Which game inspired Omega Force’s sandbox expertise for Pokémon Pokopia?

Dragon Quest Builders 2 was the sandbox game associated with Omega Force’s relevant experience for Pokémon Pokopia.

Game Freak wanted a partner with experience in the sandbox genre because Pokopia required more than traditional Pokémon development. Players would need to gather materials, construct buildings, change habitats, and shape the environment around them.

Omega Force, a Koei Tecmo development team, had previously worked on similar sandbox concepts, particularly Dragon Quest Builders 2. The Pokémon Company recommended Omega Force as a co-development partner, helping connect Game Freak’s Pokémon knowledge with construction-game expertise.

This fact is sometimes blurred by comparisons made by critics. Reviews often described Pokopia as combining ideas associated with Minecraft, Viva Piñata, and Animal Crossing. Those comparisons explain its feel, but they are not the same as the specific development connection to Dragon Quest Builders 2.

Pokopia ultimately uses those influences in a Pokémon-focused structure. Its central activities involve befriending Pokémon, learning moves from them, restoring habitats, and building a shared world.