Picture this: You wake up as a Ditto in a version of Kanto that has seen better days. The humans are gone, the Pokémon Centers are crumbling, and the rivers have run dry. It sounds like the setup for a dystopian spin-off, but in the hands of Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force (the Dragon Quest Builders team), it becomes the coziest, most compelling Pokémon experience in years. Pokémon Pokepia for the Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t about being the very best; it’s about being the very best builder.

The premise is deceptively simple. As a humanoid Ditto, your job is to revitalize the desolate “Withering Wasteland” and subsequent biomes by attracting Pokémon back. You do this by sucking up materials like a purple Kirby, crafting furniture, and creating specific habitats. Want a Squirtle to show up? You might need to build a small pond. Hoping for a Pikachu? A patch of flowers and a berry tree usually does the trick . This creates a satisfying “Viva Piñata” loop of discovery that rewards experimentation .

Mechanically, the game feels liberating. Your abilities are tied to copying Pokémon moves—using Water Gun to irrigate dry land or Rock Smash to clear pathways. The Switch 2 hardware handles the blocky, vibrant worlds with ease, maintaining a smooth framerate even when your custom-built towns get cluttered with activity . The addition of a robust multiplayer mode, where you can visit friends’ “Cloud Islands” or collaborate on builds without the tedious entry barriers of Animal Crossing, adds significant longevity .

However, it’s not a perfect utopia. The main narrative structure, which involves restoring four major zones, can feel repetitive. You’ll often find yourself completing objectives long before the story catches up, leading to awkward dialogue where a Pokémon thanks you for a task you finished hours ago . Furthermore, the decision to time-gate major construction projects until the “next day” (in real-time) feels like a needless drag on progression, injecting artificial stress into an otherwise chill experience .

SCORE: 8/10

The Good:

• Fresh, non-combat take on the Pokémon formula.
• Addictive “attract-and-build” gameplay loop.
• Surprisingly deep lore and mystery.
• Runs buttery smooth on Switch 2.

The Bad:

• Real-time building delays frustrate progression.
• Mission structure can feel repetitive.
• Biome separation breaks world immersion.