Pokémon Pokopia GameShare: Visitors Without Owning the Game
Let a friend or family member join you in Pokémon Pokopia without buying the game. Unlock Palette Town first, host GameShare locally or via GameChat, and know what visitors can and cannot do.
Core goal: Let a friend or family member (especially someone on original Switch, Switch Lite, or OLED) join you in Pokémon Pokopia without buying the game. GameShare only works in Palette Town and the visitor is limited. This is the number one complaint and the thing people keep getting wrong.
1Unlock Palette Town First
- 1Get Rock Smash from Hitmonchan in Withered Wasteland.
Complete its request to unlock the ability.
- 2Go west from the Withered Wasteland Pokémon Center, smash the blocking rocks, reach the coast, and turn toward the broken or long bridge.
Build a short bridge across the gap with blocks or planks you have. Players report needing enough to span it.
- 3When the game warns you that you should gain more knowledge first, choose "Go anyway."
This lets you reach Palette Town earlier than the game suggests.
- 4Reach Palette Town, talk to Eevee at the Pokémon Center PC, then use that PC.
GameShare now appears. You can do this relatively early (Environment Level 2 or after Rock Smash). Later progress gives the visitor more of the host's abilities, which makes the session less frustrating.
2Host Steps (Switch 2 That Owns the Game)
- 1Interact with the Pokémon Center PC.
The Palette Town PC, not any other.
- 2Select Link Play.
- 3Select "Invite Others to Visit."
- 4Select GameShare.
- 5Choose local or online.
"With nearby players" is local, same room, works with Switch 1, Lite, OLED, or Switch 2. No Nintendo Switch Online needed. "Via GameChat" is online. Both consoles generally need to be Switch 2. NSO is involved.
- 6Start the session.
3Guest Steps (Person Who Does Not Own the Game)
- 1On the Home menu, tap the GameShare icon (bottom of the screen).
- 2Choose "Join GameShare."
- 3For local: pick "Local User" or nearby and join the session that appears.
- 4For online GameChat: accept the GameChat invite, then accept GameShare.
Key Decision: Local vs Online
| Situation | What to Use |
|---|---|
| Same room plus Switch 1 guest | Use nearby or local. This is the case most families actually use. |
| Distant friend on Switch 2 | GameChat. |
| Want to visit Cloud Island or story islands | Not possible via GameShare. Community consensus is GameShare is Palette Town only. |
4What the Visitor Can and Cannot Do
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Looking for GameShare at any PC except Palette Town's. It only appears there after the Eevee and PC interaction.
- Expecting story co-op or visiting the host's main islands. GameShare is Palette Town only.
- Ending the session and assuming the guest still has the game or their items. Guest play only lasts for that session.
- Trying online GameShare to a Switch 1. Local only for original Switch hardware.
- Starting GameShare too early, before the host has useful abilities. The guest can barely do anything. Wait until you have more skills unlocked.