The upcoming title Pokemon Pokopia takes the Pokemon franchise in a new direction, putting players in the role of a Ditto who assumes a human-like form and works with Pokemon allies to farm, construct buildings, develop land, and more. As more information regarding Pokemon Pokopia was revealed, fans began to note similarities between its setting and the iconic Kanto region from the first generation of Pokemon games. Leaks surfacing in late 2025 and early 2026 revealed more details about Pokopia's take on Kanto and how it has changed since Pokemon Red and Green.
Following the release of Pokemon Pokopia's reveal trailer and extended trailer, keen-eyed Pokemon fans began noticing some familiar elements. In particular, the blocky brown and tan hills seen in Pokopia's trailer are similar to those encountered on Cinnabar Island, where Pokemon Red and Green players encounter the Fire-type champion Blaine. (The glasses worn by the character Professor Tangrowth are also suspected to have once belonged to Blaine himself.) However, the lack of buildings and humans in all promotional material led to theories that something very bad had happened to this version of Kanto—theories that leaks would soon seemingly confirm.
Pokopia's Kanto Seems To Be A "Post-Apocalyptic" Take On The Region
Information about Pokopia first appeared in the mid-2025 Teraleak, which also included information about the as-of-yet unannounced Generation 10 games and potential next entries in the Pokemon Legends subseries. Pokopia reportedly began its life as a farming simulator similar to Stardew Valley, with players able to hire Pokemon workers to perform various tasks around their farm.
Over time, the Ditto protagonist was added, and emphasis shifted to Minecraft- like construction and crafting over farming. The idea for a post-apocalyptic Kanto setting, however, seems to have been present since the earliest stages of the title's development.
Environmental Disasters Struck Kanto's Cities and Towns
In Pokopia's Kanto, familiar areas have been devastated by a variety of environmental disasters, which contributed to the downfall of humanity and the abandonment of population centers and well-traveled routes. Leaks discussing a 2023 prototype of Pokopia, which may not be one hundred percent accurate to the final product, included information about what happened to some iconic Kanto locations.
- Celadon City — turned into a giant crater
- Cerulean City — flooded
- Cinnabar Island — isolated from the mainland, the volcano now inactive
- Fuchsia City — barren and devoid of plant life
- Pallet Town — no longer inhabitable due to trash accumulation
- Vermilion City — electrical infrastructure no longer functioning
- Viridian City — the surrounding forest burned
Reportedly, the game is divided into "areas" which players must restore, with more areas unlocking as they progress through the game. The Fuchsia, Pewter, Vermillion, Saffron, Viridian, and Pallet Areas will be part of the base game, while rumored DLC includes Celadon, Cerulean, Cinnabar, and Lavender areas, as well as an "Indigo Area" which may represent Victory Road (described in leaks as 'completely frozen').
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Much like Pokemon Generation 10 and its reportedly scrapped features, some elements of Pokopia have changed since the version discussed in the leaks. There is a greater emphasis on crafting, and the original human protagonist was changed to a Ditto that can learn various moves itself instead of commanding Pokemon workers to use them.
However, the setting of post-apocalyptic Kanto seems to have remained the same. The extended trailer in particular included looks at a broken Kanto Pokedex, a ruined Pokemon Center, and other hints towards the return of the series' original region.
What Happened To The Kanto Region?
Notably, the leaks do not officially confirm exactly what happened to Kanto to leave it in such a state. Documents about Pokopia highlight a focus on gradual environmental decline rather than a singular event, with factors such as the failure of Vermilion City's power grid or Cinnabar Island's volcano going dormant contributing to the slow decline of civilization. However, what caused humanity to seemingly leave Kanto entirely has not been confirmed.
Interestingly, the theme of environmental disasters and their consequences seems to be something that the Pokemon franchise is examining in greater depth in 2026. Information about the Generation 10 Pokemon games, also revealed via leaks, indicates that the game will take place in a lush island paradise and that the player will come into conflict with a group that wants to develop the land for tourism purposes. The series is no stranger to highlighting the dangers of neglecting the environment—just look at Alolan Muk or Galarian Weezing, which quite strikingly show the effects of pollution on various Pokemon species.
Pokopia Might Take Place In An Alternate Timeline
Fans, of course, have several theories about why Pokopia's setting is so bleak and ruined. Some speculate that the ultra-powerful Legendary Pokemon Mewtwo may have been involved. Perhaps its power could have run amok, or a group like Team Rocket could have misused it in some way. Others speculate that humans or Pokemon could have time-traveled—as seen in titles like Pokemon Legends: Arceus— or hopped through dimensions via a wormhole, somehow altering Kanto's history and wiping out humanity in the process.
Many hope that Pokopia takes place in an alternate timeline, and the happier, bustling Kanto seen in the main series games and the Pokemon anime is not the one that eventually turns into a bleak wasteland inhabited only by Pokemon. The existence of Pokemon variants never seen before, including the ghostly Peakychu and the moss-covered Mosslax, may lend credence to this theory. Maybe Peakychu will finally answer the age-old question of what's really going on with the haunted Lavender Town and the Pokemon spirits that supposedly reside there?
Whatever happened to Kanto to make it end this way, players will be able to team up with their Pokemon friends and restore the region to at least some of its former glory when Pokemon Pokopia launches on March 5. There definitely seems to be a darker and more serious story beneath the game's cozy exterior, as the Kanto region has changed dramatically from the friendly and welcoming world encountered in the very first generation of Pokemon games. Fortunately, with the Ditto protagonist and their friends at the helm, it may not be too late for Kanto after all.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- March 5, 2026
- ESRB
- Everyone / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo, Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation, Simulation
