Overview
This page covers every control scheme and setting available in Pokemon Pokopia on the Nintendo Switch 2. Pokopia uses several context-dependent control layouts: one set for general exploration, another for furniture placement, another for inventory management, a dedicated Photo Mode layout, and an optional Mouse Mode for precision building. Most button assignments can be remapped through the Game Settings menu.
Main Controls
These are the default controls used during normal gameplay. They apply when exploring, interacting with Pokemon, gathering materials, and using moves.
Button | Action |
|---|---|
Left Stick | Move your character |
Left Stick Click | Change target |
Right Stick | Move camera |
Right Stick Click | View habitat borders |
A | Interact (talk to Pokemon, examine objects, confirm) |
B | Put away held items; Hold to run (default setting) |
X | Open bag / inventory |
Y | Pick up items; Hold to inhale loose items nearby |
D-Pad Up | Ask a Pokemon to follow you; Hold to part ways |
D-Pad Down | Open emotes or send messages |
D-Pad Left / Right | Swap your active move |
ZR | Use your currently equipped move |
ZL | Hold to strafe (move sideways while facing forward) |
R | |
L | Set move; Glide (while airborne) |
Plus (+) | Open main menu |
Minus (-) | Open Photo Mode camera |
Run and Jump Button Swap
By default, you hold B to sprint and press R to jump. This can feel awkward because holding B with your right thumb prevents you from using the Right Stick to adjust the camera at the same time. Pokopia offers a built-in alternative layout that swaps the run and jump buttons, letting you sprint by holding R instead. This frees up your right thumb for camera control while running. You can find this option in the Game Settings menu under button assignments.
Strafing
Holding ZL activates strafe mode, which lets you move side-to-side while keeping the camera facing forward. This is extremely useful during building and furniture placement, as it gives you precise lateral movement for aligning objects without the camera swinging around.
Inhale Items
Holding Y causes your Ditto to inhale nearby loose items (dropped materials, harvested resources) in a manner similar to Kirby's vacuum ability. This is far more efficient than picking up items one at a time, though your inventory capacity limits how much you can absorb.
Furniture Placement Controls
When placing furniture or blocks in the world, the controls change to give you precise positioning tools.
Button | Action |
|---|---|
D-Pad Up | Raise item height |
D-Pad Down | Lower item height |
D-Pad Left | Rotate item counterclockwise |
D-Pad Right | Rotate item clockwise |
A | Confirm placement |
B | Cancel placement |
For large-scale building projects, consider using Mouse Mode (see below) for more accurate placement, especially when positioning items far from your character or stacking blocks at awkward angles.
Inventory Controls
These controls activate when you open the inventory screen (press X).
Button | Action |
|---|---|
A | Spit out / Take out an item |
B | Go back / Close inventory |
X | Swap out selected item; Hold to sort inventory |
Y | Transfer all items (to or from a Storage Box) |
ZL | Transfer half of the selected item stack |
L / R | Show or hide category headers |
Right Stick Click | Show or hide the Handy Bag quick-access panel |
Plus (+) | Drop selected items |
Minus (-) | View detailed item information |
Photo Mode Controls
Photo Mode has its own control layout that activates when you open the camera. For a full breakdown of Photo Mode features, see the dedicated Photo Mode article.
Button | Action |
|---|---|
A | Take photo |
B | Exit Photo Mode |
X | Toggle Landscape / Selfie mode |
Y | Toggle regular / Reference Photo mode |
ZL / ZR | Zoom out / Zoom in |
L / R | Tilt camera; cycle Frame/Filter menus |
Plus (+) | Open Frames and Filters |
Minus (-) | Hide control guide overlay |
D-Pad Up | Make all subjects look at camera |
D-Pad Down | Change your character's pose |
D-Pad Left / Right | Cycle facial expressions |
Left Stick | Move character |
Left Stick Click | Adjust camera height (Landscape) / Switch hands (Selfie) |
Right Stick | Rotate camera |
Right Stick Click | Reset camera angle |
Mouse Mode
Pokemon Pokopia supports the Nintendo Switch 2's Mouse Mode, which turns a Joy-Con into a pointing device for precision control. This is particularly powerful for building and block placement.
