Pokopia Is a Game of Needs

Weeks of playing Pokemon Pokopia taught me that it’s masterful blend of social mechanics isn’t a coincidence. The creative team reflected on the most popular templates of modern social simulation, sandbox and cozy games, then twisted them enough to stand out not only thanks to the most popular media franchise in the world. The game satisfies certain needs in such a way few games do and arguably none do so masterfully. It abandons all conflict in favor of something much more sustainable and beautiful, including some of the underexplored concepts in high-profile gaming.

Nesting: Creating a Home

When I start Pokopia, the game world is in shambles. The most charitable analogy is what is left after a music festival driven by a particularly rowdy crowd. But I can make it better. I get rid of garbage. I plant seeds. I grow flowers and food. I pave roads. I build houses. Slowly but surely, I turn the dump left by humans into a sanctuary where I feel safe and can express myself. This is also where the Rule of Contrast is so effective. I still subconsciously recall the dump from the past, and the huge difference between now and then makes me feel proud of what I’ve done. It wouldn’t be the same if I started in a generic empty space.

Nurturance: Taking Care of Others

Pokopia’s difference maker is arguably creating habitats for Pokemon. There’s a brilliant balance of clarity, ambiguity and pure randomness here, but it also speaks to the simple desire of care-taking. The process doesn’t stop at me setting up neighboring blocks according to a set of conditions. Once a Pokemon appears, the relationship only begins, as now I’m nudged to complete quests for them or just build even more suitable environments. All while making sure I don’t accidentally make neighbors less happy. Right: I can’t really make them “unhappy” in this game, and it’s a design choice!

Competence: Getting Better

Pokopia isn’t a game about skill, it’s a game about consistency. It doesn’t care if I have 5 minutes or 5 hours a day. As long as I put in consistent effort, I eventually get rewards. I’m more of a goal-oriented player, so I like how it doesn’t just give me a stick but also hints what I should do with it. At the same time, there isn’t too much busywork in daily tasks and quests, they just help me make meaningful progress and explore all areas of the game. It also helps that the game animations are masterful and I never get tired of any of the actions, be it watering, digging or just running. The way Ditto runs with his human arms hanging is precious!

Yeah, I need to get back to this game.