What kind of game is Pokémon Pokopia described as being?

Pokémon Pokopia is a life simulation game.

Its design emphasizes everyday activities such as collecting materials, crafting furniture, growing vegetables, constructing homes, decorating spaces, and helping Pokémon settle in a restored world. These systems distinguish it from the turn-based role-playing structure associated with the mainline Pokémon games.

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company describe Pokopia as the Pokémon franchise's first slow-paced life simulation game. The game also uses a changing day-night cycle and weather system, reinforcing its focus on routine, customization, and long-term world building.

It is also described as a sandbox-style experience, so “life simulation” and “sandbox” can both appear in discussions of its genre. However, the concise genre label used in the game's core descriptions is life simulation. Calling it a conventional battle-focused RPG misses the central purpose of rebuilding habitats and creating a comfortable community.