Which game series inspired Pokémon Pokopia’s sandbox development partnership?

Dragon Quest Builders inspired the sandbox development partnership behind Pokémon Pokopia. Game Freak partnered with Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force partly because Omega Force had experience with the building-focused Dragon Quest Builders series, particularly Dragon Quest Builders 2.

The connection concerns development experience, not a crossover of characters or storylines. Pokémon Pokopia remains a Pokémon spin-off with its own setting, cast, and mechanics. Its construction systems let players reshape habitats and create spaces for Pokémon, which made Omega Force’s previous sandbox work relevant.

Pokopia also drew comparisons from critics to other life and building games, including Minecraft, Viva Piñata, and Animal Crossing. Those comparisons describe aspects of its gameplay and presentation, whereas Dragon Quest Builders explains why Omega Force was considered a suitable co-developer. The two points should not be treated as the same claim.