Pokopia Metacritic Score: 90 — Highest-Rated Pokémon Game Ever
Pokémon Pokopia scores 90 on Metacritic, becoming the highest-rated Pokémon game of all time. Full review roundup with scores from IGN, GameSpot, and more.
Author: Pokopia Guide Team
Reviews for Pokémon Pokopia are in, and the Metacritic score stands at an impressive 90, earning the "Universal Acclaim" rating and the coveted Must-Play badge. This makes Pokopia not only the highest-rated game of 2026 so far, but also the highest-rated Pokémon game of all time on Metacritic.
No Pokémon game — mainline or spin-off — had ever broken the 90 barrier on Metacritic before. Pokopia has changed that.
Metacritic Score
- Metascore: 90 (Universal Acclaim)
- Based on 22+ critic reviews
- Must-Play badge
- User Score: TBD (opens after the March 5 launch)
Review Scores
| Publication | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Dexerto | 10/10 | Perfect |
| VGC | 5/5 | Perfect |
| IGN | 9/10 | Excellent |
| GameSpot | 9/10 | Excellent |
| Game Informer | 9/10 | Excellent |
| Gamereactor | 9/10 | Excellent |
| Screen Rant | 9/10 | Excellent |
| GamesRadar | 4.5/5 | Great |
| Nintendo Life | 8/10 | Good |
| Eurogamer | 4/5 | Recommended |
| The Gamer | 3/5 | Mixed |
What Critics Are Saying
Praise
IGN (9/10) called it "a real treat: an enjoyable building and town simulator that capitalizes on the charming personalities of its monsters, striking a healthy balance between freedom and suggestion in its building mechanics."
Dexerto (10/10) said "Pokopia reimagines what it means to be a Pokémon, blending cozy building systems with open-ended creativity to deliver one of the most addictive gameplay loops the series has ever seen."
VGC (5/5) described it as "Minecraft and Animal Crossing combine in Pokémon's best spin-off."
Kotaku called it "a brilliantly bizarre blend of Pokémon, Animal Crossing, Dragon Quest Builders, and Viva Piñata that despite its many influences manages to be something uniquely its own."
Criticism
Not every review was glowing. The Gamer (3/5) felt that the building quests can be quite repetitive at times. However, only 2 reviews on Metacritic were classified as "Mixed."
How It Compares to Past Pokémon Games
| Game | Metacritic Score |
|---|---|
| Pokémon Pokopia | 90 |
| Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver | 87 |
| Pokémon Black/White | 87 |
| Pokémon Red/Blue | 86 |
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | 83 |
| Pokémon Scarlet/Violet | 72 |
Pokopia's 90 sets a new record for the franchise, proving that Pokémon can deliver a top-tier experience outside of traditional RPGs.
Common Themes Across Reviews
Several keywords appeared frequently across critic reviews:
- Cozy & relaxing — The slow-life sandbox delivers a soothing core experience
- Creative freedom — The building system offers impressive flexibility
- Pokémon personality — Each Pokémon has distinct character and interactions
- Content-rich — Crafting recipes, cooking, music, multiplayer modes
- Cloud Island — The async multiplayer island system was universally praised
Should You Buy It?
Based on the critical consensus:
- If you enjoy Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, or Minecraft → Highly recommended
- If you're a Pokémon fan looking for a fresh take on the series → Highly recommended
- If you only want traditional Pokémon battling and collecting → Wait and see — this is not a traditional RPG
Review Links
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