At $34.99, most will likely see Pokemon Scarlet & Violet's The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC as being pretty decent value for money. Sure, that's around half the price of most full games and five dollars more than the Sword & Shield expansion pass, but given how good that was and the fact that the Gen 9 DLC also consists of two parts, it seems like it should be worth the price of admission and then some.
One way to measure a game or DLC expansion's value is by checking out how long it takes to beat. The Teal Mask, which is the first part of the Hidden Treasure storyline, arguably comes up a little short in that regard at first glance, but given all of the new Pokemon that it introduces, there should be more than enough new content to keep players busy long after they've finished the main story.
How Long Does it Take to Beat the Teal Mask?
Most players will be able to complete the Teal Mask in around three or four hours. This includes battling through the main story and catching all of the new Legendary Pokemon. However, those hoping to fill out the Kitakami Pokedex will likely require quite a bit longer, with the new dex packing in a mighty 200 'mons. There are also plenty of new trainers to battle and the joys of shiny hunting.
How Does The Teal Mask Compare to the Sword & Shield DLC?
According to howlongtobeat.com, the average player needed around six hours to complete the main story of The Crown Tundra, and around five hours to complete The Isle of Armor. This means that on paper, the Teal Mask is the shortest Pokemon DLC expansion to date. However, it's important to note that it has plenty of other content for players to sink their teeth into besides the main story, so Pokemon Scarlet & Violet players likely won't end up feeling shortchanged despite The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero costing a little more than the Sword & Shield expansion.
Is The Teal Mask DLC worth the Money?
In short, yes. The Teal Mask is absolutely worth the money, particularly for hardcore Pokemon fans. At around $17.50 (half the price of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero), it works out to around one hour of entertainment for every five or six dollars spent playing the main story and around a dollar per hour for those who do all that there is to do. Then there are the pre-order bonuses (which players can get by buying the expansion before October 31, 2023), which include four new school uniforms and a Hisuian Zoroark.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are available now for the Nintendo Switch.