SwitchMar 04, 2026
Pokémon Pokopia has become the highest-rated Pokémon game ever with an 88 Metacritic score. The Switch 2 life sim now ties Pokémon Y for the top spot.
Few expected a life simulation spin-off to climb to the very top of the franchise rankings, but Pokémon Pokopia has done exactly that.
The Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive currently holds an average Metacritic score of 88, based on 58 critic reviews. That score places it at the top of the highest-rated Pokémon games ever released.
It now sits alongside Pokémon Y, which also earned an 88 Metacritic score when it launched on Nintendo 3DS in 2013.
According to current review averages, the top-rated games in the franchise now include:
While the franchise has released dozens of mainline and spin-off titles over the years, few have managed to break past the high-80s review range.
Pokopia reaching that mark is particularly surprising given its life simulation approach, which shifts away from traditional Pokémon battle progression.
Beyond the franchise rankings, Pokopia is also among the highest-rated games released in 2026 so far.
It currently shares that position with Resident Evil 9 Requiem, which holds a similar critical reception this year.
For a spin-off entry, that level of acclaim is rare for the Pokémon series.
Pokémon Pokopia’s reception suggests players are open to new directions for the franchise, especially when those ideas expand the world beyond traditional gym battles.
If the score holds as more reviews arrive, Pokopia could remain one of the most critically successful Pokémon releases ever.
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