🏝 Poptropica Help Blog 🗺

The nomination round is now over. Stay tuned for the voting round on Thursday, July 10th!

Stand up and cheer because Poppies season is here! 👏🏆

The Poppies is our annual Poptropica community awards event held in honor of the PHB’s birthday on July 26th. Throughout the month of July, readers get to nominate and vote for their favorites to win all sorts of fun fan awards. This is our eleventh Poppies, so let’s waste no time getting ready for the celebration!

Let’s kick things off with the nomination round, which starts now and ends on Tuesday, July 8th! Please give us your suggestions for who and what should be nominated for the following twelve categories:

Poptropica Awards

🌄 Best Character Arc: Several characters throughout Poptropica’s history have changed over the course of their stories. Which character do you think had the greatest transformation, for better or worse?

🤖 Best Robot: Many robots have graced Poptropica over the years. Such examples include Mordred’s mechanical animals, the Steamworks Island automatons, the Mega Fighting Bots, and most of Game Show Island‘s cast. So many to choose, but which bot is the best?

😋 Tastiest Food: Poptropica has featured foods ranging from a simple slice of cake to a feast fit for a Viking. Which of these digital delectables looks the most delicious?

🏠 Best Island to Reside In: If you were a citizen of Poptropica, which island would you call home? Would you pick the tropical Shark Tooth Island, the fantastical Fairy Tale Island, or the aptly-named Home Island?

😡🔚 Worst Ending: Unresolved plot threads, anti-climatic bosses, and unearned achievements are a few ways an ending can fail miserably. Which ending is the most egregious in your eyes?

😄🔚 Best Ending: Let’s end this section on a positive note. A good ending doesn’t necessarily have to be happy; it just needs to be satisfying to the player (or reader, if you’re a fan of the books). Which ending was wrapped with the neatest little bow?

Community Awards

🎨 Best Fan Art of the Year: Fans contribute so much amazing art to the Pop community, but which piece should be declared this year’s finest? You can find potential candidates on social media, the PHC Discord server‘s pop-art channel , and our DeviantArt group. (Anything published on/after July 2024 is eligible.)

🎥 Best Fan Video of the Year: There are many types of Poptropica fan videos like Let’s Plays, funny memes, nostalgic retrospectives, and more. Which video is the most deserving of this award? (Anything published on/after July 2024 is eligible.)

✍️ Best Guest Post of the Year: The PHB has featured hundreds of guests posts from fans all over the internet, and everyone is welcome to share their ideas! Which guest post from this past year did you enjoy the most? (Anything published on/after July 2024 is eligible.)

😍 Cutest OC: This year, we decided to highlight some of the community’s Original Characters! This particular category will focus on our little cutie patooties. Which Poptropica OC do you think is the most adorable face in the fandom?

😎 Coolest OC: Continuing on the OC train, this category will focus on all things awesome. Many of our original characters tell epic tales of adventure or just look pretty rad. There are so many cool Poptropica OCs, but which one is 20% cooler than the rest?

👕 Best Cosplay: IRL Poptropica cosplays may not be common, but they are a nice treat when they appear. These can be full-on character costumes or normal outfits inspired by Pop (aka “bounding”). Who’s the best-dressed fan in this regard? You can find cosplays on social media, and we’ve featured a few on Community Creations a few years ago!

💃 Poppies Parade 🕺

Check out these awesome fits from the PHB team! Plus, check out our previous Poppies attire in our Look Book for more inspo.

2025 Poppies banner and illustration by Magic Kid

Special thanks to Magic Kid for drawing this year’s Poppies art! 🪄🥽

Now it’s up to you, the readers, to determine this year’s nominees! You may nominate up to three picks per category in the comments below. You don’t have to nominate for every category, but it’s highly encouraged. The nomination round ends on Tuesday, July 8th.

The most popular suggestions will move on to the voting round! Stay tuned for that, along with info for the Poppies party! 🎉👀

⬇️ Nominate in the comments! ⬇️

Thank you for reading, and have a good day!

