Skylanders Imaginators

Genre: Action-RPG / 3D Platformer

Players: 1-2 Co-Op / Competitive (Local)

Game Company Bad Behavior Profile Page: Activision Blizzard

The Nintendo Switch 2 Difference

.

Review:

Note: Are you confused by all this “Toys to Life” stuff? Check out eShopperReviews’ helpful guide here!

Skylanders Imaginators is a family-friendly Action-RPG with 3D Platformer elements released in 2016 on mobile devices, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Wii U, and then ported to Nintendo Switch in 2017. This is the sixth and currently final game in the Skylanders franchise, the series that started the “Toys to Life” craze that has largely died out by 2022, save for Nintendo’s own Amiibos, which continue to linger on. Much like Amiibos, Skylanders figurines have NFC chips in the figurines, and unlike other games in the series and versions of this game on other platforms, these figurines can be scanned by your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Pro Controller without any sort of “portal” device.

.

Getting Started

For those wondering about what additional toys/gadgets/doodads you’ll need to get to enjoy this game, know that in order to play this game, technically all you need other than the game is any single Skylanders character figurine from any Skylanders set.

No, really, that’s it – no “portals”, no added little gizmos or thingies, no need to get a portal (as mentioned above, the Nintendo Switch can scan Skylanders figurines just like it scans Amiibos), you don’t even need an Imaginators series Skylander figurine – any character figurine from any Skylanders set will enable you to play this game, and this includes the Nintendo-exclusive Donkey Kong and Bowser figurines released with Skylanders SuperChargers that only work on Nintendo platforms, meaning that this version of Skylanders Imaginators is the only version of the only game in the series that is compatible with each and every Skylanders figurine.

Now, as per usual with Skylanders games, the more figurines you have, the more you can access within the game – the majority of the adventure here is accessible to any character, but some areas in the game give bonuses to specific character types, and some areas can only be accessed by a specific type of character, with multiple areas only accessible by Imaginators series figurines or even a specific type of Imaginators figurine, with a few minigames only unlocked if you have the Crash Bandicoot figurine or the Cortex figurine. However, know that all of this is entirely optional – if you want to play through the game using some random Skylanders figurine you got at a yard sale, or perhaps just want to tackle the adventure using your favorite character, you can absolutely do that.

In addition, you can get bonuses within the game for scanning other non-character types of Skylanders figurines. Imaginator Creator Crystal figurines can be used to create your own custom character (one per figurine), and most other non-character figurines from the franchise give players what amounts to a lootbox with parts to outfit these characters with. This includes Chest figurines from Skylanders: Imaginators, Vehicle figurines from Skylanders: SuperChargers, and Adventure Pack figurines from Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. Traptanium Trap figures from Skylanders: Trap Team cannot be scanned by your Nintendo Switch, and aren’t used in this game. However, once again I’ll emphasize that everything in this paragraph is completely optional and not needed to play and enjoy the game.

Finally, if you want to play this game’s multiplayer Co-Op, you’ll need at least two Skylanders figurines.

.

Imaginating Something Impressive?

Of course the first big question with any Skylanders game is what the new “gimmick” for the toys is, and this time… there isn’t really any sort of gimmick. After the LightCore figurines from Giants, the swappable two-part magnetic figurines from Swap Force, and the vehicles from SuperChargers, the Imaginators figurines are pretty unimpressive. I mean, they still look nicely detailed, but they’re curiously lacking the creativity that went into figurines from earlier sets.

As for the game itself, Skylanders Imaginators is definitely the best-looking game in the series. The water effects that were really gorgeous in Swap Force aren’t here (though the water in this game still looks very nice), but the lighting here is phenomenal, the game makes good use of atmospheric effects like clouds and fog, and the world overall looks bigger and more detailed, with more animation and more going on in the backgrounds. And of course, this is in addition to the series’ signature excellent 3D character designs and animations.

And of course, once again, topping all of this off is a wonderful instrumental soundtrack and some absolutely fantastic voice acting from well-known veterans like Richard Steven Horvitz and Patrick Warburton.

.

Imaginating a Fitting Send-Off For the Series?

