Pokémon Pokopia debuted during the September Nintendo Direct, looking very much like Animal Crossing with a Pokémon skin. It might play a bit more like Dragon Quest Builders 2, though, considering it’s from the same developers at Koei Tecmo. Nintendo has now announced that Pokémon Pokopia is set to launch on March 5, 2026, exclusively on the Switch 2 with a $69.99 price tag. The game has players taking on the role of a Ditto with a human-like appearance, armed with the ability to learn other Pokémon’s moves to help shape the land.
Based on what we’ve seen from the game’s initial trailer, it looks to be a much more casual and cozy experience than what Dragon Quest Builders 2 offers, which is why I think it’ll be more akin to Animal Crossing. The game will focus on building homes, farming crops, and collecting resources like rocks and wood to build that Pokémon paradise. It will also feature a day-night cycle, as well as varying weather.
Interestingly, there wasn’t a new trailer with the release date announcement. It also appears that physical versions of Pokémon Pokopia will come on a game-key card, which means no game data will be on the physical card. Instead, users will have to connect to the internet to download the game.
