How to GameShare Pokémon Pokopia on Switch — Play on Switch 1 Explained

TL;DR

• Pokémon Pokopia is a Switch 2 exclusive — it cannot be purchased or played natively on Switch 1
• Switch 1 players can join via GameShare, but only locally over the same Wi-Fi network — online GameShare via GameChat requires Switch 2 and a Nintendo Switch Online membership (required from March 31, 2026)
• GameShare in Pokopia is limited to Palette Town only — the main story, Cloud Islands, and other areas are not accessible
• The Switch 2 host must unlock Palette Town first — this requires learning Rock Smash, travelling west from Withered Wasteland, registering the island at the PC, and befriending Eevee
• You can rename Palette Town when you first arrive — it’s prompted at the PC during setup
• You need: a Switch 2 with Pokopia installed, a Switch 1, and both on the same Wi-Fi
• The Switch 2 player initiates from the PC in Palette Town: Link Play → Invite Others to Visit → GameShare → Nearby Players
• The Switch 1 player selects GameShare → Join GameShare from the home screen — no further steps needed on Switch 1
• Switch 1 players enter Palette Town as a guest with a randomised Ditto character — appearance cannot be customised by the guest
• To end the session, the host opens the + Pokédex menu and presses the – button, or returns to the Pokémon Center PC
• When the session ends, items in the guest’s inventory are sent to the Lost & Found box near the Pokémon Center

Can You Play Pokémon Pokopia on Switch 1?

Pokémon Pokopia is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. It cannot be purchased for Switch 1 and there is no native version available for the original console. However, there is a way for Switch 1 owners to play — through GameShare, Nintendo Switch 2’s game-sharing feature that allows a Switch 2 owner to stream their copy of a game to another nearby console for free.

GameShare is the only way to play Pokopia on Switch 1, and it comes with some important limitations covered below — most notably, GameShare access is restricted to Palette Town, the game’s dedicated multiplayer island. The main story and other areas of the game are not accessible through GameShare. That said, for players who want to experience Pokopia without buying a Switch 2, it’s a genuinely great option — provided they have a friend who already owns both the console and the game. Note that on Switch 1, the game screen will appear slightly smaller than on Switch 2 — this is normal and expected.

What You Need to GameShare Pokopia on Switch 1

Before getting started, make sure you have all of the following:

• A Nintendo Switch 2 with Pokémon Pokopia installed (the host console)
• A Nintendo Switch 1 (or Switch Lite) for the second player
• Both consoles in the same room, connected to the same Wi-Fi network
• The Switch 2 host must have Palette Town fully unlocked — including learning Rock Smash, registering the island at the PC, and befriending Eevee (see the unlock guide below)

It’s worth noting that online GameShare — where the host streams over the internet — requires GameChat and a Nintendo Switch Online membership, and Switch 1 does not support GameChat at all. This means local play is the only GameShare option available for Switch 1 players. Keep both consoles close to your router for the best streaming experience.

How to Unlock Palette Town (Required Before GameShare)

GameShare in Pokopia is only available in Palette Town, and the Switch 2 host must fully unlock it before sending any invites. Here’s what’s required:

1. Complete the introductory story quests from Professor Tangrowth and help the local Pokémon residents
2. Raise your Environment Level to 2 on the PC — this unlocks the Link Play option (roughly 30 minutes of play)
3. Complete a habitat to attract Hitmonchan, then complete its request to learn Rock Smash
4. Travel to Palette Town via Withered Wasteland — head west and cross the water. Once you arrive, interact with the Pokémon Center PC to register the island. You’ll be prompted to name the town — you can rename it later at any time by pressing + at the PC.
5. After registering, Eevee will approach you and ask for help finding their friends. Complete this short interaction to fully unlock GameShare and multiplayer features in Palette Town.
6. Once you’ve placed a home in Palette Town, you can fast travel there any time: + Button → Return Home → Palette Town

Tip: The game warns you not to travel to Palette Town until you’ve progressed further and learned more moves. While it’s not required, having more transform abilities unlocked makes the GameShare session more enjoyable for everyone — guests inherit whatever moves the host has already learned.

