After Pokémon Winds and Waves was revealed last week, IGN made a pretty astute observation about the design of the yet unnamed region: it’s clearly inspired by Southeast Asian cultures. While there are bound to be more details we haven’t yet seen, both games are pulling design philosophies from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines to create architecture, landscaping, and vibes.
I won’t rehash everything from that report, but writer Michael Higham notes that the reveal trailer highlights an area with layered rice terraces in the game. These are remarkably similar to the Ifugao Rice terraces in the Philippines, which have been standing for more than 2,000 years. Known as the “eighth wonder of the world” to the locals, Winds and Waves is clearly pulling on that iconic scenery to make a striking impression with players.
MF THIS IS JUST THE PHILIPPINES ???????? https://t.co/gVxCGuNhiP pic.twitter.com/AQWXBRIDfK
— Sevy (@SevyPlays) February 27, 2026
You can also see floating bamboo houses, mangrove trees, and housing structures that mimic Southeast Asian architecture. Surprisingly, a lot of this was mentioned in the “Teraleak” from last year, though we didn’t have concept art or 3D models to go along with it. It’s certainly nice to see a different side of Asia get representation from Pokémon, though each generation seems to go for a totally different vibe from the last.
Pokémon Winds and Waves release date
Pokémon Winds and Waves is set for release on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
