Pokémon Pokopia: How to Use GameShare to Play on Nintendo Switch 1

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Pokémon Pokopia How to Play on Nintendo Switch 1 With GameShare (1)

Published Mar 6, 2026, 11:37 PM EST

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A few days ago, Pokémon celebrated its 30th anniversary, and while Game Freak and The Pokémon Company didn't release any new games on the franchise's actual 30th birthday, fans of the pocket monsters only had to wait a few more days for the latest Pokémon title to launch with Pokémon Pokopia.

Developed by Game Freak and fellow Japanese developer Omega Force, Pokopia marks the franchise's first dive into the life simulation genre of games with players embodying a Ditto who transforms themselves to look and act like their former Trainer to help local Pokémon revive a wasteland.

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When Pokopia was first announced in late 2025, it quickly became one of Nintendo's most anticipated Pokémon games in years, but its announcement was bittersweet for some as it was announced that Pokémon Pokopia would be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.

Despite this, there is a way for owners of the first generation of Nintendo Switch consoles to play Pokopia, though they'll need a friend or family member who owns a Nintendo Switch 2 to access the game.

How to Gain Access to Multiplayer in Pokémon Pokopia

When people first play Pokopia, they won't be able to access multiplayer from the get-go, and they'll have to complete a few of the main story quests from Professor Tangrowth first.

By completing these quests, as well as helping out a few of the other Pokémon residents and cleaning up the local area, players will eventually reach Environment Level 2 on the PC.

From here, players will gain access to the Link Play option on the PC, allowing players to invite others to their game, to visit a friend's game, or to play on a Cloud Island.

This will allow all Nintendo Switch 2 owners to play Pokémon Pokopia locally or online, but owners of the first generation of Nintendo Switch consoles won't be able to play just yet.

How to Find Palette Town

There's only one place to play Pokémon Pokopia on the first generation of Nintendo Switch consoles, and it may be a bit tricky to find if players don't know what to look for.

When facing the first collapsed Pokémon Center, players should look to the left to find a wall made out of rocks underneath a broken bridge.

In order to get past this wall, players will need to attract a Hitmonchan by creating an exercise resting spot habitat by placing a punching bag near a seat or bench.

Both of these items can be found near the first collapsed Pokémon Center in an abandoned building and once a Hitmonchan is attracted, it will teach players the move Rock Smash, which will allow players to break rock blocks and create a pathway underneath the broken bridge.

From here, players will find a beach and a cove, but if players go left from the beach, they'll find a destroyed road, and they'll need to create a bridge to cross and reach the rest of the road leading to Palette Town.

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Connecting to a Nintendo Switch in Pokémon Pokopia

It's recommended by the game that players wait until they gain more knowledge and skills before venturing to Palette Town, but players can still venture to the new area regardless.

After a brief loading screen, players will find themselves in Palette Town, which could then be renamed to their liking at a PC near another collapsed Pokémon Center.

Here, Nintendo Switch 2 players can finally connect with a first-generation Nintendo Switch console via GameShare and play with friends who don't own their own copy of Pokopia.

First, the Switch 2 and Pokopia owner must go to the Link Play option on the PC, select Invite Others to Visit, and select GameShare with either nearby players or via GameChat.

Then, on the first generation Nintendo Switch, players have to select the GameShare option from the Switch's home menu and select Join GameShare.

This will automatically connect the two Switch consoles together in a Pokopia GameShare session and create a randomized Ditto character for the player on the original Switch.

Original Switch players can build, craft, and interact with nearby Pokémon as well as use all of the abilities the Switch 2 player has already gained. However, they cannot interact with Pokémon traces or venture back to the Withered Wasteland.

Once the GameShare connection is closed, all items held by the original Switch players will be sent to the Lost & Found chest near the collapsed Pokémon Center.