Amid the daily hustle and bustle, life simulator titles are a welcome reminder to slow down and enjoy things at one’s own pace. The sandbox experience further elevates this allure, offering a sense of freedom over a player’s exploration and progression, where the journey matters more than the destination. 

In blending both genres, Pokémon Pokopia marked an ambitious pivot from a long-standing tradition. Gone are the days of Pokémon battles, the Elite Four, and Champions, replaced by cosy vibes, friendly companions, and a desolate world in need of rebuilding. It’s a gamble that paid off, with the title – planned and co-developed by The Pokémon Company, Game Freak Inc, and Koei Tecmo Games – surpassing two million copies sold in four days, and currently sitting at a user rating of 8.7 on Metacritic. 

The protagonist, too, is a fresh spin on the Trainer formula. At the centre of the adventure is a Ditto transformed into a human, a clever riff on its signature ability to mimic any object or creature temporarily, who will embark on its next adventure in the all-new underwater region of Bubbly Basin. The main setting for Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass Part 1: Bubbly Basin, it introduces the Dive move, new critters, and more, but a 45-minute hands-on preview in Singapore teased little change to its idyllic, charming, and time-sinking nature. 

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There are some prerequisites to meet first, however. Completing the “Raise the Environment Level” mission in Bleak Beach and learning the Jump and Surf moves enables players to learn Dive from the Mythical Pokémon Manaphy and roam freely underwater. Rollout and Magnet Rise can also be used, unlike Glide, while Whirlpools and the Portal Pod hold random items or recipes (much like the existing Sparkling Ripple spots) and serve as a centralised hub for depositing and retrieving items from other locations, respectively.

All of these are included in the game’s free Version 2.0 update, with Bubbly Basin only available as part of its paid namesake DLC. With its head encased in a bubble, Ditto is brought into the aquatic town by Popplio in the preview’s opening moments, where new company lie in wait. The objective remains unchanged from the base game: build habitats to attract and befriend new Water-type critters, fulfil their requests, and increase the Environment Level.

Traces, glowing yellow sparkles that act as hints for undiscovered habitats, are another familiar sight, but it won’t take much guesswork for veterans to identify a potential habitat and set up first-time encounters with beloved Pokémon from different generations, such as Mudkip, Corsola, Totodile, Corphish, and Sharpedo. Since all of them are involved in the main narrative of Part 1: Bubbly Basin, players won’t miss out on befriending them, who each have their own endearing personality – one of the more clever additions to Pokémon Pokopia. Corsola, for instance, boasts a genial and cheekily confident disposition (“But I must say, I myself may just give this coral a run for its money in the beauty department… Don’t you agree?”), whereas Sharpedo uses enthusiastic, colloquial language that reflects its “Ruffian of the Seas” moniker. 

Once the Environment Level reaches 3, new systems built on existing mechanics will be unlocked. Alongside Beans, Tomatoes, Wheat, and other standard crops, Sea Grapes and (under)Watermelons can now be planted, with the Bubble Machine replacing Sprinklers to apply bubbles to them. Construction extends to Floating Structures and new kits, including a cool Sharpedo submarine, themed after the shark Pokémon, that may be decorated as a cosy home for invited Pokémon. Naturally, this also means fresh crafting recipes for furniture, habitat elements, items, and more.

Navigation feels no less liberating and seamless than before, either. As a movement ability, Dive doesn’t consume Power Points (PP), and the underwater landscape – albeit dilapidated – exudes a sense of calm, further accentuated by the lull of swimming around. Like other towns in Pokémon Pokopia, Bubby Basin boasts its fair share of distinctive stylings, from turquoise blocks to eye-catching tiles in blue, pink, and purple tones. It renews the call to explore, with tag-along Pokémon now swimming alongside players and making for an adorable sight.

Similarly, the workings of environmental interaction remain unchanged, such as instructing Popplio to spray bubbles on mud so players can follow up with Water Gun. What’s new here are the pitch-dark caves that dwell in the depths, where bright, glowing corals illuminate the way. There wasn’t much time to check them out during the preview, but holding one in hand certainly made it easier to move around (although the proper workaround is probably to bring along a light-emitting Pokémon) and take in the sights of furniture inspired by Eastern culture. As usual, inspecting hooks and crannies will yield collectables and new nuggets of lore.

Five months after release, it’s almost as if Pokémon Pokopia never left. Expansion Pass Part 1: Bubbly Basin is shaping up to be as laid-back and delightful as one would remember, with the preview serving as a welcome prelude to plenty more fresh content, including underwater power generation, the Whirlpool move, and co-op gameplay. Between the anticipation of befriending personal Water-type favourites and free-roaming fun, a 45-minute session has never felt so fast, and it wouldn’t be surprising for players to rack up another tens of hours when they dive into the experience proper. 

Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass Part 1: Bubbly Basin launches on 5 August as a three-part DLC, alongside the free update. Part 2 is scheduled for release in late 2026, followed by Part 3 in 2027.