A World Building Pokémon Paradise Awaits in Pokémon Pokopia

A pink, blobby Ditto turning into a person to farm, create and befriend Pokémon in a world sounds like a spin-off only Pokémon could pull off. Pokémon Pokopia, announced during the Nintendo Direct on September 12, 2025, is a new take on the franchise by combining life simulation, crafting and survival elements into a chill experience. This game, out on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, asks you to turn a wild landscape into a Pokémon paradise.

You play as Ditto, a shapeshifting Pokémon known for copying others. Ditto takes on a human form here and its bad impersonation is kinda creepy. Unlike the battle-heavy mainline Pokémon games, Pokopia is all about building a habitat for Pokémon in an open world. You start with an empty environment, gathering resources like wood and pebbles to build structures, grow crops and make furniture. What’s the goal? Create a comfortable environment for Pokémon to feel at home and for more to come and stay. This feels like a natural progression of Pokémon’s creature collecting roots but with a focus on nurturing instead of combat.

Gameplay is all about exploration, crafting and Pokémon interactions. As Ditto, you explore many biomes and encounter Pokémon such as Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Pikachu. By befriending them, Ditto learns their moves, which he uses to shape the world.

Crafting and construction are key to Pokopia’s loop, as the resources you collect are utilized to construct habitats for various Pokémon. The game is definitely inspired by titles like Minecraft and Stardew Valley, which let you to create at your own speed.

Pokopia stands out for its emphasis on the “slow life.” There is no need to rush through tasks or fight foes. Instead, you’re encouraged to enjoy the trip, whether that’s creating a garden, seeing Pokémon settle in, or simply relaxing in your bed after a long day at work.

Aside from construction and farming, Pokopia has a new feature: Ditto can understand Pokémon speech. Unlike most Pokémon games, where they simply repeat their names, here you will hear their true thoughts. Pokopia will be released on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Pokémon. It will join a packed lineup that includes Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Pokémon Champions.