Pokopia becomes highest rated Pokémon game of all time

Pokopia becomes highest-rated Pokémon game as the Ditto spin-off earns strong reviews on Nintendo Switch 2

Pokémon spin-off Pokopia has launched on Nintendo Switch 2 to strong reviews and has become the highest-rated Pokémon game on review aggregator Metacritic.

The title marks a departure from the traditional creature-collecting and battling format associated with the franchise.

Instead, Pokopia adopts a life simulation approach, combining elements similar to Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley and Minecraft.

Players take control of Ditto, a shape-shifting Pokémon that appears in the game in a human form. The character arrives in the Kanto region, which is depicted as largely deserted following an unspecified disaster.

The game’s objective is to rebuild the environment by creating homes and habitats designed to attract other Pokémon back to the area.

The game also introduces a central storyline centred on the disappearance of trainers, who traditionally serve as the main characters in Pokémon titles.

The concept has been well-received by several reviewers. Jordan Middler of Video Games Chronicle described Pokopia as “an excellent life simulation game that takes the best bits from the champions of the genre” in a five-star review.

Eurogamer writer Lottie Lynn called it “one of the best Pokémon spin-offs ever” in a four-star review, noting the focus on Ditto and the way the game reveals its “complex mechanics” for managing the world.

IGN reviewer Rebekah Valentine also praised the protagonist in her nine out of 10 review, writing: “I love this little weirdo!”

Some critics offered a more mixed perspective. Stacy Henley of TheGamer said the gameplay could become repetitive, writing that it did a “good enough” job of combining its influences without surpassing them.

Pokopia currently holds a score of 88 out of 100 on Metacritic. The release coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, which is being marked with new products and events.