Pokemon Pokopia review: The best Pokemon game on Switch 2

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Okay, so most Pokémon games build up to this huge, world-ending crisis at the very end, right? But Pokémon Pokopia is totally different! It actually starts after the world’s already been through something massive. It’s a really interesting twist, and I’m already hooked!

The familiar Kanto region from the first Pokémon games has been left to decay in Pokopia, seemingly for years, if not decades. Buildings are falling apart, roads are hidden by plants, and Pokémon now roam freely among the ruins. Instead of focusing on becoming the strongest trainer, Pokopia explores a different idea: what would happen if humans simply disappeared and left the Pokémon to their own devices?

In Pokopia, Game Freak offers a fresh take on playing as a Pokémon. Instead of action-packed battles like in the Mystery Dungeon games, this new game is a relaxing life simulation where you rebuild a world that has fallen into ruin. You take on the role of a Ditto, working to restore the region by gathering Pokémon to help rebuild towns and solve the mystery of what happened to humans.

This game feels more like Animal Crossing than any other Pokémon title, focusing on slow and steady improvement and the rewarding feeling of restoring something that was damaged.

Pokopia screenshots

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What is Pokopia about?

Many years after humans vanished from the Kanto region, the land has become overgrown and decayed. Towns are now just ruins of what they once were. Playing as Ditto, you must rebuild the region and uncover the mystery of what happened to its former inhabitants.

You begin by collecting Pokémon from across all the generations, starting with classics like Bulbasaur and continuing with newer additions like Gimmighoul. As you progress, you’ll gain the ability to construct buildings, grow plants, overcome challenges in the environment, and develop your settlements.

Every location offers unique little stories and puzzles to figure out. From a Pikachu that’s lost its color to a town without power and a crumbling building needing repair, there are plenty of challenges as you work to rebuild society.

The show’s true draw isn’t the big central puzzle. It’s watching a desolate landscape bloom again.

Building a new Kanto

Okay, so I’ve been playing Pokopia, and honestly, it feels like the best of both Animal Crossing and Minecraft. It’s got that super chill, relaxing vibe and you really get to know the characters, just like in Animal Crossing. But then, it also lets you build and change the world around you pretty much however you want, which is awesome and totally reminds me of Minecraft. It really blends those two games in a really cool way!

The game’s core gameplay is easy to pick up, yet surprisingly engaging. You progress by developing each area’s environment – building habitats to lure Pokémon and then upgrading those habitats to make them more comfortable.

As I play, I’ve learned taking care of my Pokémon isn’t just about battling. Sometimes it’s about figuring out what they love to eat and actually cooking it for them! Other times, it means moving them to a habitat they’ll really thrive in, or even completely redecorating their place. The more I do for them, the higher my trainer rank gets, unlocking new areas to explore, and of course, new Pokémon and helpful items to find. It’s a great cycle!

Pokopia is different from traditional Pokemon games. Instead of simply being stored away, your captured Pokemon are always present and engaging. They’ll welcome you home, respond to changes you make to their environment, and even develop unique personalities, making even minor improvements feel special.

I started small, just fixing up a single habitat – swapping out a messy hay pile for a cozy house and adding a bed, some decorations, and food. But honestly, before I knew it, I was building whole towns from the ground up and completely lost track of time! Three hours just vanished, it was crazy.

Pokopia revolves around building habitats, but there’s always something else to do! You can gather and process materials, grow crops automatically, hunt for fossils and ancient artifacts, create railway systems, and discover hidden secrets all over the land.

The game really shines when you first reach Palette Town. It’s a huge, open space with no set story or goals, offering a completely free-form building experience. Unlike other areas in the Kanto region, Palette Town is a true sandbox, allowing players to create large and complex projects and really let their imaginations run wild.

The game truly shines after you finish the main story. Even after the credits roll, you can continue to build and improve your world, transforming it from a linear adventure into a completely open and customizable experience.

Too good to be true?

For dozens of hours, Pokopia never loses momentum.

Many life simulation games eventually become repetitive as you progress, but Pokopia keeps things interesting for longer. Even when the main storyline slows down, there’s always something new to work on, keeping you engaged.

Similar to Animal Crossing, certain things in the game, like buildings becoming available or completing quests, happen at specific times that can take anywhere from a few minutes to a whole day. But even when something is taking time, there’s usually always something fun and rewarding to do in Pokopia.

You can collect items, upgrade your materials, make habitats better, build more structures, or just enjoy spending time with your Pokémon. There’s always something new to work on!

Pokopia’s biggest strength is that it always keeps you moving forward. Even after completing the Pokedex and discovering all the different areas, the game still gives you plenty of reasons to continue playing.

Verdict

Pokopia doesn’t so much experiment with the idea of playing as a Pokemon as fully commit to it.

This project begins as a basic renovation, but quickly expands into a detailed life simulation. It combines relaxing gameplay with limitless creative freedom, offering a new experience for fans of the series.

Life happens, and sometimes things take a little longer, but that doesn’t usually derail your progress in Pokopia. Even when the main storyline isn’t moving forward, there are still satisfying things to work towards, and it never feels like too much.

Everything in the game connects to everything else, making each Pokémon feel important and drawing you into a world you truly want to influence.

This game is a well-made and engaging experience, easily one of the top life simulation games available, and currently the best Pokémon title on the Nintendo Switch.

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2026-03-02 16:23