Including first impressions of the new DLC
by Liam Doolan
Part one of the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass launched this week, and the reviews and first impressions of ‘Bubbly Basin‘ are now officially live.
If you haven’t already seen our own review here on Nintendo Life, we gave this new underwater-themed DLC 8/10 stars, calling it a great start to the paid content:
“The Pokopia Expansion Pass is off to a solid start with Bubbly Basin, with much-needed quality-of-life improvements, new Pokémon to find, and a refreshing new map to explore. If you’ve already completed the other towns (or even if you haven’t), Bubbly Basin offers something else to quench your thirst. In Bubbly Basin, life is the bubbles, take it from me.”
Here’s what other sites have said about Bubbly Basin so far. We’ll add more reviews and impressions when they surface.
ScreenRant – 10/10 “The sheer size of this area is breathtaking, and it feels as though there are secrets to find around every corner and behind every pile of sand. Add to that the 50 additional Pokémon that are added to the Pokédex, and all the cosmetics and items, and it is truly a large addition to the game…There is so much to do, and so many Pokémon to find.”
Polygon (opinion) “Even if it’s a retread of what came before, Bubbly Basin is a net positive for Pokopia. It’s great to have another blank slate to build up, and one that has tons of vertical space and hidden nooks to work with. I just wish I could get to the sandbox joy faster after already spending 50 hours learning the ropes. Is each expansion going to require me to learn how to use a new kitchen appliance in a multipart quest? Will I have to learn how to grow a new fruit as if it’s a foreign concept? When Bubbly Basin lets your creativity loose, it reminds you why Pokopia is still one of 2026’s most pleasurable experiences.”
Game Informer (first impressions) “It may be an underrated aspect of the overall Pokopia package, but Bubbly Basin is aesthetically pleasing…It also seems like the new biome cuts down on the wait times for construction projects…I haven’t yet completed Bubbly Basin, but the handful of hours I’ve already put into it reminded me just how much I like Pokémon Pokopia”
Game8 – 88/10 “Pokémon Pokopia’s Bubbly Basin DLC is a charming DLC that greatly enhances the already smooth gameplay experience given by the base game, a delightful additional town to grow and love along with the rest. While the core of the story is nothing to write home about, it makes up for it with new content everywhere else—crafting, building, and exploration. It sets a pretty good standard for the next two DLCs to come in the expansion pack.”
As a reminder, a free update also released alongside this new paid DLC, bumping the title up to Version 2.0.0. It includes the new move Dive and much more. Part Two of the Expansion Pass arrives later this year, and Part Three will follow in 2027.
Have you tried out the new DLC for Pokopia yet? How are you finding it so far? Let us know in the comments.
Liam is a news writer and reviewer on Nintendo Life. He’s been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of many iconic video game characters.
