September’s Nintendo Direct was a masterclass in emotional whiplash. While sitting at my desk that afternoon, I experienced an almost full spectrum of emotion. Awe at the triple Resident Evil reveal, curiousity at the return of the Virtual Boy, and abject horror-meets-disbelief at the Dangan Ronpa 2 jumpscare in the not-so-good year of 2025.
But, the feeling that stuck with me the longest was the warm fuzzies offered by the Pokèmon segment. And I’m not talking about Marill.
A long time ago, I loved Pokèmon. Yellow, Emerald, Platinum, and Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time all hold special places in my heart. I’ve even still got the Pikachu N64, complete with glowing cheeks.
But over the years, I’ve fallen out of love with combat mechanics in games completely. In turn, this largely marked the end of my relationship with the franchise. Well, besides dabbling in Pokèmon Go and watching my partner photographing Sableye in Pokèmon Snap.
So, I was delighted by the reveal of Pokopia, a cute cosy game following a Ditto in disguise. The aim of the game is to build a perfect paradise using your Pokèbuddies’ moves and skills. You can farm veggies, construct huts, and cuddle up at the campfire after nightfall.
It looks like a sweet, battle-free haven. Which means it’s an absolutely perfect Pokèmon game for people like me, who want to enjoy the IP without having to worry about the Elite Four.
I’m so excited about Pokopia that I couldn’t even find it in me to be disappointed by the absence of Animal Crossing and the lack of Ace Attorney 7. It might even be just the thing that makes me cave and buy a Switch 2 way, way sooner than I expected to.
Everything we know about Pokèmon’s life sim so far
Pokopia is a life sim for the Switch 2 based entirely on the world of Pokèmon. It was first shared at Nintendo Direct with a reveal trailer. Teasers for the game promise an incredibly cute crafting system, alongside building and farming mechanics.
It looks like you’re going to have an entire island to do up, along the lines of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The promo pics and trailer suggest that said island will be packed with sandy shores, green cliffs, waterfalls, flower fields, and streams. You can even build a snug home for your Ditto that looks rather reminiscent of Hoenn’s secret bases.
Your PokèParadise is a little more Minecraft than it is Pokèmon Concierge. You’re going to need to build it from scratch by learning moves from other Pokèmon, which you’ll be able to imitate thanks to being a Ditto. Y’know, since they can morph into pretty much anything.
You can also speak directly to other Pokèmon – again, courtesy of being a Ditto – to find out more about them and have them help out around the island. I can’t wait to find out what a Squirtle’s internal monologue sounds like.
Before you know it, you’ll have a bustling village full of happy little monsters. Including you, the player.
Is Pokopia multiplayer?
We don’t know for sure yet, but I wouldn’t rule it out. The official website says:
After a satisfying day of crafting, building, and gardening, relax in your very own paradise or invite Pokémon and your friends to visit.
Now, inviting other Pokémon to hang out could mean a lot of things. It’s the “and your friends” part that catches my eye. Will we maybe be able to visit our friend’s islands? I hope so.
Also, is it just me, or do those apples look suspiciously like Applin?
When is Pokopia coming out?
Pokopia is set to come out in 2026. As of now, we don’t have a specific release date, or even a projected quarter it’s expected to come out in. So, we could be seeing Pokopia arrive in a few months or in over a year.
You’ll be able to pre-order a digital copy of the game ahead of the release from November 12th, 2025 onwards. You’ll be able to do so through the Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store.
