The world of Pokémon Pokopia is massive. A sprawl of blocks, buildings and adorable critters that spawn across the different biomes. The base game alone is deceptively deep, catching fans, including this reviewer, off guard with just how much there is to do. It’s not a pocket farm quest, like My Pokémon Ranch, but a set of expansive environments to roam across, above and below.
Pokémon Pokopia sees the charming Ditto recruit fellow Pokémon survivors in a post-apocalyptic Kanto. Yes, it’s Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue, that millennials wear as a badge of honour, reduced to ruins. Ruins. Humans have now scarpered into the cosmos and it’s down to the surviving Pokémon to band together to survive and thrive, rebuilding the homes they remember.
Each of the areas unlock additional recruits to the cast, with many Pokémon having unique abilities to help out. Build, set things on fire, cut up logs, forge metals, do a spot of cleaning – and so on. Ditto, the ever-fast learner, picks up skills to lead the pack, making each area as habitable as possible. Once the core story missions are met, it’s onto the next. This cosy cycle, with soft goals, is an irresistible loop and structured well, but offers flexibility to do your own thing. The fantastically designed gameplay contributed heavily to the well deserved 9/10 score in the original Pokémon Pokopia review.
Despite a lengthy campaign and hours doing odds-and-ends, the main campaign does leave players craving just a little bit more. Like being at a buffet with room for a couple of extra servings, desert maybe. The lore cues in the core game do allude to there being other areas, and with other Kanto cities not yet covered, DLC was inevitable. The first part of the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass is now out, Bubbly Basin, adding a whole new area to revamp, plus additional Pokémon to befriend. Is it worth signing up to the paid DLC, or is the trip to the depths a bit too similar?
This first chapter does live up to the name “expansion”. It’s not another mode or small addition, but a vast new area that is connected to the rest. A wandering Popplio brings news of a new ocean door that enters what remains of Cerulean City. The water spot from the original games is now, sadly, plunged to the bottom of the ocean. Ruins, decayed houses, the familiar Pokémon Gym and Pokémon Center – left in tatters. It’s down to Ditto to venture down, recruit new pals and help restore the environment once more. It is a mess.
On paper it sounds like another helping of what makes Pokémon Pokopia so appealing, and at its core, there are familiar story beats and build goals. The difference, though, is that the majority of Bubbly Basin is under water. The latest base game update does introduce a dive ability for all players, non-DLC too, allowing even more of the impressive game engine to be utilised. The new city, only available via the paid DLC, takes it up a notch: a vast, new body of water that can be swum around. Up, down or taking a stroll on the seabed, there’s a different feel to the other areas as the inhabitants move about in all directions, instead of mainly being grounded. Diving and swimming does take some practice, though, but the freedom it provides for undersea exploration is refreshing.
Water Pokémon, as you’d expect, are the stars of the show, with 50 new creatures to discover. From Generation I favourites like Shellder, Cloyster and Staryu, to other water veterans Lanturn, Feraligatr and the scary, yet friendly, Sharpedo. Who can say no to Mudkip? Fans of the marine-mons will be perfectly at home here.
Perhaps it’s the music, or that sense of calm waters, but the vibe is also a touch more chilled. In some ways Bubbly Basin also feels more streamlined, too, with build times far less (even without the ever-helpful Tinkaton) and a more flowing pace (pun intended). Missions and new critters spawn quickly. The main story beats can be completed relatively quickly, especially for experienced folk. However, there is a lengthy number of Pokémon to spawn, collectibles and buildings to spruce up – keeping the adventure alive. Underwater crops and smoothie cooking is a welcome addition, also. Fortunately, the new area is not restricted, with existing inventory and storage accessible and new items found in the depths also usable in other areas. A Dewgong Clock Tower in every city? Living the Pokémon dream.
Equally as impressive is a continuation of just how well the experience runs on the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware. With the majority of this part of the world under water, it all flows just as well as the base game. Objects and buildings float proudly, it’s very much a continuation of the boundless exploration. Punch through those walls, build complex structures and devour the darkest caves with ease. There is slightly more pop-in here compared to some of the other locale, but nothing that leads to any performance woes. Bubbly Basin is a vibrant, colourful escape from all the noise.
The Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass is required to access the Bubbly Basin area, with additional parts set to follow in 2026 and 2027.
