After a long wait, Pokémon Pokopia has finally been released for the Nintendo Switch 2. The new take on the Pokémon franchise is refreshing, exciting, and filled with puzzles to solve. In this guide, we will cover everything there is to know about Pokopia and how players can build an amazing town filled with Pokémon.
Pokémon Pokopia was released on March 5, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2 consoles exclusively. This is the first Pokémon game to be released specifically on the new Nintendo console. The game uses the new key card system, meaning it will download from the internet and not be saved on a cartridge.
Below, we cover many of the basic questions for the game, and then dive into additional guides for gameplay, habitats, Abilities, Specialties, and much more.
**THIS GUIDE IS IN PROGRESS. It was last updated on 3/7/2026. Notice something is missing? Leave us a comment so we can add it in!**
Additional Guides
This section is in progress
Where Does Pokopia Take Place?
Pokopia takes place in a dystopian Kanto region. Throughout the course of the story, players will discover what happened to the region and its many towns, and come to understand how the thriving, iconic location became a desolate waste.
Does Pokopia Have Multiplayer?
Yes, Pokopia has a multiplayer system. Not only can those with a Nintendo Switch 2 GameShare Pokopia locally, but players can also invite others to their islands.
Multiplayer has a few different options. You can play together on a sandbox Cloud Island or visit another player’s island to wander around. Once you hit a certain point, you can also play together in the host’s Palette Town area and work together to restore the town that started it all.
How to Unlock Link Play
To get Link Play in Pokopia, players must finish rebuilding the Pokémon Center in the Withered Wasteland. Once the building has been restored, the Link Play function will be added to the menu when the PC outside the center is activated.
How to Use Link Play
To start a Link Play session in Pokopia, go to the PC outside a rebuilt Pokémon Center and open the menu. From here, select “Link Play.” Once you have opened the menu, you can choose to invite others to visit your game, visit a friend’s town, or invite players to join you on a Cloud Island.
How Many Biomes Are In Pokopia?
At the time of the base game release, Pokopia has five distinct Biomes not including the Dream Islands. These include:
- Withered Wasteland – The starter Biome that players are guided through as a tutorial zone. It seems that this was once Fuschia City, judging by the items found in the ruins around the location.
- Bleak Beach – The second Biome that players unlock. This is the ruined remains of Vermillion City. This is unlocked after completing “Yawn Up a Storm” with Slowpoke.
- Rocky Ridges – The third location, which also unlocks after completing “Yawn Up a Storm,” is Rocky Ridges. This area is great for mining ore and is settled on the ruins of Pewter City.
- Sparkling Skylands – Locked behind quest progression in Withered Wasteland, Bleak Beach, and Rocky Ridges, Sparkling Skylands is the location of what was once Celadon City.
- Palette Town – The iconic starting location of the original series has been reduced to a flat expanse of rubble. It is available from early in the game with a warning, and is a blank canvas for players to create a town seperate of the main storyline. It is located beyond the strange Tower by the beach in the Withered Wastelands beyond a crumbled bike path. Once you reach a certain point in the story, this area will also be available for multiplayer so you and your friends can restore it together.
How Many Pokémon Are in Pokopia?
As of the release of the base game, there are 300 Pokémon total in the Pokopia Pokedex. This includes the end-game Legendaries as well as all the species that can be found during main gameplay.
At this time, it seems likely more Pokémon will be introduced via events following launch.
Are There Legendary Pokémon in Pokopia?
Yes, there are Legendary Pokémon in Pokopia. Some are encountered as part of the main storyline, and others are introduced in the post-game as challenging additions to player towns.
Does Pokopia Have Shiny Pokemon?
As far as we’ve been able to determine so far, there are no Shiny Pokemon in Pokopia. Since players can only meet one of each Pokemon in the game, a Shiny hunting mechanic isn’t really a natural fit. That said, this could always be added through future updates.
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