Pokémon Pokopia’s main story runs about 20 to 40 hours, with content continuing beyond the credits. The team said its core ideas stem from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Here’s how that inspiration shapes the experience.
Pokémon Pokopia Main Story Runs 20-40 Hours
More To Experience Beyond The Main Story
Pokémon Pokopia will take roughly 20 to 40 hours to complete its main story, Chief Director Takuto Edagawa said in an interview published February 11. Series veteran director Shigeru Ohmori also revealed in a separate conversation that the game’s concept traces back to ideas first explored during the development of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
Speaking to IGN, Edagawa emphasized that reaching the end credits is not meant to be the primary goal of the game. Instead, Pokémon Pokopia centers on rebuilding the island alongside Pokémon, using their abilities to restore habitats and grow a thriving community.
"There's more things to experience after the end roll [credits]. So it depends on what you mean by contents, but I believe that players are encouraged to and will be motivated to continue to play the game," he added.
He said that the 20-40 hour figure reflects an average completion time and may vary depending on how players approach the game. No further details were shared about what players can expect after finishing the story.
Origins Trace Back To Ruby And Sapphire
In a separate interview with VGC conducted in Tokyo, Shigeru Ohmori reflected on how the project’s foundations trace back to his early work on the 2002 Game Boy Advance titles Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, where he designed 2D maps and the grassy areas where Pokémon would appear. "That feeling of Pokémon appearing when I was creating the habitat was very interesting to me, and that feeling is something I cherish," Ohmori said.
Years later, while developing Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Ohmori revisited his work on Ruby and Sapphire. That return to creating habitats and meeting Pokémon for the first time ultimately led him to develop the prototype for Pokémon Pokopia.
Following the prototype, Ohmori worked with Koei Tecmo and its Omega Force team, known for titles such as Wild Hearts and Dragon Quest Builders 2. Together with Game Freak, the teams brainstormed what a Pokémon simulation game could look like, shaping Pokopia into a builder-style experience focused on rebuilding environments, creating habitats, and living alongside Pokémon
"I didn’t even think about it as a life simulation game at first," Ohmori said. "I was trying to think about ways I could show a different side of Pokémon. I wanted to highlight their unique personalities and traits."
Pokémon Pokopia is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on March 5. For more information on the upcoming game, check out our related article below.
Source:
Pokémon Pokopia Will Take 20-40 Hours to Beat on Average, and There's More After the Credits, Says Director
Pokopia: Game Freak On How Ruby And Sapphire Inspired Pokémon’s Biggest Ever Spin-off
