Pokemon Pokopia Becomes the Highest-Rated Pokemon Game on Metacritic — And It's Selling Switch 2s
Game Freak's Animal Crossing-style Pokemon life sim earns an 89 Metacritic average and is convincing holdout fans to finally buy a Nintendo Switch 2.
The Best Pokemon Game Ever Made (According to Critics)
Pokemon Pokopia has done something no Pokemon game has managed in over two decades: it earned near-universal critical acclaim. The life-sim spinoff, co-developed by Game Freak and Koei Tecmo's Omega Force studio, launched on March 5 as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive and currently sits at 89 on Metacritic across 49 reviews — making it the highest-rated Pokemon game on the aggregator.
IGN gave it a 9 out of 10. GameSpot matched with a 9. Game Informer landed at a 9. Nintendo Life came in at 8 out of 10. The consensus is clear: Pokopia isn't just a good Pokemon game — it's a great game, period.
Animal Crossing Meets Pokemon
The premise is delightfully weird. You play as a Ditto that has transformed into a human, building a community alongside Pokemon in what is essentially Animal Crossing with pocket monsters. You farm, fish, craft, decorate, and befriend Pokemon who live alongside you in a persistent, evolving world.
What elevates Pokopia above a simple genre mashup is the depth of its Pokemon interactions. Each species has distinct behaviors, preferences, and daily routines. A Snorlax will nap in your town square. A Machamp will help you build structures. An Eevee will follow you everywhere and react to your decisions. The game treats Pokemon as characters rather than collectibles, and the result is genuinely charming.
The Switch 2's System Seller
Nine months after launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 has had well-received titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. But Pokopia is being called the console's first true system seller — the game that's convincing holdout fans to finally upgrade. Reports from retailers and community forums indicate a measurable spike in Switch 2 hardware purchases since Pokopia's launch, driven by Pokemon fans who were waiting for a compelling exclusive.
Pokopia has held the number-one spot on the Switch 2 eShop charts since pre-loads began and maintained that position through the latest chart update, ahead of Resident Evil.
Sources: Nintendo Life (March 7, 2026), Kotaku (March 7, 2026), Collider (March 7, 2026)