Which earlier Pokémon games inspired Shigeru Ohmori’s concept for Pokémon Pokopia?

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire inspired Shigeru Ohmori’s concept for Pokémon Pokopia.

Before directing Pokopia, Shigeru Ohmori worked as a map designer on Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. While considering new directions for the franchise, he reflected on that early experience and the appeal of letting players create their own Pokémon habitats.

The connection is about inspiration and world design, not a direct story link. Pokopia is not presented as a sequel to Ruby or Sapphire, and its setting and gameplay are distinct. Instead, the earlier games helped prompt the idea that players might enjoy shaping environments where Pokémon could live.

Ruby and Sapphire were originally released for the Game Boy Advance in 2002 in Japan and in 2003 internationally. Pokopia turns the environmental and map-building interest associated with Ohmori’s earlier work into a dedicated social simulation and sandbox experience.