The player controls Ditto in Pokémon Pokopia. This Ditto uses its transformation ability to imitate a human, creating the unusual player character at the center of the game's rebuilding story.
Instead of choosing a human trainer or a conventional starter Pokémon, players customize the appearance of the human-like Ditto. The character can receive clothing and appearance options while using abilities learned from other Pokémon to change the environment. These tasks include cultivating plants, watering dry growth, cutting debris, and smashing rocks.
Ditto's role explains why Pokémon Pokopia combines Pokémon companionship with building mechanics. By befriending Pokémon, Ditto learns moves that help restore habitats and attract additional species. The premise is different from the usual Pokémon formula: the goal is not primarily to collect badges or win a league, but to help recover a damaged world and create comfortable homes for Pokémon.