Slanted Fish

It’s that time of the year! In the spirit of Spotify Wrapped, we’re bringing you a Poptropica version for our look back on 2022. Let’s hit rewind!

From January to December, Poptropica kept things interesting…

Though the year began with the loss of a bunch of old islands on the mobile app, Poptropica also brought on new content, launching the Blitz on the Fritz Side Quest sequel to Goofball Island for members in January, and the long-awaited Jade Scarab Island, the final Dream Island winner, to everyone in April. (Check out our review here!)

But things took a strange turn as Poptropica began flirting with Roblox, releasing two games on their platform: Unicorn Frenzy in March, and Zomberry: Humans vs Zombies in April. Neither seemed well received.

Then again attempting to appease the conventional players, Poptropica began teasing the return of some “classic” islands, leading up to the release of their Steam bundle in May with 17 of the newer “old” islands, including a rewritten ending for Monster Carnival, and Realms.

But Poptropica’s forays into other projects only kept going throughout the summer, when we discovered their new Roblox studio Suit Up Games (which brought a Dr. Hare pet to a non-Pop Roblox game), and Poptropica Junior, with small activities aimed at Pre-K kids.

We had our share of competitive fun too, from the PHB’s Poppies fan awards and Halloween costume contest with a blue theme, to Poptropica’s PoptropiCon challenges, monthly costume contests, and Holly Jolly Holiday Design Contest, which brought a special twist to the 12 Days of Member Gifts tradition by inviting player-made items.

Let’s look back on our Top Islands! In addition to the releases mentioned above, as well as the temporary returns of the mini-games Hoptropica, Zomberry Hero, and The Grapple-Gift, Poptropica also converted a few quests for Haxe (desktop) and mobile.

PoptropiCon, Ep. 2 was re-released for members in January, then for all in June, and Ep. 3 came out for members in September, completing the story. Survival, Ep. 2 followed a similar trajectory, re-releasing for members in May, then for all in November, alongside Ep. 3 for members.

As for our Top Con Artists this year, a host of bad actors aboard the Baron’s airship certainly kept us on our toes with a saga unfolding over several months. While Rumpelstiltskin seemed up to no good playing tricks on the Baron who went missing, we’re still waiting to see where the reveal of the Red Queen on a rampage for Rumpel will lead us next.

Back down on Home Island, all might seem well with Amelia, who continues to rotate her shop selection regularly and without drama. At the same time, though, she’s been roped into Roblox by the Poptropica Creators themselves who, as mentioned, have lowkey been turning tail on their own game to make new games on another platform.

Anyway, the year can’t be contained in a list of top reads. But here are a few highlights from our blog archives:

🎤 Interviews with the PHB from the Poptropica Creators: Purple Paw, Smart Bubbles, Smart Icicle, Gentle Dolphin, Fierce Flyer, Sporty Boa
🤔 Poptropica Lore and More with Mitch Krpata
😡 Poptropica is CANCELED (and follow-up)
✉️ An Open Letter to Poptropica II
🎥 Battle Morale: Interview with Pop movie producer Invisible Ring

This year, Poptropica dabbled in both old and new, from the nostalgia of the Steam bundle and comic series to the novelty of Roblox games.

But they also killed off Poptropica Worlds.

Time to meet Poptropica’s 2022 island personality…

The PoptropiCon Cosplayer

Like the island’s convention, Poptropica celebrates its legacy by bringing back fan favorite islands while also exploring new trails. Yet just as a cosplayer isn’t the real thing, so Poptropica’s nostalgic returns are just a shadow, no match for the more complex magic it once offered.

But onwards we go. Here at the PHB, we’re grateful to share with you another year filled with monthly Community Creations and membership giveaways, as well as guest posts including Pop fanfics and puzzles. Thanks for tuning in with us — that’s a wrap for 2022! 💝✌️

See you in 2023. Go on, press play!

~ 💙▶️ the PHB

✏️ P.S. While you’re here, comment with your thoughts on the year! Or peek into years past with the rest of the Poptropica Yearbook.