How to GameShare Pokémon Pokopia on Switch 1 — Step by Step

Once you have everything set up and Palette Town is fully unlocked, follow these steps to get the Switch 1 player into the game:

On the Switch 2 (host):

1. Launch Pokémon Pokopia on the Switch 2 console
2. Travel to Palette Town — this is the only area where GameShare is available
3. Head to the Pokémon Center and interact with the PC
4. Select ‘Link Play’, then ‘Invite Others to Visit’
5. On the pop-up, select ‘GameShare’, then choose ‘Nearby Players’ (local connection)

On the Switch 1 (guest):

6. From the Switch 1’s home screen, select the GameShare icon (found near Settings at the bottom of the home menu)
7. Select ‘Join GameShare’ — the console will now search for active local GameShare sessions. Note: Switch 1 players do not need to select ‘A Local User’ — that step only applies to Switch 2 guests.
8. When the Pokopia session from the Switch 2 appears, select ‘Join GameShare’

Back on the Switch 2 (host):

9. Once the Switch 1 player has successfully joined, press ‘Start’ to begin the session

That’s all there is to it! The Switch 1 player will be automatically assigned a randomised Ditto character and can now explore and build alongside the host in Palette Town. Note that guests cannot customise their Ditto’s appearance — customisation is only available to the host.

How to End a GameShare Session

When you’re ready to finish, the host can end the session in two ways: open the + Pokédex menu and press the – button, or return to the Pokémon Center PC and end the session from there. The Switch 1 guest cannot end the session independently — only the host can close it.

What Can Switch 1 Players Do in a GameShare Session?

Switch 1 guests in a Pokopia GameShare session have access to most of what Palette Town has to offer, but there are some specific in-game restrictions worth knowing about:

Switch 1 guests CAN:

• Build and break terrain and place blocks in Palette Town
• Collect and use materials
• Interact with Pokémon residents
• Use all moves and abilities the Switch 2 host has already unlocked — the more the host has progressed, the more tools guests have access to
• Order items from the PC Shop (received after returning to their own town — Switch 2 only)

Switch 1 guests CANNOT:

• Access the main story or any area outside Palette Town
• Get Pokémon to follow them
• Discover or catch new Pokémon
• Interact with Pokémon traces
• Venture into Withered Wasteland or the Cloud Islands
• Customise their Ditto’s appearance — a randomised character is assigned automatically
• Contribute to building pre-made structures — guests can destroy and place blocks freely, but cannot build pre-made habitat structures
• Play mini-games — GameShare disables mini-game interactions for both host and guests
• Use the Go Home / Return Home feature independently — this is linked to the host’s home location
• Keep items when the session ends — items go to the Lost & Found box near the Pokémon Center
• Save any progress independently — all progress belongs to the Switch 2 host’s save file

Important Limitations to Know

Palette Town only. GameShare in Pokopia is exclusively available in Palette Town. Switch 1 guests cannot access the main story areas, Cloud Islands, or any other part of the game. The host must be in Palette Town for a GameShare session to be possible.

Local only for Switch 1. Switch 1 consoles cannot use GameShare online — GameChat, which is required for online GameShare, is a Switch 2-only feature. The Switch 2 host can GameShare with other Switch 2 consoles online, but Switch 1 players must always be local and on the same Wi-Fi network. As of March 31, 2026, online GameShare via GameChat requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

No independent progress. The save file belongs entirely to the Switch 2 host. Any items collected or Pokémon encountered during a GameShare session belong to the host’s world. When a guest leaves or the session ends, any items they were carrying are placed in the Lost & Found box outside the Pokémon Center — they cannot be taken to a separate save.

Session ends with the host. If the Switch 2 player closes Pokopia at any point, the Switch 1 player’s session ends immediately. The Switch 1 player cannot continue playing independently and will need to be invited back into another GameShare session.

One GameShare guest per session. GameShare currently allows the host to share with one additional console per session. Up to four players total can be in Palette Town simultaneously, but only through separate Link Play connections — only one player can be a GameShare guest at a time.

Smaller screen on Switch 1. Because the game is streamed from the Switch 2, the display on Switch 1 will appear slightly smaller than native. This is expected behaviour and doesn’t affect gameplay.

GameShare vs. Buying Pokopia — Which Is Right for You?

If you’re a Switch 1 owner regularly playing with a Switch 2 friend who owns Pokopia, GameShare is a great way to enjoy the game together in Palette Town. However, it does come with the constraints above — particularly the fact that you can’t progress independently, access the main story, or keep any items you find.

For players who want to play solo, explore the full world, build their own island, or simply have consistent access to the game, the only option is upgrading to a Switch 2 and purchasing Pokopia outright. Once you do make that jump, our guide on how to increase your storage in Pokémon Pokopia is a great place to start. For general advice on getting the most out of the game, see our guides on how to open Area Gates and raise Trainer Rank and how to increase Environment Level.

Frequently Asked Questions