—Gentle Dolphin 🐬

PHB Series, PHB Specials

PHB Special: Poptropica Alignment Charts, Part 3

June 27, 2025June 27, 2025 LJ

Wazzup guys! It’s time to look at another alignment chart—the last of this PHB Special.

This last chart is pretty straightforward and largely open to anyone’s personal interpretation. That being said, there are a handful of character reactions that are simply undeniable. (I’m looking at you, Florian “Flashy” Fosbury.)

Here, I’ve organized sections based on how I believe various Poptropica characters would respond to the phrase “I like you”. This one is cute and silly and I had fun thinking about the different possibilities.

Some people keep it friendly, others can’t even imagine being liked 🥲, some are like “DUH”, and some take it to another level. 🫢

Below are the names of the characters for reference, in case you don’t recognize them:

•”I like you too…friend!” 😊: Jorge Flores (Poptropica Graphic Novel Series), Amelia (Home Island), & Hippie Harry (Reality TV Island)
•”LOL why” 🤪: Crusoe (Monkey Wrench Island), Scheherazade (Arabian Nights Island), & Bucky Lucas (Reality TV Island)
•“You and everyone else” 😏: Florian (Escape From Pelican Rock Island), Sarah Snooty (Reality TV Island), & Kirk Strayer (Backlot Island)
•“You mean like? Or like like?” 😯: Edgar (Monster Carnival Island) & Octavian (Poptropica Graphic Novel Series)
•“Oof, I’m sorry for you…” 🥴: Icarus (Pop Worlds, Greek Sea Odyssey Island), Henry Flatbottom (Ghost Story Island) & Rumpelstiltskin (Fairytale Island)
•“And I LOVE you.” 🥰: Aphrodite (Mythology Island), Count Bram (Vampire’s Curse), & Valiant LoveJoy (Ghost Story Island)

What do you think of their reactions? How do YOU think these characters would react? What other characters do you have in mind for this chart? (As usual, feel free to use my template below!⬇️)

I’ve been really appreciating these alignment charts for a while, but tying them to Poptropica just makes them even better to be honest. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I have. Thanks for reading everyone! 🍀

Islands, PHB Series, PHB Specials

PHB Special: Poptropica Alignment Charts, Part 2

June 25, 2025June 27, 2025 LJ

Wazzup Poptropicanos, it’s LJ, and welcome to the second installment of my little Poptropica Alignment Charts series. Let’s dive into the second chart. I promise the analysis will be less long-winded this time. 😅

Last time, we looked at a classic alignment chart, but it’s not the only kind! Over time, folks have really gotten inventive, resulting in many different types of charts that come in various formats to evaluate different traits or situational outcomes. Let’s see what we have in store today…

Here, I’ve plotted the first 13 islands of Poptropica, which I deem the true OGs, on a quadrant chart.

The x-axis (horizontal line) ranks the islands from boring to fun, while the y-axis (vertical line) measures their difficulty. In the top right corner, you’ll see the islands I find to be the most captivating, challenging, and enjoyable to play. Islands like Astro-Knights and Mythology have always been among my favorites, and I consider them to be some of Poptropica’s greatest work. I love them so much! 💚

On the opposite end, in the bottom left quadrant, you’ll see the islands that I find to be a bit too simple and not particularly engaging, at least in comparison. Sorry to 24 Carrot and Early Poptropica! 😢

Every other island lies somewhere in between. If an island is near the center of the chart vertically, yet positioned far to the right side (like Reality TV Island, for example), I consider it to be a mix of semi-challenging and semi-simple, yet still genuinely fun! 🙌

Shark Tooth Island, which sits at the bottom of the chart but is near the middle horizontally, is an island I consider super easy, yet still enjoyable. It might not be the most exciting ever, but it’s still a good time. 🙂

The top left quadrant is empty because I don’t think any island is both boring and extremely hard in this era of Poptropica. I hope this all makes sense! I’m thinking about doing all of the islands at some point later on. 😀

