Pokémon Pokopia Human Records Guide — All 7 Types of Collectibles Explained

TL;DR

• There are 7 types of Human Records in Pokémon Pokopia: Diary Entries, Magazines, Newspapers, Notes, Papers, Letters, and Photos
• Human Records are collectible lore items left behind by the humans who disappeared from Pokopia’s world — the Withered Wasteland alone has at least 20 Records to find
• Some Human Records reward you with recipes, emotes, hairstyles, outfits, and other items — they’re worth seeking out beyond just the story
• Records appear in physical form (books, stacks of papers, framed photos) and on tablet devices and data pads scattered across each region — look near benches, beds, and workbenches as hotspots
• Some Records require Cut or Surf (in addition to Rock Smash and Jump) to reach — make sure you’ve unlocked all relevant moves before attempting a completionist run of each region
• Letters are particularly notable — some are linked to other Human Records, forming a chain of correspondence
• Human Record collection is tracked as part of the Pokédex completion system — check your Pokédex progress to see how many remain per region
• Stamp Cards are a separate collectible system — they are not Human Records and are tracked independently

What Are Human Records in Pokémon Pokopia?

Human Records are collectibles found scattered across Pokopia’s five regions — physical remnants of the humans who once inhabited this world alongside Pokémon. As Ditto, you’ll come across them naturally as you explore, rebuild, and create habitats, and they serve two purposes: rewarding you with useful items like recipes, emotes, hairstyles, and outfits, and gradually revealing the mystery at the heart of Pokopia’s story.

Pokopia’s narrative is far deeper than its cosy life sim exterior suggests. The world is filled with secrets, collectibles, and plenty of open spaces, and even the story itself is far more than a thrown-together foundation for a life sim — Human Records are the primary way that story is told. Collecting them all and reading each one carefully will help you understand whether humans truly abandoned their Pokémon, and what exactly left Ditto to pick up the pieces. You’ll encounter records from the Professor whose diary spans multiple entries across all five regions, personal letters between friends, research papers, and even documents from Team R.

Human Records appear in both physical form (books, stacks of documents, framed photos) and digitally on tablet devices and data pads left across the landscape. Both formats can appear in the same region and sometimes even the same area. Collection progress is tracked through the Pokédex system — check it to see how many remain in each region.

Note: Stamp Cards are a separate collectible system in Pokopia and are not Human Records — they are tracked independently and have their own mechanics.

All 7 Types of Human Records in Pokémon Pokopia

Here’s a full breakdown of every Human Record type in Pokopia, including how to identify them in the world and what they contain:

1. Diary Entries

Private thoughts and reflections written by various individuals — including the Professor, whose diary spans six entries spread across all five regions. Diary Entries are typically found as books discarded on the ground and often feel the most intimate of all the Human Records — written by people processing the world around them, often unaware that their words would one day be all that remains of them. Note that some Diary Entries (including Professor’s Diary #1) are locked behind areas requiring Cut to access, so return for these after unlocking the move.

2. Magazines

From announcing contest winners to advertising a voyage on the S.S. Anne, Magazines offer a vibrant glimpse of everyday life before everything changed. They can look similar to Diary Entries on the ground, but are also found on tablet devices in some locations. Many Magazines reward you with emotes, hairstyles, or outfits upon reading — for example, the “A Surprise in the Garden” Magazine in the Withered Wasteland unlocks the Point Here emote. They’re doubly worth collecting.

3. Newspapers

Newspaper clippings provide broader context about world events before Ditto’s arrival, helping frame the bigger picture of what happened. They are visually distinct — they look like weathered, old newspapers discarded on the ground, though some also appear on tablet devices. Like Magazines, some Newspapers reward you with items. Named examples include “Road Closure Announcement” (Withered Wasteland), “Vermilion Ranks No. 1 for 4th Year!” (Bleak Beach), and “Artificial Hot Spring Now Open!” (Rocky Ridges).

4. Notes

Practical and instructional in tone, Notes are filled with useful tips and tricks — things like instructions on how to open a shop, or guidance for making the most of your new life. They are most commonly found on tablet devices scattered around the landscape and tend to have more immediate gameplay relevance than the more personal Record types.

