears among The Pokémon Company’s higher-scoring spinoffs on review aggregators such as Metacritic. Reviewers highlighted the unusual crossover concept and the approachable tactics gameplay.
Availability and notes
Pokémon Conquest was released only for the Nintendo DS and has not received a widespread re-release on modern Nintendo platforms. In addition, Koei Tecmo—known for Dynasty Warriors and Nobunaga’s Ambition—has collaborated with Nintendo on other crossover-style Warriors titles, including Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors, which are separate projects from Conquest.
Overall, Pokémon Conquest combines simplified tactical battles, territory management, and a historical crossover premise into a single DS title that remains distinct within the Pokémon spinoff lineup.
