"Pokémon Pokopia" is a dangerously good time eater

Domagoj Belancic

2/3/2026

Translation: machine translated

Pictures: Domagoj Belancic

Praise be to Arceus. After numerous total failures, the Pokémon gods have finally given us another really good game. "Pokémon Pokopia" is a cosy life sim that delights and surprises me - and keeps me awake.

I am tired. Once again, I've only slept for a few hours. The double espresso no longer helps. The sleep deprivation is due to a second job I have alongside my work as a games editor. It's called «Pokémon Pokopia».

Every evening, I start my second working day in the world of cute pocket monsters. I construct houses, meet new Pokémon friends and explore an enigmatic landscape full of secrets.

Before I know it, it's the middle of the night. I reluctantly put down the controller. There is still so much to do. Glumanda wants a new bed. I need to collect resources to build a well. And I should also take care of my fossil collection.

Maybe I'll put in an early shift tomorrow. After all, the work doesn't do itself.

What is «Pokémon Pokopia» all about?

Incredible, but: «Pokémon Pokopia» scores with a gripping background story. I find the story more exciting than anything the mainline games have had to offer recently. Behind the cheerful cozy-game façade lies a surprisingly dark and mysterious core.

In «Pokopia», I take on the role of a shapeshifting Dittos who wakes up in a post-apocalyptic world. With the exception of a Tangoloss disguised as a professor, there are no Pokémon left in this desolate desert landscape. The humans have also all disappeared without a trace.

Ditto can't remember what happened. All that remains are nostalgic scraps from the past with his human trainer. He misses his human so much that he takes on his appearance.

Driven by their longing for the past, Ditto and Tangoloss decide to take action. They want to rebuild the remains of the desolate game world - in the hope that Pokémon and humans will return. In the process, they gradually uncover the truth behind the apocalyptic disaster.

Collect Pokémon and resources

In terms of gameplay, «Pokémon Pokopia» is a mixture of «Animal Crossing», «Minecraft» and «Dragon Quest Builders». However, the end result of this exciting genre blend is far more than the sum of its parts.

To spruce up the game world, I start by attracting Pokémon by building habitats for them. The plant Pokémon Knofensa, for example, appears when I plant a lush green area of grass. The massive Georok comes along when I prepare a moss-covered rock for it.

Some Pokémon teach me attacks. I don't use them for fighting, but to transform the environment. I use Schiggys «Aquaknarre» to breathe new life into dried-out vegetation. Bisasams «Leafy tendrils» are useful for growing grass. And with Nockchan «Shatterer» I smash rocks and shape the game environment the way I like it.

In the beginning, I conjure up habitats effortlessly with my attacks. However, the rare Pokémon later on in the game have more luxurious living arrangements. The bird Pokémon Plaudagei needs a perch and a stand-up microphone so that it can organise chirping concerts. What a diva. The muscle man Meistagrif wants to live next to a thermal power generator with iron scaffolding. Weirdo

I need resources to produce items for these exotic habitats. The same applies when I construct buildings or erect magnificent monuments such as fountains. I have to mine resources manually with my attacks in the game world. I can only use some of them, such as pieces of iron or clay, after I have processed them into iron ingots or bricks in a furnace.

I'm telling you: my second job is hard work.

Addictive game flow

In contrast to «Animal Crossing», I don't settle down at a single home location in «Pokémon Pokopia». The aim is to restore a game area as well as possible. If I succeed, I move to a new area and start all over again.

The key indicator for the status of my reconstruction project is the so-called «environment level». If I reach a certain level in an area, the reconstruction is considered successful. To level up, I have to make sure that the Pokémon that have returned feel comfortable.

To satisfy the little critters, I complete quests - or, as the game calls them: «Wishes». Smaller wishes are completed in no time at all. Voltilamm wants an apple, Karpador wants a bed. Easy-peasy. Bigger wishes - aka main missions - often degenerate into complex, multi-stage tasks. I have to build huge houses, expand the infrastructure or wake up a moss-covered Relaxo in a dark cave.

Many of these more extensive missions take several days to complete - because construction projects and the processing of resources into materials take time.

So I may have to wait several hours until the concrete blocks I have ordered are ready for use. Or I might start a construction project that won't be finished until the next day.

Despite these waiting times, I never get bored. On the contrary. They increase my anticipation. And my to-do list escalates into infinity anyway.

I set off to mine iron to make an item. On the way, I'm chatted up by three Pokémon who have a wish (all right, Mauzi - you'll get your table lamp). Then I accidentally discover a new habitat and get lost in a mysterious cave. And suddenly the game notifies me that a construction project from yesterday is finally finished. I feel like the dog from «Up», who is constantly distracted by squirrels and forgets what he actually wanted to do.

It's this addictive gameplay that keeps me glued to the Switch 2 controller and unable to sleep. The feeling of constant progress that constantly provides me with smaller and larger dopamine kicks. «Just quickly completing a mission» is not possible if I am distracted by ten other exciting possibilities in the meantime.

So much game content, so much attention to detail

In the single-player campaign, I am gradually introduced to the diverse game mechanics and design options. Each city brings a new concept to the game and shows me what can be done with it

I learn how to construct means of transport and recruit construction workers, how to harvest and cook vegetables, how to generate electricity and connect it to electrical devices, how to throw parties and invite Pokémon. Whenever I feel like I'm starting to get an overview, I'm confronted with new, exciting options.