PHB Membership Giveaway: December 2022

December 26, 2022December 22, 2022 Slanted Fish

Happy holidays, Poptropicans! 🎄 We’re approaching the end of the month, which means it’s time to announce another lucky Poptropican to win our monthly membership giveaway! 🎁

Congratulations, Fearless Thunder — your new membership status lets you play various exclusive quests, including the recent relaunch of Survival Island, Ep. 3: Distress Signal! You’ll also get to enjoy the player-designed 12 Days of Member Gifts released earlier this month.

The Poptropica Help Blog hosts a membership giveaway every month, and it’s easy to enter! Just comment on our Free Poptropica Membership page and leave at least two other comments around the PHB within the month to be entered into that month’s giveaway.

We’ll announce a winner sometime in the final week of each month. If you don’t win, you can always try again for the next month! Full details »

Congrats again to Fearless Thunder! Keep on popping on! ⚡️

Steam Bundle

Seasonal Sale for Poptropica’s Steam bundle

December 25, 2022January 1, 2023 Slanted Fish

Merry Christmas and happy holidays, Poptropicans! 🎄☃️💝

There’s a special surprise in store for this gift-giving season: Poptropica’s Steam bundle is now on sale at 60% off! While price varies by region, most of the game’s players are based in the US, where the price has just dropped from about US$20 to $8.

This promotion only lasts until January 5, so grab it while you can — perhaps as a holiday gift for yourself or a friend? 🎁

The Steam bundle includes 17 islands 🏝 (+1 if you count the tutorial, Snagglemast): Mythology (classic), Shrink Ray, Poptropolis Games, Monster Carnival (with a new ending), Time Tangled, Mystery of the Map, Virus Hunter, 24 Carrot, Galactic Hot Dogs, Mocktropica, Escape From Pelican Rock, Reality TV: Wild Safari, Timmy Failure, and all episodes of Survival, PoptropiCon, Arabian Nights, and Mission Atlantis — also known as the AS3 islands, or the newer bunch of the old islands. Plus, it also comes with the create-your-own-world Realms. Check out our review of the Steam bundle here!

Hundreds of other games on the platform are currently discounted for the Steam Winter Sale, and it’s great to see Poptropica among the list for less than the cost of a 3-month membership. If you’ve been eyeing this package of nostalgia, now’s your chance. Happy holidays! 🧑‍🎄

~🐠

Baron's Airship, Fan Art Features, Mini Quests, Monthly Costume Contests, Store

Has Grapple-Pap Got the Baron? 👹🎁

December 21, 2022December 21, 2022 Slanted Fish

Happy Grapple-Pap, Poptropicans! 🎄💝☃️

We may be well into December by now, but the Pop winter tradition is officially on for the third year in a row. All players can find the old man on Home Island to play the Grapple-Gift Side Quest! Here’s our guide.

Just like before, you’ll be asked to deliver a gift to the shut-in, Clareta, in a short journey across a cold cliff. At the end, you’ll win a Grapple-Pop treat that can turn people sickly green! 🤢 Check out our review of The Grapple-Gift here. Cheers — we wouldn’t want ol’ GP to get us for a year!

You may have seen the winter wonderland of Home Island topped with Christmas garlands, but there’s another arrival on the homebase as well: the Baron’s airship! Except, well, the Baron’s still missing…

…and taking the throne inside the Cabin of Curiosities is her nemesis Amelia! Though maybe frenemy is a better word for their curious relationship, as the storekeeper comes with a peace offering of Grapple-Pops for her absent archrival, as she apparently does every year.

Also in the cabin, you can pick up a plethora of gifts, including half a year’s worth of the monthly player-designed costumes for free! The returning outfits were determined by popular vote last month, bringing us the Rockette, Jester, Spa Day (with slippers), The Hair, De-Man, and Boxing Barb (with shoes and gloves).

To the right, you can also purchase Grapple-Pap goodies: a tri-color lamp, totem pole, Christmas garland, gargoyle, and villager outfit.

But back to the case of the disappearing sky pirate. Talk to the detective Amelia, and she’ll share that the Baron’s ship just drifted in on its own.

She’ll also tie in worry for the Baron with the legend of Grapple-Pap, which states that if you don’t spread cheer, the fearsome monster (who shares a name with the holiday) “will get you for one whole year.”

We know the Baron is notoriously un-cheery, so does that mean they’ve encountered Grapple-Pap… whatever that means? Will we not see them for an entire year? Or is Rumpelstiltskin in on this too?

