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Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a fantastic game to revisit with lots of things to do, a thought which may prompt players to start over and begin a new game. There isn’t anything quite like selecting one’s starter Pokémon for the first, second, or even third time, but starting a new game in Pokémon: Arceus isn’t as simple as it used to be. While it’s not an overly complicated process, a few changes in both Arceus and the Switch affect how players must go about starting a new game.
Players may find it aggravating to know that only one save file can be created per account in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Similar to restarting Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, players cannot simply click a “new game” option in Legends: Arceus like they could in Pokémon games of the past. Instead, Arceus requires players to utilize the Nintendo Switch’s storage system to delete their save data and start a new Pokémon Legends: Arceus game save file.
How to Start a New Game in Pokémon Legends: Arceus
To delete the previous save data and start a new game in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, return to the home menu on the Switch and head to the System Settings menu. Next, select Data Management, then Delete Save Data.
All saved games on the Nintendo Switch and external storage device will appear, but players need to select their Pokémon Legends: Arceus file only. Players who wish to continue can select Delete Save Data, although the Switch will warn about deleting save data. Once confirmed, the next time Arceus is opened it will be a completely fresh, new game.
Want to see just where to go and what to do before deleting your save and starting a new game in Legends: Arceus? Watch the YouTube video from Vergel520 below, which offers a great visual guide to the steps listed above.
Why Start a New Game in Legends: Arceus?
While there isn’t any particular tactical or gameplay advantage to starting a new game in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, players may find that they’d enjoy playing the story over again with a whole new team. Although each of the starter Pokémon in Legends: Arceus have been available options in previous generations, the starter Pokémon of the Hisui region have their own final evolution variant that makes them unique.
Additionally, players should know that starting a new game will still only allow them to have the regular colorations of Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and Rowlet. Shiny starter Pokémon in Legends: Arceus are locked, making them unavailable until players beat the game.
Unless players are dead-set on starting a new game of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, they should consider completing the side quests and Pokédex before completely starting anew. Arceus allows players to complete the Pokédex on their own, even going as far as to let players evolve trade Pokémon through evolutionary items in-game. Regardless of the reasoning, however, starting a new game in Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an exciting adventure that everyone can experience as many times as they desire.
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Pokémon Legends: ArceusFranchise: Pokemon
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Released: 2022-01-28
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
Genre: RPG, Adventure, Open-World, Action
ESRB: E
Summary: Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set in the distant past as part of the Diamond and Pearl continuity; players are sent back in time after hearing from the creator of Pokemon, Arceus. Now in the Hsui region, known as Sinnoh in the future, the player meets with Professor Laventon, who assists them in getting settled in at Jubilife Village as they try to acclimate to their strange new life in the age of Pokemon centuries past. Arceus marks a significant departure in the Pokemon franchise, as players will engage more in battle with their Pokemon – trainers can even be attacked by wild Pokemon. Instead of instanced battles, players fight directly on the field, encountering them in the big open world, sharing many exploration similarities to games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
How Long To Beat: 25 Hours
Prequel: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
Pokémon Legends: Arceus