Into the Delightful Depths | Pokémon Pokopia: Expansion Pass Part 1 - Bubbly Basin | Review
Article by Nathan Langridge
Published by Mike Loder
There aren't many things players fear more than the dreaded water level. The controls suddenly feel off, the pace of gameplay slows, and all you want to do is swim back to the surface as quickly as possible. In Pokémon Pokopia's first phase of its Expansion Pass, the game proudly declares: what if water levels were actually fun?
As a refresher for those unfamiliar with the game, Pokémon Pokopia is a sandbox/social simulation game and a spinoff of the mainline Pokémon franchise. In this title, players control the Mimic Pokémon, Ditto, in a world lost to time. With the assistance of the wise Professor Tangrowth, you set out on an equally epic and relaxing adventure to rebuild towns and restore the habitats of friendly Pokémon. Like the mainline Pokémon games, Ditto learns new moves, but here they're used to create materials, traverse terrain, water crops, and more. You can also team up with Pokémon you encounter throughout each area to perform unique abilities of their own, helping with the restoration process.
Pokémon showcasing their unique abilities outside of battle is an idea I've always wanted to see explored in a game. Pokopia delivers on that wish in spectacular fashion, combining the social elements of Animal Crossing, the free-building mechanics of Minecraft, and the elemental moves and timeless creature designs that make Pokémon so distinctive. The Fire-type Pokémon Charmander using his moves to ignite a fireplace is one of many practical examples found within the game.
As a sandbox game, Pokémon Pokopia is all about taking your time to build the life you desire for your Pokémon friends. The freedom of the base game, alongside its variety of environments, quests, and minigames (special shoutout to Bulbasaur's jump rope), all feels incredibly polished, making this a contender for one of the best Pokémon spinoffs ever made. However, one part of the world remained shrouded in mystery: what lies beneath the sea?
After a brief quest where Ditto learns to dive underwater (a quest that's also available for free to all players), Expansion Pass owners are directed towards a brand-new area called Bubbly Basin. Like the previous areas of the game, Bubbly Basin is a town in desperate need of Ditto's renovation skills. I found the sunken city aesthetic particularly appealing. Its submerged, lost-to-the-outside-world atmosphere adds so much to the game's post-apocalyptic setting. It also makes restoring the area feel even more rewarding, especially when you're encountering 50 new Water-type Pokémon, with the lovable starters Totodile and Mudkip among the aquatic additions.
Bubbly Basin is a very straightforward expansion: new area, new moves, new Pokémon, new materials. It's the same formula the base game implements across all of its unique areas. Thankfully, it's a great formula because Bubbly Basin feels just as fun and relaxing to progress through as the base game. Contrary to the somewhat unsavoury reputation of water levels in games, this expansion takes everything players usually dislike about being underwater and turns it on its head.
There's no oxygen meter to keep track of and no awkward controls. Instead, players are free to explore to their heart's content. You can either walk along the seafloor or swim around as high as you desire. Bubbly Basin truly shines through the freedom it gives players, even compared to the already generous base game. Using the new buoyant block item it's possible to create buildings that float high above the seafloor. This was a standout feature that really helped sell the benefits of underwater construction versus on land. Bioluminescent flora and street lights can also be arranged throughout the area, creating a visually striking aesthetic that's elevated even further by the game's lighting.
I wasn't expecting to be gawking at lighting in a Pokémon game, but it must be said that Bubbly Basin has a unique shimmer during the evening that could only be achieved underwater. It reminds me of the euphoric feeling of swimming beneath the surface and looking up towards the moon. It's a deeply calming sensation, and one I'm grateful this game manages to emulate. During the day, sunlight pours into Bubbly Basin and, as an Aussie in the middle of winter, it's a welcome escape from reality. Depending on your playstyle, you may end up roaming the depths of Bubbly Basin for dozens of hours.
I love taking my sweet time with sandbox and simulation games, so your mileage may vary, but I'd estimate there's around 5–10 hours of new content here. Much like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Dragon Quest Builders, your total playtime ultimately depends on how much you enjoy creating and populating towns. I still have plenty of work left to do in Bubbly Basin before I'm ready to tick it off the list anytime soon.
It's also important to note that if you're on the fence (on the tide?) about purchasing the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass purely for Bubbly Basin, this is only the first of three planned DLC waves included in the pass. The remaining two parts will be released throughout this year and into 2027.
There are also countless quality-of-life updates that have arrived alongside Bubbly Basin. One particularly helpful addition is the ability to automatically transfer matching items from your inventory into storage boxes that already contain them. It makes stacking building materials so much easier, while ensuring all my unique items stay on my person without any unnecessary hassle.
Ultimately, diving beneath the sea is a must for any Pokémon Pokopia fan itching for more content. Bubbly Basin is beautiful to explore, and discovering new Water-type Pokémon, alongside floating platforms and the broader quality-of-life improvements, makes restoring the depths and returning to the world of Pokopia feel deeply rewarding. Nintendo has been on a hot streak with sandbox and simulation games this year: Pokémon Pokopia, Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, and now even more content for Pokopia.
Despite the variety of choices, each title has its own unique quirks worth exploring. If you're still making your way through the base game of Pokémon Pokopia, don't feel like you need to rush into the paid Expansion Pass. Take your time, befriend some Pokémon, raise the humidity, and play jump rope with Bulbasaur. Once you're ready, you can dive straight into Part 1 of the Expansion Pass. For Pokopia veterans, I strongly recommend submerging and exploring Bubbly Basin right away!
Pokémon Pokopia: Expansion Pass Part 1 – Bubbly Basin is available now exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
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