Hey Poptropicans, Purple here! (It’s been an embarrassingly long while…). While the PHB’s Tribal Tournament wrapped up at the end of August, alongside some sobering news regarding Poptropica’s future, it’s never too late to revisit one of the old game’s classic features: the Tribes, and their respective common rooms!
Back in Pop’s glory days, joining any of the eight Poptropolis Tribes granted access to a special themed common room open only to fellow Tribe members. The common rooms served as a fun way to boost tribal spirit and meet like-minded players. Today, I’ll be ranking each Tribe’s common room based on aesthetic, creativity, and how well it represents its Tribe! (Note: these rankings are just my personal opinions, and have nothing to do with the Tribes themselves!)
8: Flying Squid
Diving right in, the Flying Squid common room doesn’t make a big enough splash to swim (fly?) past 8th place. Honestly, it was difficult ranking this room at the bottom. The interactive tub of squid ink and the captured sea monster (a sweet reference to Cryptids Island!) are nice touches, but the rest feels somewhat bland to me. The poster warning “beware the Flying Squid” is the only element referencing the ‘Flying’ half of this Tribe’s name. I think it’d be interesting to see more of that incorporated into their room alongside the underwater theme. 
7: Yellowjackets
Buzzing into 7th place, we’ve got the secret hive of the Yellowjackets! I’m giving this common room a bonus point for having a very cool concept. A mechanical beehive with a wasp-themed helicopter? That’s an awesome hangout spot! Unfortunately, while the idea is recognizable, I feel it could’ve been executed better. The blue-and-white skyline background doesn’t seem to fit the rest of the mood, and other than honeycomb shapes, the interior doesn’t really lean into the beehive vibe. If only it came together a little better, it could climb a little higher…
6: Nanobots
Coming in at 6th, the robotic fortress of the Nanobots may just take the cake for coolest interactive feature! That huge beatmaker machine, complete with options to change volume, tempo, and add various percussion sounds, definitely makes the Nanobots room a place to spend a lot of time messing around in. The silhouetted robotic arms and instruments make for a nice background as well. Who knew the Nanobots were such a musically-inclined Tribe! I would’ve given this common room a higher ranking, but other than the awesome beatmaker, there’s not too much else to explore. 
5: Pathfinders
With their elegant, stately hideout, the Pathfinders common room finds its way to 5th place! I adore the amount of details put into every floor in this room: glass shelves of skulls, spyglasses, and microscopes, wall maps, an enormous spinning diamond. There’s always more to see! It’s also a very accurate representation of its Tribe’s aesthetic. All the maps, compasses and paraphernalia nicely reflect the Pathfinders’ title as adventurers of the Islands. While it isn’t as flashy as others in terms of interactivity, in my opinion, it makes up for that with its amazing design! 
4: Wildfire
Marking the halfway point, it’s the red-hot boiler room of the Wildfire! This common room screams tribal pride. The symbol of the Wildfire flag, leaping orange flames, decorates a burning furnace connected to branching pipes. I quite enjoy the mechanical steampunk vibe going on in here. The various steam-powered birds, especially the center one with wings spread, are reminiscent of the Mother Phoenix and her chicks from Astro-Knights Island! The hazy orange gradient scheme works well, and the exit, a ladder leading up through the floor rather than doors, is a creative way to match the mood. 
3: Nightcrawlers
Now, I promise I’m not biased by worming the underground den of my own Tribe, the Nightcrawlers, into the 3rd place slot. Although it may have a tendency to freak out arachnophobics, it’s one of the most aesthetically pleasing common rooms around! The progression of light to dark purple throughout the three floors, the softly glowing crystals, the hanging jars of fireflies. Even the spiderweb and egg sacs don’t detract from the magical aura this room gives off. I’d be enchanted to work at that charming little desk, or drift off in one of those cozy wall-crevice beds. Just don’t provoke the creepy crawlers! 
2: Black Flags
Just shy of the top spot is the glorious treasure trove of the Black Flags! The Black Flags common room (is it a room, or a ship?) may just be the most creative design-wise. It captures the Tribe’s dark pirate aesthetic perfectly, with its ship deck floors, teetering crow’s nest, and piles of plundered gold. And instead of being boxed in by walls, it lets its flags fly free in the open stormy sky over rough seas! The smaller details of the mermaid statue, caged bird skeleton, and multiple cannons add the icing to the cake…err, the figurehead to the prow. All in all, a mighty meeting place for these fine sea-goers! 
Which leaves…
1: Seraphim
…in 1st place, the angelic abode of the Seraphim! This common room is absolutely breathtaking, and personally, I can’t find anything to dislike about it. The center piece, a hooded Poptropican seraph floating in a stained glass window, is hauntingly beautiful and sets the tone for the rest of the room. The lowest floor’s flickering fireplace gives just enough light so as not to overshadow the stars visible through the crumbling walls in the night sky, and the telescope, candlelight, and distantly floating turrets all beautifully represent the celestial Seraphim name. This common room is well deserving of its number one spot! 
And with that, the ranking is complete! Do you agree with each common room’s placement? Let me know how you’d rank them in the comments down below! Pop on,
~