5. Papers

Papers contain small pieces of research on different Pokémon, offering insights into the creatures you’re now caring for. They are visually distinctive — stacks of documents held together by a clip in the upper left corner — and tend to be found in areas that once had an academic or scientific purpose, such as near ruins or former research locations. A particularly rare example, the “Shellos Report,” is one of the harder Papers to locate.

6. Letters

These records contain personal moments and correspondence between people — some warm, some melancholy. Letters are typically found on small data pads dotted across the landscape. What makes Letters particularly interesting is that some are linked to other Human Records, forming connected chains of correspondence that tell a fuller story when read together. Notable examples include “Dear Elena” (Withered Wasteland clifftop) and “To my fishing fanatic big bro” (Withered Wasteland docks). Look for data pads in unexpected corners of each region.

7. Photos

Acting as visual records of the world that came before, Photos are found in framed form across the landscape — mounted on walls, propped against ruins, or placed in what were once homes. Photos don’t require reading; they’re experienced at a glance, but each one contributes to the broader picture of who lived here and what this world once looked like. They are among the easiest Record types to spot due to their distinctive framed appearance.

What Do Human Records Reward in Pokémon Pokopia?

Human Records aren’t just lore collectibles — many of them provide tangible gameplay rewards. Human Records can reward players with recipes, story bits, emotes, outfits, and hairstyles. Specific examples confirmed by the community include:

• “This Year’s Top Trend!” Magazine (Withered Wasteland) — unlocks the Parted hairstyle
• “Angler Monthly (Special Edition)” (Volcanic Dream Island) — unlocks Winged Pigtails
• “A Surprise in the Garden” Magazine (Withered Wasteland) — unlocks the Point Here emote

For the full list of hairstyle-unlocking records, see our complete Pokopia hairstyles guide.

Some Records also reward furniture and decorative items that cannot be crafted or purchased elsewhere — another strong reason to prioritise collecting them during exploration rather than leaving them for later.

Moves Required to Access Human Records

Not all Human Records are freely accessible — some are tucked behind terrain that requires specific moves to clear. Here’s what you’ll need for a complete run:

• Rock Smash — breaks through rock walls and brown ground blocking cave paths; needed throughout all regions
• Cut — some Records are in areas blocked by thick vines or wooden barriers (including Professor’s Diary #1 in the Withered Wasteland)
• Jump — required to reach Records on raised ledges and elevated terrain (one block high); needed in all regions
• Surf — some Diary Entries and other Records are on islands or coastal areas only reachable by water (including Sailor Dylan’s Diary and Hacker’s Confessions in Bleak Beach)

For a completionist run of any region, unlock all four of these moves first. Our complete moves and transformations guide covers how to unlock every move.

Tips for Finding Human Records in Pokémon Pokopia

• Explore every corner of each region — Human Records are intentionally hidden in out-of-the-way places, tucked behind rubble, inside ruins, and on elevated ground
• Check near benches, beds, and workbenches — these are the most common hotspots for Records in built-up and ruined areas across all five regions
• Unlock Cut and Surf before attempting a completionist run — Rock Smash and Jump aren’t enough; some Records in every region require Cut or Surf to access. Return once you have all four moves
• Look out for both physical and digital formats — a tablet or data pad can easily be mistaken for generic furniture if you’re not paying attention
• Read Letters in the order you find them, then look for related records nearby — some are explicitly linked and tell a more complete story together
• Enter Pokémon Centers as soon as you rebuild them — the first visit to each new Center always includes a Human Record waiting on the floor. For a full guide to rebuilding Centers across all five regions, see our Pokémon Center guide
• Track completion in your Pokédex — Human Record collection is part of the Pokédex completion system; check how many remain in each region to avoid unnecessary backtracking
• Keep your PP topped up before extended exploration runs — you’ll need Rock Smash, Cut, and other moves repeatedly to clear paths to Records. Our PP guide covers all the best ways to stay stocked

Frequently Asked Questions