Imaginators doesn’t really do anything to truly shake up the Skylanders formula. You’ll still be exploring mostly-linear levels with a bit of Platforming but with most of the focus on combat, and after the wildly different vehicle-based gameplay of SuperChargers, Imaginators seems like more of a “safe” entry in the series.

That’s not to say that there haven’t been improvements here. There’s a new World Map that acts as a level unto itself to make it more interesting to move from one area to another, as well as some quality-of-life improvements – as far as I can tell, I believe this is the first game in the series that lets you upgrade your Skylander anywhere rather than having to meet up with a specific character. You’ll have various minigames throughout your adventure, and a good variety overall. I should note that once again, players have no control over the camera, though the level design this time around seems decent enough that this wasn’t often an issue. There’s also no Party Game modes or competitive multiplayer features like some of the earlier games in the series, but you still have drop-in co-op if a friend wants to play with you.

If you have an Imaginator Creator Crystal figurine, such as the one that comes with the game, you’ll be able to engage in the game’s major new mechanic, which allows players to custom-create their own character. Loading one of these figurines into your game will allow you to choose a class for that character, customize their abilities within that class, and customize their appearance using parts players obtain from chests strewn throughout the game or earned by scanning in non-character Skylanders toys. This is a nice addition to the series, though the inability to transfer your custom creation to a friend’s game seems to miss a part of the appeal of the Skylanders franchise.

Despite that the one major change here isn’t all that major, you might expect this to be a somewhat dull entry in the franchise, but I actually found the freedom provided by the world map and the quality-of-life improvements really made the overall experience more enjoyable here. This ultimately made this game my favorite in the series.

.

Imaginating the Nintendo Switch Difference

There are a few elements that arguably make the Nintendo Switch version of Skylanders: Imaginators the definitive version of the game… as well as one issue that may give you pause when opting to get this version.

As mentioned before, the Nintendo Switch version is the only version of Imaginators compatible with the Donkey Kong and Bowser Imaginators characters, making it the only version of the only game in the series that works with every single Skylanders character (Traptanium Trap characters from Skylanders: Trap Team notwithstanding). Also, the way this version doesn’t need a portal is super-convenient.

However, even more convenient than that is that Nintendo Switch players only ever need to scan each Skylanders figurine into the game twice (once to log it into the game and once to save it in your roster), and it will be saved permanently to your game, accessible from an in-game menu. This is how the last few Nintendo 3DS games in the series did things, but this is the only version of any of the console games in the series that can do this, something that is extremely convenient, and of course makes it easier to take this game on the go without lugging around a backpack full of plastic to go along with it.

However, there is one problem exclusive to the Nintendo Switch version of the game, and it’s probably not the one you’re thinking. Compared to other versions of Skylanders Imaginators, the Nintendo Switch version is feature-complete and graphically doesn’t seem to have suffered much if at all from the limited power of the platform. However, despite this game not needing a portal, it is not offered in digital form, and as I write this review in 2022, it is by far the most expensive version of the game to get ahold of.

I don’t really know the reasons why this is, but the price difference here is absurd. If I wanted to get a used copy of just the Skylanders Imaginators game on another platform, I would likely be looking to spend around $10-$30 on a website like eBay. To get a used copy of the Nintendo Switch version of only the game, I had to spend over $100, and with the added cost of a few figurines to use with the game, this made the Nintendo Switch version of Skylanders Imaginators the most expensive game I have ever purchased for a current-generation platform. Oh, and you’re in for some real pain if you want to get a new copy of the game right now – Amazon is currently listing the game at over $460.

I would argue that the Nintendo Switch version of this game is probably the best, most definitive version of the game due to the improvements listed above… but I have to think those improvements just are not worth the added expense of buying this version of the game now, especially when other versions are a fraction of the price.

.

Imaginator, Alligator

I have some really conflicting emotions about Skylanders Imaginators. I feel like this game was unfairly maligned by critics at the time who had grown weary of the “Toys to Life” concept, which was on its way out, and this was compounded by this entry in the Skylanders franchise not looking to reinvent the series in the same way that its predecessor, SuperChargers, tried to do. As familiar an experience as this game may have seemed, I still feel like it’s the best entry in the series, one that may not have evolved the series formula, but that refined it to near-perfection.

