This 10/10 Sim Video Game Is Officially the Best of 2026 So Far

2026 is over halfway done now, and in that time, fans have already experienced some of the best video games of the year, including 007: First Light and Resident Evil: Requiem. These two titles barely scratch the surface, though, as many phenomenal games are making this year unmissable for fans, and that is even before Grand Theft Auto VI and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake come out. However, one of the biggest gaming surprises comes from the biggest media franchise in the world: Pokémon. The recent state of their games has made fans stop expecting anything radical or even refreshing. Moreover, players are often upset over the lack of quality, bugs, and generally poor design, but the franchise might have just won back a lot of fans with their newest release in 2026, which marks the franchise’s 30th anniversary.

Pokémon Pokopia is the latest entry in the Pokémon franchise, and while it is a spin-off, it is selling like a mainline game—already over 4 million copies—but that number is understated since it only counts for the first five weeks. The Nintendo Switch 2 is a polarizing console, which only makes Pokémon Pokopia feel like more of a breath of fresh air. A remarkably original entry into a series that’s not exactly known for experimenting, it’s already one of the best video games of 2026. The Nintendo Switch 2 catalog will only grow more as the years go on, but this game has become an essential title for the system—not to mention a highlight in The Pokémon Company’s recent slate.

What Is ‘Pokémon: Pokopia’ About?

Image via The Pokémon Company

Pokémon: Pokopia is a spin-off of the main franchise, meaning it doesn’t feature traditional gameplay like catching, battling, collecting gym badges, and facing the Elite Four. Instead, this title is a sandbox game with life simulator elements, almost like a blend of Minecraft and Animal Crossing. Using the abilities of the Pokémon players meet along the way, gamers are able to turn the isolated land into a habitable place for all Pokémon. From building pathways, buildings, and beds to creating grass, placing blocks, and creating an overall vision, this game is a town-builder type game with crafting. Developed by Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force studio, who are also responsible for Dragon Quest Builders 2, this game features its signature style. This studio is well-known for delivering the best sandbox-building games, some of which are already among the greatest Nintendo Switch games.

Pokémon Pokopia is set in a post-apocalyptic version of the Kanto region, best known for the Generation One games Red and Blue. In it, players control a Ditto with no memories of who they previously were. Abandoned by humans, this world is now uninhabitable by Pokémon, making it truly isolated. Finding a photo of their old trainer, Ditto takes the form of the human before discovering Professor Tangrowth, who studies the environment of the setting. Now, it is up to Ditto to restore the world to its former glory by making it habitable for Pokémon. As more Pokémon inhabit the town, the world grows further, with Ditto also investigating the mysterious disappearance of humans. Even though it has a main story, fans are able to build the world of Pokémon Pokopia to their complete imagination.

‘Pokémon: Pokopia’ Is the Best Pokémon Game!

Pokémon Pokopia is the perfect anniversary present for the franchise’s 30th anniversary, even though fans were wishing the tenth generation of games would come out at the end of the year. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, Pokémon Winds and Waves is coming out sometime in 2027 after the Pokémon Presents in February was announced. Thus, Pokémon Pokopia had enough room to really make an impact on the franchise, and make an impact it did. This spin-off feels like a true original while still respecting the essence of Pokémon.

Even if Pokémon Pokopia isn’t a mainline game, it is one of the greatest video game spin-offs of all time, and also one of the best-looking titles in the franchise. Graphics-wise, it is better than everything Pokémon has to offer in the 3D realm, delivering a gorgeous world with polished graphics, well-made models, and no bugs or glitches. Pokémon Pokopia is one of the best optimized and polished Pokémon games, making it much easier to play and immerse in. Not only that, but it is also the highest-rated Pokémon game on Metacritic with an 89, beating out the previous record holder, Pokémon X and Y, with an 88. Arguably, the game’s greatest strength is how it captures what it would be like to actually live in the Pokémon world. It’s immersive and charming, making players’ bond with Pokémon not only believable but actually impactful and meaningful.

It may be hard to compare it to other games in the franchise because it’s such a different take on the classic formula, but Pokémon Pokopia clearly has the passion, polish, and quality behind it that many Pokémon games are missing. Even compared to the older classics, Pokémon Pokopia embodies the best of the franchise, using its distinct gameplay and relaxing vibes mixed with Pokémon worldbuilding, lore, and easter eggs to create a must-play game. The amount of attention to detail is astounding, adding to the fact that the gameplay loop is rewarding and engaging, arguably making it one of the greatest video games of all time.

Is ‘Pokémon: Pokopia’ the Game of the Year?

Image via The Pokémon Company

As mentioned in the introduction, there are a lot of good games from 2026, including 007: First Light and Resident Evil: Requiem, leading the pack with Pokémon Pokopia. If it were just this lineup, Pokémon Pokopia could walk away with the win as it is tied for the second highest rated video game of the year on Metacritic. Things get a bit more complicated in September, when dozens of highly anticipated video games come out, including Marvel’s Wolverine and Control Resonant. But the real competition is in November, when GTA 6 and likely Ocarina of Time come out. Pokémon Pokopia is a fantastic game, and it will definitely win some awards. However, its place as a remarkable experience within the Pokémon fandom already makes it one-of-a-kind.

Pokémon’s 30th anniversary has already been a big one, and even if gamers were hoping for a new mainline entry, Pokémon Pokopia is arguably the better option. This optimized masterpiece is one of the most fluid gaming experiences fans have had, and with wholesome fun and cute moments, it is another defining entry in the franchise and a big reason why it has so many fans. Pokémon Pokopia is something completely different, but that variety is what makes the franchise special. Fans may not have expected it to be as good as it is, but the simplicity, weirdness, and wholesomeness boosted the appeal of Pokémon Pokopia to make it the best game of 2026 so far, and arguably the greatest video game Pokémon has to offer in the 2020s, at least until Winds and Waves comes out.