Thanks for reading this post. We have one more chart left to go! How would you place these 13 islands on the quadrant chart? You can comment your answers or use my template down below! 🍀

PHB Series, PHB Specials

PHB Special: Poptropica Alignment Charts

June 23, 2025June 23, 2025 LJ

Wazzup Poptropicanos, it’s LJ here, and just as the title suggests, I’ve got a few pretty neat Poptropica alignment charts to share with you—made by yours truly! 😃 This will be a series divided into three parts, taking place over the next several days. Today, we’ll be looking at a classic alignment chart. Enjoy!

The classic alignment chart template is a straightforward 3×3 grid that evaluates the morality of characters from TV shows, video games, and various pop culture sources. It combines good, neutral, and evil with lawful, neutral, and chaotic along several axes to form distinct categories. If you’re a bit confused, don’t worry—you’ll likely catch on quickly after taking a look at the one I made below.🙂 Et voila!

😇 Good: Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic 😇

In the Lawful Good (top left) section, I placed myself (and all of you!). This alignment refers to those who prioritize goodness and respect for laws, and I think our character fits the bill perfectly.

In the Neutral Good and Chaotic Good categories (top center & top right), we find Jonas and Mya Wong. Neutral Good individuals are those who aim to do the right thing, even if it means occasionally stretching the rules a little bit. Meanwhile, Chaotic Good folks are those who are willing to challenge authority and even break rules for the sake of positive change.

I see these two kids as potentially interchangeable based on how you look at things. Ultimately, I chose Jonas for Neutral Good because, as the leader of the Protectors, he seems to stick to a set of rules more than Mya. To me, Mya seemed eager to help anybody and everybody, no matter the consequences, which is why I placed her in the Chaotic column. That said, they both have their moments that show they can be flexible in this area.

😐 Neutral: Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic 😐

Now, let’s talk about the row of characters who aren’t committed to heroism or villainy—the Neutral (middle) row. Kicking things off with Lawful Neutral, this type describes those who maintain order and law without a heavy moral stance. The Minotaur is a great example of this. He’s not purely evil or good; he assists us by giving us the ring we need, but only after we conquer his labyrinth and solve the snake puzzle.

In the very center, at the True Neutral (center) spot, is DJ Saturday Nite. People who embody true neutrality don’t lean heavily towards good or evil, law or chaos, and often seem indifferent during conflicts between good and evil. ~~Not caring would be an example.~~ DJ Saturday Nite was absolutely the most chill citizen in Eastman, even with a full-blown zombie apocalypse happening around her.

Chaotic Neutrals are often characterized as wild spirits who resist authority and act on their own impulses. Salerno is incredibly determined and fixated on uncovering evidence of alien life, teetering on the edge of insanity—which is why she’s been placed here.

😈 Evil: Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic 😈

Finally, let’s discuss the evil (bottom) row. Starting in the left column, we have Black Widow as Lawful Evil. Lawful Evil is characterized by valuing order and structure but using those beliefs for selfish gain. Black Widow’s tactic of posing as a chief inspector to steal art and pin the blame on someone else makes her a great example of that in my opinion.

Next is Neutral Evil (center bottom), which I found a little tricky to nail down. From what I understand, it’s all about being malicious and greedy without any particular social alignment. It’s driven solely by self-interest, with no care for law or chaos. With this in mind, I went with Myron Van Buren who is both ruthless and calculated in his hunting obsession.

A chaotic evil (bottom right) individual is self-centered and disregards all rules, frequently exhibiting harmful and destructive behavior. Doesn’t this description perfectly fit the tyrannical and dictatorial Zeus? To be honest, I can’t think of a more fitting example. He attempted to conquer and dominate all of Poptropica not once, but TWICE, obliterating every island in the process.

