In just under a month, Pokémon Pokopia will be released. The new life simulation is often compared to Palworld, but for MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes, there can only be one winner.
On March 5, 2026, a new spin-off called Pokémon Pokopia will be released, which describes itself as a life simulation
. The focus is supposed to be on crafting and building, for which you use the abilities of various Pokémon as a human-Ditto.
It thus reminds one of the building aspect in Palworld, which announced its own cozy game in September 2025. However, in Palworld itself, the abilities of the various Pals are used to construct buildings or gather resources.
So why should I play Pokémon Pokopia if it has fewer mechanics and elements (after all, battles and weapons are missing)? Honestly, I haven’t even asked myself that question, because Pokémon Pokopia has an element that Palworld cannot surpass, no matter how much better
the game may seem on paper: nostalgia.
Nostalgia is more than just tradition
Nostalgia may not sound like a plausible argument, but it is more important than you think. In Pokémon Pokopia and Palworld, the monsters are the stars. Sure, I build buildings, craft, and gather resources, but I do so with the companions.
I interact with them, and they interact with the game world. Pokopia seems to rely on a loop that not only creates a playful flow but also an organic one in the world. It is important that you are affected by that.
Even in the Pokopia trailers (via YouTube), Nintendo heavily pushes the nostalgia button. Many Pokémon from the 1st generation can be seen, and familiar remixed tracks can be heard. As can already be seen in the above trailer, you even create routes with the Pokémon that you would have walked through as a trainer decades ago.
The world that you loved as a child is being recontextualized, and the Pokémon not only showcase their abilities but also their personalities. This alone can improve the gameplay mechanics because a different atmosphere is created. When I feel good in the game world, the gameplay feels better too.
While I enjoy Palworld, it still feels different to be in the Pokémon world, to see the sounds of Pokémon and their animations. For almost 30 years, new spin-offs, main titles, and merchandise have existed because the world is more than just a game world for fans (myself included).
One could cheekily argue: Pokémon was just lucky because they were there first. But nostalgia does not simply arise because something is old. Pokémon has a great strength that no other franchise will likely ever achieve.
The Pokémon themselves cannot be defeated
No matter how good or bad Pokopia will be mechanically: Palworld cannot defeat the Pokémon. The Pals look good in some ways, but mostly they seem like a fusion of various monsters. They appear inconsistent. Pals are livestock, not companions. Pokémon is different:
- Ken Sugimori (character designer of Pokémon) created monsters at the very beginning of the series that looked lovable but also fit organically into the world. You can tell what type they are and what they can do, which helps them stick in your memory.
- Pokémon are not just tools; they provide context to the world, are relevant to the story, and exude personality.
These 2 aspects ensure that the nostalgia is so strong, and that is exactly what Pokopia seems to be diving into. Pokémon have not only roles for crafting but also their habitats make sense. Pokopia does not need to create a logical world because Pokémon have been doing that for 30 years. I know how Pokémon behave, and I am already looking forward to building my own city with the various monsters.
Palworld cannot win against the nostalgia of Pokémon. Even in the first images of Pokopia, I feel more comfortable than I ever did in Palworld. Pokémon Pokopia calls itself a relaxing life simulation
, and that is exactly what everything about the game should radiate. However, behind the backstory of Pokopia, there could also be a dark secret: Pokémon Pokopia has a new ghost Pikachu, but it does not bode well for the trainers
