The first slice of downloadable content for Pokémon Pokopia, titled Bubbly Basin, has arrived, and it is every bit as delightful and expansive as the original game. Scoring a 9/10 in our review, this underwater expansion introduces a new town to explore and rebuild, cementing Pokopia's status as one of 2026's best games. The expansion pass, priced at £29.99 for all three parts, is shaping up to be an essential purchase for fans.
Return to the Cosiest Post-Apocalypse
Pokémon Pokopia, developed by Omega Force and Game Freak for the Nintendo Switch 2, was already a standout title in a year brimming with quality releases. While our half-year report crowned 007 First Light as the top game, Pokopia was a close contender, and this DLC only reinforces its brilliance. The game's premise remains unique: set in a post-apocalyptic version of Kanto from the original Pokémon Red and Blue, players control a Ditto with the ability to partially transform into other Pokémon. Your mission is to rebuild towns, creating habitats that attract Pokémon to live there.
The base game drew comparisons to Minecraft and Animal Crossing, and Bubbly Basin continues that tradition with a fresh twist. The new town is located in the ruins of Cerulean City, which has sunk beneath the waves off the coast of Bleak Beach (formerly Vermillion City). This underwater setting introduces new gameplay mechanics, including vertical exploration and construction with floating building blocks.
Dive into Bubbly Basin
The expansion begins with the discovery of a new island, where players encounter a beached Manaphy that teaches the Dive move. This move allows your Ditto to encase its head in an oxygen bubble and dive to any depth. The swimming controls are impressively fluid, offering more grace than many action games. Notably, the Dive move and the Portal Pod (which lets you access stored items from other towns) are part of a free 2.0.0 update, available to all players. However, the rest of Bubbly Basin requires the expansion pass.
Exploring the seabed reveals the destroyed remains of Cerulean City, and a friendly Popplio guides you through the process of attracting new Pokémon and constructing underwater structures like a submarine and a clocktower. The new town is surprisingly large, with more ruined areas than some of the original towns, and the underwater setting adds a layer of complexity. Deep areas are pitch black, requiring players to figure out how to run electric lighting underwater—a major task, though the logic of which objects work underwater can seem a bit random.
New Content and Features
Bubbly Basin is packed with new content, including watermelon seeds (usable on land too), pearls, smoothies, and a range of underwater-themed furniture and objects. Treasure maps, blueprints, outfits, and other items add to the extensive list of things to discover. The new Pokémon are all water-based, which is fitting but may feel limiting to some. The dialogue style, described as like hyperactive 12-year-olds, remains a minor annoyance, and the lack of voice-acting persists.
Nintendo has kept details about the other two expansion parts under wraps, but the second part will introduce new clothes and accessories, while the third adds another town. Given the quality of Bubbly Basin, the entire pass appears to be worth the £29.99 price, especially since parts cannot be purchased individually.
Verdict
In short, Bubbly Basin is an excellent slice of DLC that comfortably exceeds expectations. The underwater gimmick is great, with swimming and floating buildings adding a fresh dimension. The map is varied and interesting, full of hidden items, and the Portal Pods are a lifesaver for managing inventory. While the water-based Pokémon and dialogue quirks are minor drawbacks, they don't detract from an otherwise superb expansion. This DLC is as essential as the base game itself.
Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass Part 1: Bubbly Basin is available now for Nintendo Switch 2, priced at £29.99. The full expansion pass includes three parts, with Bubbly Basin released on 5th August 2026. The game is rated 3 and published by Nintendo, developed by Omega Force and Game Freak.