How to Activate Mouse Mode
Method | Instructions |
|---|---|
Physical method | Detach Joy-Con 2 (right controller) from the console, attach the wrist strap, and hold it colored-side down on a flat surface like a table. A cursor will appear on screen automatically. |
Settings method | Navigate to Game Settings and toggle Mouse Mode on or off in the Mouse Mode section. |
Mouse Mode Controls
You can assign either the Left or Right Joy-Con as the mouse. The button functions swap depending on which controller is active:
Active Controller | Primary Buttons |
|---|---|
Right Joy-Con as mouse | R and ZR serve as main click buttons |
Left Joy-Con as mouse | L and ZL serve as main click buttons |
What You Can Do in Mouse Mode
Place furniture and blocks with significantly improved accuracy compared to stick controls
Position items at much greater distances without needing to walk your Ditto to the exact spot
Use Rock Smash with enhanced precision for targeted block destruction
Mouse Mode Limitations
Rock Smash is the only move available in Mouse Mode. To use other moves (Water, Chop, Grow, or any other specialty transformation), you must lift the Joy-Con off the table to return to standard controller mode. Mouse Mode is designed specifically for building and block manipulation, not for full gameplay.
Game Settings
Access the settings menu by pressing Plus to open the main menu, then navigating to the Settings section. Settings are organized into several tabs.
Game Tab
Setting | Description |
|---|---|
Button Assignments | Remap most controller buttons to your preference; some buttons are locked and cannot be changed |
Run / Jump Swap | Swap B (run) and R (jump) to the alternative layout for easier camera control while sprinting |
Enable or disable Mouse Mode for Joy-Con pointing controls | |
Camera Distance | Set to Near, Normal, or Far; Far provides a wider view useful for building and exploring |
Camera Auto-Adjust | Toggle whether the camera automatically recenters behind your character during movement |
Camera Auto-Follow | Toggle whether the camera tracks your character's direction changes automatically |
Save Settings
Pokopia uses an autosave system. An icon appears in the upper-left corner of the screen whenever the game is autosaving. Do not exit the game or turn off the console while this icon is visible.
You can also save manually by pressing Minus while in the main menu. This performs a save-and-quit, returning you to the title screen. Manual saving is recommended before ending a session to ensure all progress is recorded.
The game supports one save file per console profile. To maintain a second save, create an additional user profile on your Nintendo Switch 2. There is no in-game option for multiple save slots on a single profile.
Multiplayer Settings
Online and local multiplayer for up to four players is accessed through the Link Play option on the PC terminal inside any Pokemon Center. Options include:
Invite players to your world
Join another player's world
Create a Cloud Island shared between your group
Online multiplayer requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership and a stable internet connection. Link Play becomes available once you reach Environment Level 2.
Time and Day/Night
Pokopia's day and night cycle runs on real-world time. There is no in-game setting to speed up or slow down the clock. If you need to skip ahead (for example, to trigger nighttime Pokemon spawns or refresh treasure blocks for Mystery Slates), you can adjust the date and time in your Nintendo Switch 2's system settings (Settings > Date and Time > turn off internet synchronization > adjust manually). When you return to the game, the in-game world will reflect the new time.
Recommended Settings
Based on community feedback and common gameplay patterns, here are recommended settings adjustments:
Setting | Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
Run / Jump Swap | Enable (swap to R for run) | Frees your right thumb for camera control while sprinting |
Camera Distance | Far | Gives a wider view for habitat building, exploring, and spotting Pokemon |
Camera Auto-Adjust | Off (personal preference) | Prevents the camera from fighting you when you manually position it for building |
Try it for building sessions | Dramatically improves placement accuracy for large construction projects |