The (Undeniable) Top 10 Poptropica Islands

I played Poptropica nearly every day of my life from ages 6-10, and they are some of the happiest memories of my early childhood. I’d like to consider myself a Poptropica expert, even in terms of lore, such as Think Noodles (only real ones know). Though it’s on the fritz at the moment, I know they’re starting to bring back some of the old islands, and once that happens, I will be playing full time and go full pro, maybe even climbing the speed-running ranks. For now, though, I will reminisce on what I believe to be the indubitably most fantastic 10 islands ever to grace the magical website of Poptropica.

10. Shrink Ray

This is one of the most playable and complex islands out of the batch, with so many mini-games and creative levels. The fact that the majority of it takes place within the house and it becomes your playroom once you shrink is so creative, and I always find it so charming to think about the writer’s room in a situation like that, where planning something as adorable and wondrous as being little in a lived-in house could make so many kids feel so small and love it.

9. Nabooti

Similar to Shrink Ray, I love the creativity behind the journey that this island takes you on, and to have it centered around the beauty of various African cultures and ecological environments is an excellent choice for the wonder of the island’s plot. I always loved the art of this island, and it feels more like an adventure story than a island full of menial tasks

8. Wimpy Wonderland

Like any other child of the 2000s to 2010s, I loved all of the DOAWKLU (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” Literary Universe) and absolutely loved the cameo islands; however, the boardwalk one was way too hard, and this one had such a an interesting play with colors in tandem to the mood of winter. I loved the way they brought the beloved “Wimpy” characters to life with dialogue, and the plot of the island felt true to the books and filled younger me with joy, as I was a nerdy little reader.

7. Zomberry

I love zombie content, and the different levels and mini-games were so exciting and interesting to me. I loved the plot, and it seemed like everyone involved put in so much genuine effort to make it kid-friendly and yet still pretty eerie and skill-required. Overall, it was one of my starts to loving sci-fi/zombie stories, and it remains one of my favorite islands to this day (and is way too underrated in my opinion).

6. Mystery Train

I love a good mystery, and when you throw trains into the mix, you’re bound to get some drama. If you also love this enthralling island, I highly recommend possibly consuming a train mystery meant for people above the age of 15, “Murder On the Orient Express” (it’s best consumed in audiobook form, but that remains to be judged my you). It’s a genuinely fun and exciting plot, and when I was younger, I always loved the itchy feeling of a building whodunnit.

5. Escape From Pelican Rock

I really love the whole story of the Alcatraz escape (as does everyone that has ever lived), and the exhilaration of watching the plot progress the closer you get to the end of your escape was so addictive to me. I used to play it over and over again, and though I love the mini-game-based islands, I always loved the story-based ones a little more. This website just endlessly fed the little nerd in me.

4. Poptropolis

I know I just said I loved the story ones more, but this island was so addicting and I would give anything to do the volleyball, diving, and archery mini-games for hours on end without doing the godforsaken weightlifting challenge. I always chose the black and white jersey, and if you did anything else, you’re a dork. 

3. Survival Island

I LOVED this island. I loved the fact-based clues and levels, I loved the plot inspired by a timeless short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” I loved the progression of surviving in the woods to escaping the mansion to capturing the eccentric millionaire. It was so immersive and well thought out, and it portrayed such effort on the devs’ and the writers’ parts to get everything right while also being interesting for the player. I would play it again just to experience the plot as a teenager.

2. Reality TV Island

The mini-games on this island are unparalleled. The champion of all mini-games: the fishing game. Close predecessors: the one where you had to catch coconuts, shuffleboard, and throwing the coconuts into the turtle shells. The rage I would experience at getting voted off by the character I would try to vote off on the previous round was unmatched. Also, if you ever play this island, before the voting round when you’re on the instructions screen, make the person you plan on voting talk so that by the time you can vote and you click on them, their mouth is open on the voting slip and you can chuckle a little bit.

1. Skullduggery

I know this is polarizing, but this is the best island in Poptropica. My favorite part was going island to island, building up your money until you can upgrade your ship, maybe hire a couple of extra workers, battle other ships and sea monsters, and pick up treasure. So basically, the whole island. This island is genius. I used to play it obsessively during my Computer class in eight grade, where there were no blocked sites on the computers for me to curse. I played it beyond what was necessary to achieve the most maxed out ship and crew possible, and then started over once it was done. Maybe it was dumb, maybe it was necessary to get through that class. This is the best island because it’s meticulous, it’s story-based, and it has consistent mini-games: it’s perfect. Skullduggery is the best island, hands down.

I’m sure you disagree with me, so feel free to share your opinions and takes in the comments (kindly, I hope!), and no matter my opinions, I genuinely loved playing Poptropica when I was younger and I commend it for providing quality and educational entertainment for millions of kids around the world. Its art is unique and recognizable, and its stories live on in the youthful hearts of its players into their growth as the future’s storytellers.