With Pokemon Pokopia exclusive to the Switch 2 and priced quite high itself, some players want to be able to share access to the game with friends and family, including on the original Switch. Fortunately, GameShare functionality is supported, but requires some work, and has some limitations.
This guide has all the details you need to successfully enable GameShare for Pokemon Pokopia with both the Switch 1 and the Switch 2.
How To Unlock Palette Town And GameShare For Pokemon Pokopia
GameShare is not unlocked by default in Pokemon Pokopia and requires a fair bit of gameplay to access. First, you need to achieve Environment Level 2 at minimum. Next, escape Withered Wasteland through the west, either by using Rock Smash, or scaling the hills surrounding it. Once outside the boundary, bear left towards what looks like a long bridge. You will need to build a short bridge of your own to cross the narrow channel keeping you from it.
Once across, you will eventually see a message stating that ‘It is recommended that you gain a lot more knowledge before visiting this town.’ Elect to ‘Go anyway’ and proceed to the next destination: Palette Town.
On the PC in this particular Pokemon Center, the Link Play option functions differently from other PCs, as it offers access to GameShare when you select ‘Invite Others to Visit’, in addition to the usual ‘Online connection’ and ‘Local connection’.
How To GameShare Pokemon Pokopia On Switch 1 & Switch 2
You, as the host console, need to select GameShare. Next, the guest console needs to select GameShare from their Home screen, and then ‘Join GameShare’ to begin scanning for local open sessions to access, without using the internet.
Once successfully connected, the host console user needs to hit ‘Start’ to actually begin the session.
Online GameShare requires GameChat, which is exclusive to Switch 2 users, and all guests will need to be friends with the host.
Pokemon Pokopia GameShare Limitations
The very first thing guests will NOT be able to do is personalize a Ditto. There is no possibility of accessing the story mode either.
Guests are also limited to Palette Town itself which is a sandbox zone without any story progression. During an active GameShare session, the host is also locked to Palette Town.
All guests only have access to the abilities that the host themself has unlocked. Although you will have unlocked GameShare early with this guide, ideally you will have progressed much farther into the story, in order to acquire more abilities for your guests to actively use. This also applies to inventory space which is unique to each guest.
The host must be active, as closing the session will remove all other players. Upon ending the session, all guest inventories get dumped into the Lost & Found box at the Pokemon Center. Guests cannot interact with the Lost & Found box. Neither host nor guests can play minigames with Pokemon.
All in all, GameShare for Pokemon Pokopia is essentially only a little better than a spectator mode.
That is everything there is to know about unlocking GameShare functionality for Pokemon Pokopia.