While the plot is only getting thicker up in the skies, down at Adventure Outfitters, Amelia is back to her smiley self with new gear for the holidays. In addition to the wintry wonders on the shop floor introduced earlier, don’t miss the fine fits for players and pets, including the Polar Bear, Slice of Pie, and Ornament costumes for the latter littles!

Last but certainly not least, enjoy these fan art features Poptropica shared on their Instagram stories last week! Feeling inspired? Share something “Grapple-Pap” for our Community Creations this month! ✨

Have a merry holiday season, however you celebrate. Come back before the end of the year for our annual rewind and let’s put a bow on 2022! 💝

~🐠

Guest Posts, My Place in Poptropica

My Place in Poptropica: Blue Moon

December 15, 2022December 13, 2022 Slanted Fish

This is a guest post from Blue Moon sharing her My Place in Poptropica story, which is all about one’s Poptropica journey. Enjoy!

Hey there fellow Poptropicans! This is Blue Moon, and this is my first post on the blog. Today it’s all about my tale in Poptropica. Enjoy!

I am kind of an amateur in Pop, and I only lived in the Haxe version. I never got to experience the Flash version—the old islands, everything… it’s only a dream to my friends and I, when it’s at least a memory to everyone else. This post is especially for all the new players—those who’ve heard of but never experienced Poptropica’s golden ages.

Spotlight: One time you may not want to be center stage.

2019: Finding Pop, then leaving

I was in grade three when I first encountered Poptropica, and it was during the Covid pandemic. My mom used to restrict me from screen-time except for academic reasons, and I was dying to get my hands on some free games. One day, when I was over at my friend Icy Fire’s house, she presented me with this free, wonderful game, called Poptropica.

Sadly, at the time I was too stupid to figure out the complicated and confusing islands all by myself. Added with a stir of frustration at the extraordinary members-only products, I left the game before I even finished an island. I didn’t know at the time that I was actually in the Flash version of the game, until, alas, it was too late. Oh well 😐

Up and Away: It helps to be full of hot air.

2022: Revisiting

It was during the lockdown in Shanghai, China, where I live, that I picked up interest in Pop again. One day, I decided to get in touch with my friend Icy Fire, who’d gone to boarding school. In no time, she was asking me about Pop. Not wanting to disappoint my lost-and-found friend, I quickly sat up an account on Pop, and then managed to start a pathetic discussion. At least I found an interest in Pop… which is still going.

With Poptropica’s current state, I completed every single island in a month’s time during the Shanghai lockdown. Of course, Icy Fire and I always stuck together on every single quest and challenge. To me, she was my light in Poptropica. For a short time, I left Pop because of pure boredom, and went off to play other games instead.

However, as I became more experienced in other games, I realized that none of them are actually as good as Poptropica. With a jolt, I returned to Pop in September, and made an internal vow never to leave it again. It was at that time that I finally realized that actually, Pop had already taken a place in my heart that no other game would replace, even though some players feel that the game has entered its “downfall.” Since September, I’ve been an active player once again.

I know that players enjoyed Poptropica when it was on Flash. But there are players now that never even got to play the old islands, and now their number is increasing. I’ve read the guides for the old islands time and time again, trying to absorb in the gameplay, but I still can’t really “be in” the quest. Please, Pop Creators, think about how it feels to new players who’ve never experienced the wonders of Poptropica’s past. I want to let them also have a chance to “be in” Poptropica’s golden ages. This is not only for me, it’s for every new player.

To end on a happier note…

Fun (and sometimes embarrassing) facts about Blue Moon the Poptropican:

My first finished island is Fairytale Island, and I got stuck in a plant while helping Red.
I took one whole month and four separate restarts to break out of Pelican Rock.
Even for now, I still can’t beat the “unbeatable” girl in PoptropiCon 2.
My best friend on Pop is Super Star (username piziyu)
My username is Aristah (friend me!)

Still Poppin’ On~

-Blue Moon 🌚

Hope you enjoyed this “My Place in Poptropica” story! If you did, you’ll probably enjoy our other MPIP stories here on the PHB.

If you haven’t already shared your story, we invite you to send in your own. Interested in writing for the PHB under a different Pop-topic? Take a look at our Write for the PHB page for ideas, guidelines, and more!