What’s more, I think the Nintendo Switch version of the game is absolutely the best version, with the most compatibility with Skylanders figurines in the entire franchise, no need to use a portal, and no need to constantly keep scanning the figurines to swap between them.

However, in 2022, the horrendously massive price tag required to play the Nintendo Switch version of Skylanders Imaginators is too burdensome to ignore, especially when every other version of the game can be purchased for far, far less. This may be the best version of the best game in the series, but it’s not worth the price tag, and if you have any other platform that supports this game you’re probably better off spending less and just putting up with the limitations and inconveniences of those other versions. In any case though, I do recommend this game – it really is a wonderful game, even if it was released at a time when people were so sick of the “Toys to Life” thing that they had zero interest in it.

tl;dr – Skylanders Imaginators is the sixth and currently final game in this Toys-to-Life series, a family-friendly Action-RPG with Platformer elements. This game doesn’t do anything truly major to shake up the formula, but rather refines it, making for the best game in the franchise. What’s more, the Nintendo Switch version is arguably the best game in the series thanks largely to the game not needing a “portal” device, and saving your Skylanders figurines so you don’t have to keep scanning them. Unfortunately, by 2022 this is also by far the most expensive version of the game, meaning that as fantastic as it is, you’re probably better off spending less to play any other version of the game.

Grade: B+

.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Difference

Skylanders Imaginators

Genre: Action-RPG / 3D Platformer

Players: 1-2 Co-Op / Competitive (Local)

Game Company Bad Behavior Profile Page: Activision Blizzard

.

Review:

Note: Are you confused by all this “Toys to Life” stuff? Check out eShopperReviews’ helpful guide here!

I neglected to mention this in my original review, but Skylanders Imaginators is one of ten launch titles for the Nintendo Switch, and one of only three third-party physical games to launch with the Nintendo Switch. This made it an interesting test case: Would it enjoy more benefits from being played on Nintendo Switch 2 due to its age? Fewer? And would the Nintendo Switch 2 still be able to scan Skylanders figurines like the original Nintendo Switch could?

Well, I’ll kill the suspense now: There are no improvements to the resolution or framerate that I could detect. And yes, Skylander Figurines still scan without a hitch using the Nintendo Switch 2, Joy-Con 2 controllers, and Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, even though they are not Amiibo figurines.

So does this game play exactly the same on Nintendo Switch 2 as it did on Switch 1, then? Well, there is one noteworthy difference: loading times are improved. I measured 42 seconds to get to the title screen on Nintendo Switch compared to 32 on Nintendo Switch 2, and 41 seconds to load a game on the original Nintendo Switch compared to 24 on Nintendo Switch 2.

As improvements go, this is about as minimal as it gets. It’s nice to be able to confirm that the Nintendo Switch 2 can still scan RFID stuff other than Amiibo figurines, though. So I suppose there’s your fun Nintendo Switch 2 fact of the day! Oh, and I checked and in 2025 this game still costs $100-$160 on eBay (without any figurines, no less) so if you don’t already have it… well, don’t expect to get it unless you plan to pay through the nose.

tl;dr – Skylanders Imaginators is the sixth and currently final game in this Toys-to-Life series, a family-friendly Action-RPG with Platformer elements. This game doesn’t do anything truly major to shake up the formula, but rather refines it, making for the best game in the franchise. What’s more, the Nintendo Switch version is arguably the best game in the series thanks largely to the game not needing a “portal” device, and saving your Skylanders figurines so you don’t have to keep scanning them (and it’s slightly better on Nintendo Switch 2 thanks to improved loading times). Unfortunately, by 2025 this is also by far the most expensive version of the game, meaning that as fantastic as it is, you’re probably better off spending less to play any other version of the game.

Grade: B+

.

^{You can support eShopperReviews on Patreon! Please click HERE to become a Sponsor!}

^{This month’s sponsors are Andy Miller, Exlene, Johannes, Homer Simpin, Ilya Zverev, Eli Goodman, Kristoffer Wulff, Gabriel Coronado-Medina, Francis Obst, and Seth Christenfeld. Thank you for helping to keep the reviews coming!}