This page contains spoilers for the end of Pokémon Pokopia.
If we travel back in time to almost exactly six years ago – March 20, 2020 – we find ourselves at a particularly interesting point in history. That’s right, Animal Crossing: New Horizons had just released.
AC:NH released at the perfect time. We were all about a week into lockdowns as a result of the growing, global pandemic. We yearned for the outdoors, seeing our friends, and some overall better vibes.
In 2026, we find ourselves in perhaps even more “interesting” times.
*Gestures at everything*
It’s dire.
I wouldn’t suggest that worrying about the world ending is something unique to the here and now, but I do think people’s fears and anxieties are juiced up to new levels thanks to our constant access to news and online content.
People are, as they say, going through it.
In 2020, Animal Crossing provided us some much-needed escapism, but in 2026, Pokémon Pokoipa provides us with some much-needed hope.
// A Habitat for Humanity
Pokémon Pokopia is not subtle about wagging its finger at the human race. You play as a Ditto who has assumed the form of its trainer, who is missing. Everyone is missing. The world is wasteland of mess and destruction.
As you rebuild habitats and create homes for the returning Pokémon, you’ll collect snippets of lore from various journals. These snippets are left behind from the before times. They tell the tale of a world wrecked by natural disasters. After becoming inhospitable to humans, they all had to leave for space. This is an obvious nod towards climate change.
The Pokémon left behind are all put into a computer program where they will be safe.
This suggests a future where humankind was not able to get their shit in order and got the bad ending. What contrasts this – other than being an insane premise for something with Pokémon in the title – is the undying love Pokémon seem to have for the missing humans.
Professor Tangrows, despite all evidence pointing to the contrary, believes wholeheartedly that the humans will return. It’s not an if, it’s a when. Even in the game’s heart-wrenching ending, Tangrowth simply admires the human’s ability to create a flying building.
The final scene of the game reveals that the humans are in fact still alive aboard a space colony somewhere out there. Being delivered nothing but a photograph from their old home, you’re left with the hope that they just might attempt to come back.
// Poke-hope-ia
There is an undeniable reverence for everything to do with the humans. The Pokémon love their relics, technology, and materials left behind. The notes scattered amongst the rubble paint the humans who wrote them as generally well intended and caring.
Even though it’s incredibly sad that Team Rocket didn’t survive to see their plan come to fruition after they’ve blasted off again, we see that even the villains of the world were well-intended at their core.
The developers are spreading their message of optimism through the game. Although these humans messed up, we inherently have it in us to do amazing things. Together, we can achieve unimaginable feats.
Pokopia tells us that we are to be believed in. The Pokémon have an unyielding faith in humanity because they believe we can accomplish anything. We can rebuild this world and get the good ending, even if that requires going block by block.
