In the new life simulation game Pokémon Pokopia, players are using laser sensors to create automated systems for town maintenance. These devices, crafted from PokeMetal, enable motion-activated mechanisms that handle tasks like watering crops without constant player input. Early designs include logic gates and water flow channels shared on platforms like Reddit and Twitter.
Pokémon Pokopia requires players to manage various town elements, such as powering generators, irrigating crops, and fulfilling requests from resident Pokémon. Released for the Nintendo Switch 2, the game has prompted inventive solutions from its community shortly after launch.
Laser sensors form the core of these automation efforts. Made with PokeMetal, they detect motion from passing objects and trigger sequences of actions. A Reddit user named nin10Donuts demonstrated an AND logic gate setup, using sensors, doors, and water channels to automate crop irrigation. Once initiated, the system operates independently, reducing the need for manual interventions like using Water Gun on soil patches.
Beyond sensors, players exploit the game's water physics for efficiency. In the Rocky Ridges area, the waterbed garden allows crops to be watered by simply opening a gate, letting water flow over vegetable plots.
A Twitter post from user @inaba_chan_ on March 9, 2026, showcased a low-cost watering device, captioned in Japanese with hashtags #NintendoSwitch2, #ぽこポケ, and #ぽこあポケモン.
These innovations draw parallels to Minecraft's redstone systems, where logic gates enable complex builds, including recreations of games like Doom. However, Pokopia's smaller maps may limit such elaborate projects. As of the game's early access period, around March 2026, community creations focus on self-sustaining towns, with expectations for further developments in the weeks ahead.
