Multiplayer

Overview

Pokemon Pokopia supports up to four players through multiple multiplayer modes. Access requires reaching Environment Level 2 in any area, which takes roughly 30 minutes of gameplay. Connect through the PC at any rebuilt Pokemon Center by selecting "Link Play." Multiplayer lets friends build together, share Pokemon through Star Pieces, explore each other's worlds, and compete in minigames.

Visiting Friends

The primary multiplayer mode allows up to 3 friends to visit your world (or you can visit theirs) via local wireless or online. From the PC, select Link Play, then choose "Invite Others to Visit" or "Visit Another's World."

What Visitors Can Do

• Build, craft, and place items in Palette Town alongside the host.

• Explore all story regions (Withered Wasteland, Bleak Beach, Rocky Ridges, Sparkling Skylands), but cannot build outside of Palette Town.

• Bring one Pokemon with a useful specialty to help with tasks on the host's island.

• All modifications visitors make in Palette Town remain permanent after they leave.

Star Piece Pokemon Sharing

When a visitor encounters a Pokemon species they have not seen in their own world, they can give that Pokemon a Star Piece. The Pokemon offers a special gift in return. Back in the visitor's own world, opening that gift at an empty habitat or home causes a Pokemon of the same species to appear and move in. Star Pieces are crafted from 99 Stardust, which is exclusive to Dream Islands. This system lets friend groups collectively fill out their Pokedex much faster than playing solo.

Cloud Islands

Cloud Islands are persistent shared worlds that remain accessible even when the host is offline. They function as a separate sandbox environment where you and your friends can build from scratch without affecting your main game progress.

Creating a Cloud Island

From the PC, select Link Play, then "Play on a Cloud Island," then "Create a New Island." The island layout is randomly generated. You can optionally enter a Magic Number, a 9-digit seed that produces a specific layout (similar to Minecraft seeds). Players share Magic Numbers online to recreate interesting island configurations.

Joining a Cloud Island

Other players join using an 8-digit address code. Up to 4 players can be present simultaneously, with one slot always reserved for the host. If the host is offline, up to 3 players can still access the island. Hundreds of different players can visit the same island across separate sessions as long as they have the address code.

Host Configuration

When creating or managing a Cloud Island, the host can configure several settings:

• Share with Others: Allow any player with the address code to join.

• Virtual Mode: When enabled, other players' actions do not save permanently. Useful for showcasing builds without risk of changes.

• Link Code: Require a code to join, adding a layer of access control.

• Link Code Display: Choose whether the Link Code is visible during play.

• Link Code Saving: Whether visitors can auto-save the code for future visits.

What Transfers and What Stays

Cloud Islands include terrain from all story areas, giving you access to the same crafting and building mechanics as the main game. Each Cloud Island has its own Cloud Shop with items that may not be available in the main game, so prioritize buying recipes there for expanded building options.

You can only host one Cloud Island at a time. To create a new one, you must delete your existing Cloud Island. To return to your main world from a Cloud Island, press the + button to open the Pokedex, then press the - button and select "Go Back Home."

Minigames

Hide-and-Seek

A minigame unlocked after befriending Zorua and learning the Camouflage move in Bleak Beach. Supports up to 4 players. Hiders press ZR near objects to disguise as them using Camouflage. Seekers search the environment for disguised players. Hide-and-Seek can be played in both friend visits and Cloud Islands.

Jump Rope

A cooperative minigame available on Cloud Islands. Requires a Pokemon associated with the Jump Rope activity (such as Bulbasaur, who uses its vines as the rope). Players take turns jumping over the vines while the rhythm increases. Available during both friend visits and Cloud Island sessions.

GameShare

GameShare lets a player who owns Pokemon Pokopia share the game with another player who does not own it. This is a Switch 2 feature that works with both Nintendo Switch 2 and original Nintendo Switch consoles.

How to Set Up GameShare

1. Unlock Palette Town (accessible after the Withered Wasteland tutorial).

2. Establish a home in Palette Town for fast travel access.

3. Visit the Pokemon Center and access the PC.

4. Navigate to Link Play, then "Invite Others to Visit."

5. Select "GameShare" to open the room.

6. The other player selects the GameShare icon at the bottom of their screen and follows instructions to join.

GameShare Limitations

• Limited to Palette Town only; no story areas or Cloud Islands.

• Maximum 2 players during a GameShare session (host + 1 guest).

• Guests cannot get Pokemon to follow them and cannot discover new Pokemon.

• Guests can build, break blocks, collect materials, and interact with objects.

• When a guest leaves, any items in their inventory are sent to the Lost & Found box outside the Pokemon Center.

• The host must own the game on a Nintendo Switch 2. The guest can use either a Switch 2 or an original Switch.

• Online GameShare requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

Game Chat

Game Chat is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive feature that allows voice or text communication during multiplayer sessions. It requires all participating players to be on Switch 2 consoles.

Requirements Summary