Which game influenced Omega Force’s sandbox experience for Pokémon Pokopia?

Dragon Quest Builders 2 was a key sandbox reference for Omega Force when developing Pokémon Pokopia.

Game Freak partnered with Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force partly because Game Freak wanted additional experience in the sandbox genre. Omega Force had previously worked on similar building-focused projects, particularly Dragon Quest Builders 2.

That background helps explain Pokopia’s emphasis on gathering materials, constructing homes, shaping landscapes, and developing settlements. The finished game also contains life-simulation and social elements, but its building foundation reflects the kind of sandbox design associated with Dragon Quest Builders.

Players and critics may compare Pokopia with Minecraft or Animal Crossing because of its visual and life-simulation features. Those games are useful comparisons, but the specific earlier sandbox title identified in the development history is Dragon Quest Builders 2.