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The game is also tied with Resident Evil Requiem
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An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter- Pokémon Pokopia is Metacritic's highest-rated Pokémon game of all time
- The Nintendo Switch game beats out Pokémon X/Y in average score and ties with Resident Evil Requiem
- The game launches on March 5
Pokémon Pokopia launches on Nintendo Switch 2 this week, and it's already Metacritic's highest-rated Pokémon game of all time.
As of writing, the upcoming Pokémon is sitting at an overall score of 88 on Metacritic based on 59 critical reviews. That makes Pokopia the best-rated game in the entire series.
Although Pokémon Y also has an 88 Metascore, its counterpart Pokémon X is sitting at 87, lowering the average score across both 3DS games. Pokopia also beats out Pokémon Sun/Moon, HeartGold/SoulSilver, and Black/White, all of which have an 87 score.
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It's a cool achievement for Pokopia, but more so for the Pokémon series overall, which has seen middling critical reviews across its modern games for the past few years.
The game is also tied up with Resident Evil Requiem, which has an 88 Metascore, as well as Mewgenics and Esoteric Ebb, in Metacritic's Best Games of 2026.
Pokémon Pokopia is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive launching on March 5, so we'll have to wait and see what Metacritic score it receives from fans of the series.
TechRadar's Lifestyle Managing Editor Josephine Watson said she "underestimated how well Nintendo would tackle its latest town-building / cozy life sim" in her five-star Pokémon Pokopia review and praised its well-balanced gameplay loop, charming character design, broad customization options, and ample storyline content.
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inboxContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over."It’s story-driven, offering a great gameplay loop, inventive mechanics, and very few friction points; Nintendo clearly learned from some of Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ quality-of-life hiccups," Watson said. "My only wish would be for a little more individuality in Poké-personalities, but it’s still plenty charming as it is."
The best handheld games consoles for all budgetsOur top handheld picks for gaming on the go➡️ Read our full guide to the best handheld games consoles1. Best overall:Nintendo Switch 22. Best for PC gamers:Steam Deck OLED3. Best budgetNintendo Switch Lite4. Best for remote play:PlayStation Portal
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Demi WilliamsDemi is a freelance games journalist for TechRadar Gaming. She's been a games writer for five years and has written for outlets such as GameSpot, NME, and GamesRadar, covering news, features, and reviews. Outside of writing, she plays a lot of RPGs and talks far too much about Star Wars on X.
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