The number of collectable and craftable items also leaves me speechless. There are so many cool items that I can use to decorate my home and towns. Some of them even fulfil practical automation functions or let me do crazy things. Like changing the weather.

A good cosy game also needs lively characters. «Pokémon Pokopia» has lots of cute pocket monsters that I immediately fall in love with.

Each Pokémon has its own character, its own dreams and preferences. If I make friends with a creature, I'm showered with love and gifts. I even play mini-games with some of my mates. The dialogues are excellently written - completely exaggerated, funny and with great attention to detail. My favourite: the scattered Schiggy, who sweats when he talks and always gets so excited that he gets all tangled up. It's absolutely adorable.

With their exaggerated positivity, the creatures also create some damn funny moments. Digda refuses to move into a house because there isn't enough furniture in it. Because I don't have anything suitable in my inventory, I put a dustbin in the flat. And suddenly the floor Pokémon is beaming with joy: «Wow, so cosy here. Thank you so much.»

On to the adventure

Apart from the successful life-sim aspects, «Pokémon Pokopia» also impresses as an adventure game. You know that feeling of unbridled exploration that you get in well-designed open-world games? That's exactly what «Pokémon Pokopia» gives me. Something I could never say about the loveless game world of «Crimson & Purple».

There is so much to discover. What's that ship on the horizon? Where are the tracks leading me, disappearing deep into the dark tunnels? What's that glow in the ground? And ... Did I just see a fucking legendary Pokémon fly past?!

The game rewards my curiosity with rare items, resources or clues as to what has gone wrong in this abandoned world. On my journey through post-apocalyptic regions, I discover scientists' notes, newspaper cuttings and remnants of old photos that paint a bleak picture.

As a long-time fan, my jaw drops at some of the discoveries. A childlike joy stirs in me that I haven't felt with this game series for a long time.

Multiplayer with limitations

I need just over 40 hours to complete the story. But it's far from over. On the contrary

An additional, expansive island area awaits me: Neulandia. In contrast to the cities that I restore during the main missions, I start from scratch here. There are no ruins, no prefabricated infrastructure, nothing. Here I can let off steam and give free rein to my creativity.

I can choose to build the empty area with friends, locally or online. The invitations are cumbersome with a strange password system. I can also invite someone via Game Share. The second person doesn't have to own the game and can even play along with a Switch 1. However, this mode is very limited. When tested, my teammate can't craft any items, place any kits for houses or enter any buildings.

It's also a shame that two accounts cannot share the same game world on a Switch 2, as was possible with «Animal Crossing: New Horizons». However, friends with their own console and game can be invited to towns that I have restored in single player (also with relatively complicated password fiddling). Clever: To protect my creations, guests can't use attacks or steal anything.

For multiplayer without restrictions, I open a dedicated online island. There I invite up to three friends with whom I can build a similarly empty game world online or locally. The difference to Neulandia is that the online island remains the same even when I'm offline. This means that my friends can continue building in my absence.

In the test phase, I only have limited access to this multiplayer mode. What I see, however, gives me confidence. I make much faster progress with other players. When everyone is collecting resources, building habitats and starting construction projects, the cozy pace of the game is much faster. I'll be spending countless more hours playing here.

Unspectacular but solid look

Optically, I am initially disappointed by «Pokémon Pokopia» - the graphics look barren and lifeless with the angular environment and the simple character models.

My impression changes as the game progresses. The more houses, decorations and Pokémon I unlock, the livelier the world looks. I like watching the chaotic hustle and bustle of the little critters - especially against a backdrop that I have created myself.

I am particularly impressed by the more unusual game areas. Glowing lava flows in volcanic areas create a menacing atmosphere. The beautiful beaches impress with their rich colours and high contrasts. And later areas such as Glittering Wolkia unfold an almost surreal aesthetic with floating islands and bizarre scrap metal decorations. I'm getting used to the style. I prefer such simple but consistent graphics a thousand times over the technical disasters that we recently had to endure in the ultra-ugly mainline games.

The soundtrack deserves special praise. The songs fit the cozy vibes perfectly and put a grin on my face as a long-time fan. I listen to remixes of past catchy tunes, which sound faster or more chilled depending on the time of day.

The cherry on the audio cake are the numerous CDs that I find on my discovery tours. These contain the original chiptune melodies from the Game Boy games. I could cry with joy. I have the best part-time job in the world.

«Pokémon Pokopia» is available from 5 March for the Switch 2. The game was provided to me by Nintendo for testing purposes.

In a nutshell

An addictive love letter to the "Pokémon" franchise

"Pokémon Pokopia" has rekindled my love for the franchise, which had recently been severely strained. The cozy life sim impresses with its unusual setting and game worlds full of secrets. I love rebuilding the abandoned city ruins, attracting new Pokémon and looking after their well-being.

The addictive game mechanics are amazingly complex and allow me to customise the game to my liking. Whether I'm building new houses, crafting decorative items or going on a discovery tour with Pokémon friends - the game is convincing on all levels. There is so much attention to detail in the game world and the characters that I shed nostalgic tears every time I play.

In short: "Pokémon Pokopia" is finally a really good "Pokémon" game again - and better than anything the mainline series has produced in the past decade.

Pro

• Surprisingly interesting background story
• Detailed game world and characters
• Complex gameplay systems
• Lots of freedom in game design

Contra

• Multiplayer with some limitations

Video games

Nintendo Pokémon Pokopia

Switch 2, French, German, Italian

6

Domagoj Belancic

Senior Editor

Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.ch

My love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.

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