Hosted a multiplayer world and didn't have any serious issues, but according to everyone else playing with me it was laggy as shit (and I'm kown for having the best internet in my group)
Despite trying I never got Into pokemon as a kid so my judgment isn't worth much in that regard, but it's still very much an unfinished game, as everyone buying it should know in advance.
It was fun but I probably never would have bought it without friends to play it with, and I probably won't launch it again until it's far more complete.
Yeah the gameplay loop in that game is definitely an issue, IMO what they need is a 'optional' victory condition like in Anno 1800 or Factorio where you have the option to keep playing after winning.