Pokémon Pokopia already has plenty going for it as a cosy life simulation on Nintendo Switch 2. Restoring ruined towns, designing habitats and seeing familiar Pokémon in new surroundings are central to its appeal. However, its focus on building above the waterline leaves surprisingly little room for aquatic Pokémon.
Bubbly Basin, the first DLC included in the Pokopia Expansion Pass, addresses that gap with an underwater settlement and a new use for the Dive ability. The paid update follows the same broad pattern as the game’s other areas: grow watermelons, construct useful buildings and revisit familiar locations. This time, though, a collection of fish and other water-dwelling Pokémon help bring the town to life.
A proper home for overlooked water-types
Popplio, the seal-like starter Pokémon, leads the opening of the DLC and introduces the submerged town. From there, Bubbly Basin becomes a showcase for creatures that have not always received much attention. Finneon, Luvdisc and Sharpedo are among the residents, giving these water-types space to move naturally through an environment designed around them.
That setting also gives the Pokémon more personality. Horsea stands out as a particularly charming neighbour, spinning in cheerful circles. Stunfisk’s comically flat appearance becomes part of its character, including an amusing lack of confidence about its shape. Chinchou and Lanturn are welcome additions too, with the underappreciated evolutionary line finally able to swim freely around the settlement.
Several designs become more appealing when viewed in this context. Corsola’s coral-like nubs look especially sweet as it moves along the seabed, while Corphish’s crab-like design feels considerably cuter here than it has in the past. Bubbly Basin works because the habitat is built to display aquatic Pokémon rather than simply placing them on land.
Why the underwater setting feels fresh
The timing makes the DLC particularly effective. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were famously packed with water-types, sometimes to an excessive degree, but later games have offered fewer opportunities to experience Pokémon in genuinely aquatic environments.
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon can be seen roaming the world instead of appearing only through random battles. Underwater exploration remains limited, however, which reduces the number of true water-dwellers players regularly encounter. Open-world spaces can also leave character models without enough room to express themselves. Magikarp remains a memorable exception, largely because spectacular failure is its defining talent.
Bubbly Basin solves that problem within Pokopia. Its underwater town gives aquatic Pokémon an environment where their movement and designs can take centre stage. It may even offer an early indication of how the forthcoming Winds and Waves could approach sea life.
A glimpse of a bigger Pokémon aquarium
The DLC also points towards a long-standing dream: an educational game in the spirit of Odell Down Under, reimagined with Pokémon. The idea of observing an aquarium filled with Luvdisc and other aquatic creatures is difficult to resist.
For readers interested in how games translate to dedicated play spaces, RETROCADE’s arcade blog explores the wider arcade and gaming landscape. Those considering a home setup can also browse the Arcade Machine Buying Guide or compare available arcade machines.
How to start Bubbly Basin
The related guide covers how to unlock the underwater city and the requirements for beginning the DLC.
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