Howdy Poptropicanos! 🤟 This is LJ, and today I will be ranking the islands from 2010, which are celebrating their 15th anniversary this year. It’s crazy to realize how long ago these were released, isn’t it? I believe that the islands from 2010 highlight some of Poptropica’s best work, and I can’t wait to get into it. Let’s begin!
Please note that this is not a comprehensive review of each island; therefore, the analysis will be concise.
#7: Steamworks Island ⚙️
(Released for members on August 12 & all players on September 9)
Placing Steamworks Island in the last position may attract some flack as it seems to be pretty popular among many players. In all honesty, though, my recollection of this island is rather limited. 😬 I believe I’ve only played Steamworks on two occasions: once shortly after its initial release and another time during Poptropica’s Hall of Fame competition.
I can recall a few elements, however, such as Sprocket being a supportive companion and the very challenging boss battle, both of which I like looking back. Still, I wasn’t fond of the lonesome experience throughout most of the gameplay, but I’m willing to admit I was probably just too young to fully appreciate the intricacies of this island at the time. Perhaps I should’ve played it more, but ultimately, Steamworks Island stands at seventh place on this list. 3/10 mech cranks. (I’m so sorry y’all.) 🫣
#6: Great Pumpkin Island 🎃
(Released for members on September 30 & all players on October 14)
The Peanuts franchise is a source of comfort for me, as I’ve enjoyed several of its television specials and feature films repeatedly over the years. 😊 Great Pumpkin Island effectively mirrors the classic “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” special, and I sincerely appreciate the TLC the creators put into bringing the wonderful world of Peanuts into Poptropica.
The gameplay is brief, but it’s packed with various games and engaging moments that make for a very enjoyable time. I would like to rank it higher (compared to its placement in the Halloween ranking), but the competition is strong this year. 6/10 great pumpkins! 🙂
#5: Skullduggery Island 🏴☠️
(Released for members on May 20 & all players on June 17)
The next entry on this list is the unique adventure that is Skullduggery Island. I feel like Skullduggery tends to divide opinions sharply; players either love it or hate it. Personally, I find myself firmly in the camp of those who like it. 😀
Much of the gameplay involves traversing the seas, trading various goods, recruiting crew members and upgrading ship models. While this process requires some patience that sometimes I don’t even have, upgrading to a new ship gave me a rush like no other, haha. 😁
Encountering storms, enemy ships, and sea creatures while sailing around was somewhat nerve-wracking but overall remained fun. Plus, the trading aspect was enjoyable and educational for me. The diversity of the landscapes was also impressive, as each mini-island seemed to represent a different region of the real world. There are a lot of things I like about this one! 7/10 doubloons!
#4: Cryptids Island 👣
(Cryptids Island was released for members on December 20, 2010 & all players on January 18, 2011. For the sake of ranking all of the islands as quickly as I can, I’ll be including it in this list as opposed to waiting to tackle the year 2011.)
Like Steamworks Island, this island is one that I surprisingly neglected during my childhood, which is pretty baffling to me given that its premise seems like something I would’ve instantly gravitated towards. The pursuit of the world’s most popular cryptids in order to prove their existence seems to be a perfect concept for a Poptropica island.
I’m very glad that I made the decision to revisit this one a couple of times in 2020 because I really took a liking to it. 👍 The mini-games were entertaining, the landscapes were appealing, and the Jersey Devil jump scare remains memorable to this day. 8/10 footprints for Cryptids Island!
#3: Reality TV Island 📺
(Released for members on February 24, 2010 & all players on March 24, 2010)
Reality TV Island had me hooked right from the trailer. The idea of being on a TV show and becoming a star was so cool to me back then. 🌟 I remember investing in a considerable amount of time to make sure my application was flawless in order to secure a spot on the show. (Spoiler: you always get accepted, lol)
The island was packed with a fun cast of eccentric characters that I personally fell in love with. (I even made paper dolls of them so I could play RTV irl with my cousins!) While a majority of them weren’t super fleshed out, each had their own little quirks that became apparent by reading their dialogue if you decided to click on them.😜 We also got a handful of guest appearances from fan favorite villains like Betty Jetty and Dr. Hare to pick up any slack.
I thought most of the games on the island were a total blast! While some, such as Water Run and Coconut Catch, could be somewhat irritating, overall, it was a fun and thrilling experience. (I actually got pretty decent at Water Run eventually.) The worst part about this island, though, was if you ever got trapped in a relentless cycle of being voted off the show, like I did – especially if you were super close to winning. GAHHH. 😂 Regardless, I give Reality TV Island 9/10 coconuts!
#2: Counterfeit Island 🎨
(Released for members on December 21, 2009 & all players on January 4, 2010. For the same reason as with Cryptids Island, I’m including it here.)
In contrast to Reality TV, Counterfeit Island introduced a couple of unforgettable characters, such as the devious art thief Black Widow and the pitiable, ever-drifting Balloon Boy. Talk about Poptropica icons! 👌
Moments I found enjoyable include analyzing the art in the museum, utilizing the x-ray device, and the scooter chase with the shady cop. I also found the plot twist surprising and well executed. (This was before I spoke French and could understand that “Veuve Noire” means “Black Widow”.)
Fun Fact: Counterfeit Island marked the first instance where you needed to travel to another island in order to complete it. It wouldn’t be until Rumpel’s side quest, which came more than a decade later, that we’d see this again. 🤓 That aspect always made Counterfeit interesting to me, alone. I was simply blown away.
Counterfeit Island is indeed a masterpiece. 9.5/10 paint palettes!
#1: Mythology Island 🌩️
(Released for members on April 1 & all players on April 29)
Where do I even begin with Mythology Island? This was the first island I ever played on its release day as a member which contributes a bit to my fond memories of this one. Mythology Main Theme is also one of my favorite soundtracks in the game which adds a few bonus points. 😏
As a kid, I developed a profound fascination with Greek mythology, entirely because of my playthrough of Mythology Island! I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the various deities and encountering them (such as Hades, Athena, Aphrodite, etc.) was even cooler. The narrative was compelling, the characters were memorable, the scenery was exquisite, and the gameplay provided a meaningful educational component without being excessive. In essence, everything was perfect in my opinion. 😄
I, like almost everybody I knew, felt really disappointed when Poptropica transferred Mythology over to Haxe. It’s as if numerous elements that made the island truly remarkable were discarded in favor of a more simple, straightforward experience. (Not my Poptropica! 😤) Nonetheless, the original version will forever hold a special place in my heart as one of my all-time favorite islands, not just in 2010, but across the entirety of the game. 💚 10/10 starfish!
Wowie, what a year! In tandem with 2011 and 2012, it definitely represents a peak period for Poptropica. I can’t wait to do those upcoming years later…
Were you able to play any of these islands? I’m curious to know which one you liked best and which one you liked the least. Please share your opinions in the comments down below. ⬇️
Also, check out my other rankings of the Poptropica Islands if you’re interested: 2008, 2009, 2013 & 2014. Until next time, pop on! 🍀
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