Welp, there it is—part 1 of 3! I had a great time analyzing some Poptropica characters and figuring out their placements on this alignment chart. I must say though, I think I had even more fun with the next chart, so stay tuned for that. 😉

I hope you enjoyed the post! Thank you all for reading, and I’ll talk you guys soon. Pop on!

(P.S. You might be inspired to create your own, so I leave you the template.🍀)

Blast from the Past, Guest Posts

Logging Back In: The Islands That Raised Us 🖥️🏝️💫

June 21, 2025June 22, 2025 Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans, this is a guest post by Cobalt/Koi. Enjoy!

Sketch by Chris Goodwin – Legendary Swords

Hoi, I’m Koi… Woah, it’s been a while since I’ve typed that. Let’s just get to it. What made Poptropica different?

Why did it carve out a place in our hearts more deeply than Club Penguin, Webkinz, or Wizard101? Why, in the early 2010s, did so many of us choose it over Roblox and Minecraft, even as those juggernauts were just beginning their climb?

At its peak, Poptropica wasn’t just a game — it was a movement, especially in the classroom. There were toys on the shelves, a bestselling graphic novel series, even a syndicated comic strip. But the magic wasn’t in the physical media. The magic was in the stories.

Unlike other online games of the era, Poptropica launched with no chatrooms, no multiplayer features (aside from pre-scripted interactions in common areas), and no sound. It was quiet and safe, a feature, not a flaw — something parents appreciated in an era of stranger danger and screeching flash games. But beneath that calm surface was a vibrant, endlessly inventive world.

Each island in Poptropica was its own self-contained story, like a season of Doctor Who. Time travel. Space travel. Pirates. Pilgrims. Superheroes. Mythology. Art heists. One minute you were flying a rocket; the next, you were inside a noir detective story. And somehow, amidst the genre-hopping chaos, a larger narrative shimmered quietly in the background, one that finally paid off (sort of) with the eerie, ambitious Super Villain Island.

The gameplay was clever. The art direction? Smooth and charming. It ran like butter on any computer build, which was a minor miracle at the time. And when sound finally arrived, it brought with it some genuinely great scores– moody, cinematic, whimsical, and moving.

But like most good things, the momentum didn’t last. The updates slowed. The stories lost their edge. The toys disappeared. The site faded into a half-functioning relic of itself, one that doesn’t even run properly on most modern browsers.

And then, something unexpected happened: nostalgia.

In 2023, a rumor spread that Poptropica was shutting down. It wasn’t true, but for a moment, it felt like a punch to the gut. Online communities resurfaced, memories poured out across social media, and a whole generation quietly mourned the pixelated playgrounds of their childhood.

Because that’s what Poptropica was. Not just a game. A memory machine. A place where we became Greek heroes, secret agents, reality TV contestants, and museum guards (okay, not every island was a winner). It was weird yet earnest and bursting with imagination. And it helped shape the way we told stories, solved problems, and saw the world.

This is a love letter.

I’m grateful I got to live through that strange, beautiful, colorful corner of the internet. It’s all a bit of a blur now, the way childhood always is, but I carry those memories with me. And I hope, as adults, we can find ways to create new stories that are just as brave, just as weird, and just as full of wonder.

Because Poptropica deserves to last forever — if not on our screens, then in our hearts.

I wrote on here a long time ago, and since then, I’ve become a published journalist—an adult one, at least. I’ll never forget those memories with the PHB. They put me on the career path I’m still walking today.

You’ll be hearing (well, reading) from me again– I don’t know when, but you will. If you’re still active in the community, you know what that means. It’s a-coming!

It’s good to take a trip down memory lane every once in a while, yeah?

With love,
Cobalt

Hope you enjoyed this guest post by Cobalt/Koi. If you did, you might also enjoy more posts from his time as a former PHB staff writer, such as Pop 5: Features That Make Poptropica Unique.

The Poptropica Help Blog welcomes interesting Poptropica insights from anyone in the Poptropica community with thoughts to share. Interested in writing for the PHB? We’d love to hear from you!