What did Nintendo describe Pokémon Pokopia as the first Pokémon game to be?

Nintendo described Pokémon Pokopia as the first slow-paced life simulation game in the Pokémon franchise.

The description highlights a major change from the series’ usual emphasis on catching, training, and battling. In Pokopia, players collect materials, craft items, construct homes, garden, and create a welcoming environment for Pokémon friends. The world is designed around gradual restoration and everyday activities.

The phrase does not mean that Pokopia contains no action or exploration. Players can learn useful Pokémon moves and use them to grow plants, break walls, travel across water, and glide between mountains. It means the game’s primary structure is a relaxed life-simulation experience. Pokopia is also commonly described as a sandbox or cosy simulation game, but Nintendo’s specific franchise distinction is “first slow-paced life simulation game.”