I am not a Pokémon or Animal Crossing man, however Pokopia has hooked me

Final week, I wrote a characteristic breaking down Nintendo’s early 2026 video games lineup, and I used to be fairly optimistic about it. From first-party fare like Mario Tennis Fever and Tremendous Mario Bros. Surprise‘s Bellabel Park Change 2 growth to vital third-party ports like Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata, it’s fairly well-rounded.

However there was one different recreation I checked out that I couldn’t speak about till now, and it’s maybe probably the most vital one in every of all. Enter Pokémon Pokopia, a life simulation recreation developed by Dynasty Warriors maker Omega Drive in collaboration with The Pokémon Firm. For reference, that is the sport that appears loads like Animal Crossing and stars a Ditto who assumes a humanoid kind.

Admittedly, this recreation wasn’t initially on my radar. Whereas I completely understood the potential there for followers, I outgrew Pokémon a few years in the past in favour of extra mature JRPGs like Closing Fantasy and Persona, whereas the simulation components of Animal Crossing have a tendency to simply really feel like busywork to me.

A lot to my shock, then, that I ended up actually digging Pokopia after a roughly 90-minute demo. By mixing the charmingly cozy vibe of Animal Crossing with a number of the key iconography and mechanics of Pokémon, the expertise simply clicked for me.

Honestly, a few of that comes right down to nostalgia. Whereas I don’t actively play Pokémon anymore, I clearly have loads of reverence for these authentic video games like everybody else from my era. And so, there’s an plain enchantment in beginning the sport as Ditto on this desolate wasteland that I’ve to assist restore and instantly coming throughout a Squirtle. With the steering of Professor Tangrowth, I had the little turtle assist me water the dried-out soil to sprout some crops. From there, a Bulbasaur appeared, and, later once I wanted to mild a campfire, I stumbled upon a Charmander.

Kicking off my journey with these iconic Starter Pokémon felt proper, and I appreciated that it was all from the framework of a comfortable life sim. No battling, no random encounters, no operating round a giant metropolis — simply hanging out with a few of my favorite lil’ guys. Certain, it took a bit little bit of time to get used to them talking full sentences, however as soon as I did, I discovered them endearing. I really like these this little hub areas the place they’re simply strolling round and going about their day, particularly as soon as I assist them get extra comfy, like by constructing Bulbasaur a bit straw mattress.

However in fact, there’s fairly a little bit of depth nonetheless, and that includes how it’s a must to construct out areas to draw extra Pokémon. I noticed this on full show within the subsequent part of the demo, a a lot bigger rocky space that includes a dilapidated Pokémon Heart. Fortunately, a close-by PC was nonetheless working, and it gave me totally different challenges to finish in change for cash that I might use to buy ornamental objects and upgrades. One in all these missions tasked me with discovering a number of new Pokémon varieties, so off I went.

One thing I quickly appreciated concerning the stage design is that you just’ll see a bunch of glitter results in particular locations, and interactive with them will inform you a couple of explicit kind of habitat which you could restore there to draw a brand new Pokémon. A silhouette may even be proven so hardcore followers will get a tease for which Pokémon they’ll get. One habitat I discovered was a tree-covered bush that I needed to create unlock Scyther, whereas one other was a makeshift boxing fitness center (requiring a bench and punching bag) for Hitmonchan.

To construct these habitats, Ditto can head to a workbench to craft objects requiring wooden and different assets and even, in some cases, use their copying talents to sculpt the surroundings. This contains studying Water Gun from Squirtle to develop crops or Reduce from Scyther to cut down timber and different obstacles. And as soon as I had sufficient assets and Pokémon, I might instruct a few them — on this case, the handyman-like Timburr alongside Charmander — to assist me rebuild the Pokémon Heart. This prompts a real-time counter of a number of minutes, permitting you to proceed to do different issues when you wait.

All in all, I adored this gameplay loop, because it’s continuously rewarding you for locating new Pokémon and teaming as much as progress. On this means, it retains that core “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” enchantment of Pokémon however reimagines it for a unique style, and it actually speaks to me to date. Plus, there’s simply one thing inherently pretty a couple of recreation specializing in you working along with wild animals to revive the surroundings within the 12 months 2026.

The ultimate a part of the demo, which was extra hands-off, had me and two different Canadian media dropped into a bit paradise island. Right here, we had entry to many extra talents and Pokémon varieties to get an concept of how issues movement when you’re deeper into the sport. Instantly, I really like which you could flip right into a Lapras to swim or glide as Dragonite, making the act of traversal and exploration extra partaking. Extra importantly, although, I used to be pleasantly shocked to see how robust the co-op multiplayer component was right here. Whilst we have been simply doing our personal factor, we might share Pokédex knowledge and constructing recipes to progress even additional. For example, we have been in a position to rebuild this island’s Pokémon Heart utilizing each my Charmander and a teammate’s Makuhita, enhancing the teamwork component.

And with our shared Pokémon collections on this sprawling island, I might respect how energetic the sport could be. I really like trying round and seeing the Pokémon wandering round and interacting with one another throughout the seaside, waterfalls and farm crops, deepening my connection to them and, by extension, the world itself. There’s additionally potential for some enjoyable little moments of chaos, like once I created a makeshift eating room desk with fruit to draw a Growlithe, just for a Torchic to come back by and eat my “bait.” This, alongside a day and evening cycle, is the form of factor you’ll must me aware of if you attempt to create habitats. Hopefully, the ultimate recreation has a wide range of these extra emergent encounters to make the world really feel much more lived-in.

Total, I actually beloved my time with Pokopia, and I truthfully wasn’t anticipating to say that. Maybe it’s as a result of I’ve spent the previous month balancing prolonged RPGs like Misplaced Odyssey and Dragon Quest VII Reimagined with a number of Resident Evil video games to organize for Requiem, however this cute and comfy life sim is strictly what I wanted proper now.

I’m now very a lot trying ahead to taking part in extra when Pokopia launches solely on Nintendo Change 2 on March 5, 2026.

Picture credit score: Nintendo