A cozy Pokemon game is on the way in Pokemon Pokopia, a relaxing island-building game coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. Play as a Ditto taking the form of a human as you discover other Pokemona and borrow their abilities to shape and craft the island to your own design.
Ditto has always been one of the creepier Pokémon thanks to its ability to imitate any creature except for its face. Now Nintendo is making a humanoid version of the weird little blob the star of a cozy sim reminiscent of Dragon Quest Builders and Minecraft.
Releasing on the Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in 2026, Pokémon: Pokopia will let your human-like Ditto befriend other Pokémon and learn their moves. A preview released as part of Friday’s Nintendo Direct showed the Ditto chatting with a Bulbasaur to learn how to grow grass while a Squirtle helped revive dried out plants.
As you build up your space, you’ll attract more Pokémon and unlock more abilities to further transform your environment. Charmander can help make a campfire to doze near, Hitmonchan can break walls into stone, and Drilbur will till fields you can use to grow crops. Materials you gather can be used to build furniture and a home for your Pokémon ranging from a cozy cabin, to a nest where Psyduck can snooze, to a perch for Pidgey.
The preview showed off the environment at different times of day and alternate biomes: a forested hilly area with a waterfall and beachfront property. Players are encouraged to build at their own pace.
Like the underrated roguelike Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Pokopia stands out from most Pokémon games by letting you parse what Pokémon are saying beside their names. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon that’s because you’re a person who got turned into a Pokémon, but in Pokopia you’re a Pokémon who’s emulating a person like the underboss in Detective Pikachu. That doesn’t make Ditto any less creepy, but Pokopia still looks like a very chill way to hang out with your favorite Pokémon that has nothing to do with battling.
and must rebuild it from the ground up, inviting Pokemon to join along the way.
Pokémon Pokopia: What’s new?
Unlike the traditional “catch ’em all” formula, Pokémon Pokopia takes inspiration from popular titles such as Minecraft and Animal Crossing. The game features a human-shaped Ditto as the main character. Players will explore an island, rebuild it from scratch, and invite Pokémon to live alongside them.
At the heart of the game are mechanics that blend creativity with Pokémon abilities. Ditto must learn moves from different Pokémon to shape the world. For example, a Grass-type move like Leafage can be used to grow grass, while a Water-type move can water crops. This new system makes Pokémon powers essential for farming, crafting, and transforming the environment.
Play as a Ditto transformed into a human and shape an empty land into a beautiful home for Pokémon in Pokémon Pokopia, releasing on #NintendoSwitch2 in 2026. #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/zTiVcLHAgJ
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) September 12, 2025
Players will also gather materials such as wood, rocks, and crops to build houses, farms, and other structures. As the island grows, more Pokémon can join, adding life and variety to the community. The game’s blocky terrain and resource gathering echo Minecraft’s survival creativity, while its cozy art style and social aspects feel similar to Animal Crossing.
Pokémon Pokopia is being called ‘coziest Pokémon spin-off’
Pokémon Pokopia is being described as potentially the “coziest Pokémon spin-off” yet. It focuses less on battles and more on building, exploring, and enjoying a relaxing island life with Pokémon.
This first reveal leaves fans with many questions. How deep will the building mechanics go? What level of customization will players have? Will there be online or multiplayer features to share islands with friends? Nintendo is yet to provide answers.
Still, the idea of Pokémon with Minecraft freedom and Animal Crossing loop has already got the community hyped. If done right, Pokopia could be one of the best spin-offs ever, for fans and newbies alike looking for a chill game.
Pokémon Pokopia launches in 2026, and more updates are expected in future Nintendo Direct showcases.
Pokemon Powers As Everyday Tools
One of the most unique features of the game is how Pokemon abilities are used. Instead of combat, moves become tools for farming, crafting, and shaping the island.
A grass-type move like Leafage can grow grass and plants, while a water-type move can water crops. This makes Pokemon abilities part of daily life rather than battle strategies.
Building Island
As players explore, they will collect resources such as wood, rocks, and crops. These materials can be used to build homes, farms, and other structures that bring the island to life.
As the community grows, more Pokemon will arrive, adding variety and liveliness. The blocky terrain and resource gathering feel similar to Minecraft, while the cozy visuals and social atmosphere are inspired by animal crossing.
Nintendo has described Pokemon Pokopia as possibly the “coziest Pokemon spin-off” yet. It shifts away from competition and instead emphasizes creativity, relaxation, and friendships.
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