Pokopia has been a fast-selling game, selling 2.2 million copies in just 4 days. It honestly feels like you can’t scroll through TikTok without running into some insane ‘build, clever trick, or random gaming tip that makes you want to purchase the game. The hype hasn’t slowed down either, with the game holding the top spot as the best-selling title in Japan for six weeks straight. The game itself has also helped boost dwindling Switch 2 sales, as it’s a Switch 2-exclusive game. This kind of momentum is hard to ignore. Still, with a pretty steep price tag of £60 and going over £500 if you don’t own a Switch 2, is it worth it?
The game is set in a post-apocalyptic version of the Kanto region, which was the first ever Pokémon region, which is already a pretty interesting twist if you’re familiar with the usual Pokémon setting. In this setting, humans are completely gone, and only two Pokémon remain at the start: your character, a lesser-known Pokémon called Ditto, takes the appearance of a human of your choosing, and Professor Tangworth. As you play, you slowly uncover what happened to the region through notes scattered throughout the demolished world and take on the task of restoring the world with Pokémon again.
In terms of gameplay, Pokopia clearly draws inspiration from a few games, like Animal Crossing, in its decorating, furniture, and overall cosy vibe of building up your space. At the same time, there’s a strong Minecraft inspiration with block-based construction and similar mining mechanics. Then, of course, it all sits on top of a Pokémon-style foundation, with movement mechanics derived from and taught by different Pokémon, like Leafage from Bulbasaur and Surfing from Lapras. With a bright, stylised look that ties everything together, it doesn’t feel like a copy of any one game; more like a mix that becomes its own standalone game.
Exploration is a big part of what keeps it interesting. The game features several large regions, each with its own distinct feel. You’ve got places like the withered wasteland, rocky ridges, bleak beaches, and even the sparkling skylands, which you traverse through by flying , all of which look individual enough to keep things from getting repetitive. Inside these distant regions, there are different mysteries to uncover, like the Mew Cave.
The main story can take anywhere from 20 to 40 hours. If you want to fully complete the game by catching every Pokémon, you’re probably looking at closer to 100 hours. And even then, many players will keep playing just for the creative aspect. With four main regions and a dedicated area like Pallet Town purely for decorating, it’s easy to lose track of time just building and customising your space. For people who enjoy that kind of freedom, the game can easily stretch well beyond the expected playtime.
So, is it worth £60? That mostly depends on what you’re looking for. If you enjoy creative building, relaxed exploration, and a steady sense of progression and have a love of cosy games, this will be the game for you.