To install Pixelmon on Nintendo Switch, you need to understand that Pixelmon is not a standalone game on the Nintendo eShop, it’s a fan-made add-on that runs inside Minecraft: Bedrock Edition. To get Pokémon-style creatures, battles, and exploration on Nintendo Switch, you must own Minecraft for the console and download a compatible add-on from the Minecraft Marketplace.
Install Pixelmon on Nintendo Switch: the real requirement
Before you search the Nintendo eShop, know that Pixelmon won’t appear there. It’s a Minecraft add-on, not a separate title, so you must have Minecraft: Bedrock Edition installed on your Switch. If you already own Minecraft, you’re halfway there, the add-on itself is accessed through the game’s built-in Marketplace, not through Nintendo’s store. This means no extra downloads from the eShop and no separate game icon; everything happens inside Minecraft.
Step 1: Launch Minecraft and access the marketplace
Boot up Minecraft on your Nintendo Switch from the home screen. Once the game loads to its main menu, you’ll see several options, select “Marketplace” to open the store where add-ons, skins, and worlds are sold. The Marketplace is the only official way to get Pixelmon content on the Switch, so this is your starting point.
Step 2: Find the Pixelmon add-on in the marketplace
Inside the Marketplace, browse the available categories or use the search function to look for a Pokémon-themed add-on. The add-on may appear as a resource pack, a behavior pack, or a bundle that includes both. Look for a well-rated Pokémon-themed add-on listing. Tap on it to view the details, then select the download or purchase option if it’s not free. Once downloaded, the add-on will be saved to your “My Packs” section.
Step 3: Activate Pixelmon on a new single-player world
To start fresh with Pixelmon, return to the main menu and select “Play.” From the Worlds tab, choose “Create new world.” On the creation screen, you’ll see a “Marketplace content” option, select that, then pick “Resource packs” or “Behavior packs” to see your downloaded add-ons. On the “Available” tab, select “Activate” for the add-on pack you want. After activation, select “Create” to generate your world with the add-on applied.
Step 4: Activate Pixelmon on an existing world
If you prefer to add Pixelmon to a world you’ve already built, launch Minecraft and select “Play.” Find the world you want to modify and select the pencil icon next to it to open its settings. From there, navigate to the add-on or resource/behavior pack section, find your Pokémon-themed add-on in your available packs, and activate it. Then select “Play” to join your world with the add-on now active, your existing builds and items remain, but wild Pokémon will start appearing.
Step 5: Install Pixelmon on a realm (optional)
For multiplayer, you can apply Pixelmon to a Realm so any connected Bedrock player gets it automatically. From the main menu, select “Realms” and choose the Realm you want to modify. Open its settings, then select the world slot you want to edit and choose “Edit World.” Under Add-Ons, select “Resource Packs” or “Behavior Packs,” then pick your Pokémon-themed add-on from “My Packs” and select “Activate.” Confirm the activation, select the back button in the top-left, and wait for Minecraft to upload your changes to the Realm. Once done, select “Play” to join; any player who connects from any Bedrock device will have the add-on downloaded and applied automatically.
Exploring the Pixelmon world in Minecraft
Once you’re inside, you’ll see familiar Minecraft terrain but with wild Pokémon roaming the forests, plains, and caves. Use Poké Balls to capture them, battle other trainers you encounter, and train your team to level up. Different Pokémon spawn in different biomes, so explore deserts, oceans, and mountains to find rare species. Interact with NPCs for quests and items, and don’t forget to save your progress regularly, your adventure in this pixelated Pokémon world is yours to shape.
