Pokemon Pokopia Is Giving Off Serious Animal Crossing And Minecraft Vibes

One of the most surprising reveals during today’s Nintendo Direct is that Pokemon has a new game, Pokemon Pokopia, coming next year, and it’s a big departure for the franchise. From the reveal trailer, Pokopia looks like a cross between Minecraft and Animal Crossing set in the Pokemon universe.

There are no battles to fight in this cozy game, so this might be a utopia for any battle-weary Pokemon. Players assume control of a Ditto–a Pokemon that can mimic other creatures–who has taken on the form of a human. The Ditto can craft materials and buildings in addition to borrowing powers from various Pokemon to grow crops and take care of the creatures under their care.

Pokemon Pokopia will be released on Switch 2 in 2026, but it doesn’t have an exact release date yet.

More to come.