Pokémon Pokopia has become the highest-rated Pokémon game of all time on Metacritic.

The building and town simulator is sitting on a Metascore of 88 on Metacritic. That not only makes it one of the highest-reviewed games of the year so far — it's currently sitting alongside Mewgenics, RPG Estoreic Ebb, and Resident Evil Requiem — but that also makes it the highest-rated Pokémon game ever.

While Pokémon Y also has an 88 Metascore, Pokémon X has an 87, slightly lowering the average across both 2013 3DS games. That means Pokopia also pips Pokémon Moon, Pokémon HeartGold, Pokémon Black, Pokémon White, Pokémon SoulSilver, and Pokémon Sun, all of which boast a very respectable Metacritic score of 87.

Pokémon Pokopia sees you play as a Ditto that has transformed to look like a human and must shape an empty land into a beautiful space for a variety of Pokémon. You'll learn new moves from Pokémon you meet to expand and create a paradise, collecting berries, rocks, and wood, as well as building furniture, growing vegetables in fields you’ve tilled, creating homes for Pokémon you meet, and more.

IGN's Pokémon Pokopia review returned a 9. We said: "Pokémon Pokopia is an enjoyable, personality-packed building simulator set in a surprisingly deep world that is stuffed with fun things for its delightful Ditto protagonist to do and create." It's out on March 5 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.

Wondering which Pokémon you'll be able to live alongside? Check out our list of all the Pokémon in Pokopia, and stay tuned to the IGN Pokopia Wiki for more guides when Pokopia arrives on March 5.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.