Professor Birch has found a set of rare eggs but is too busy to look after them. He offers the player a choice of Torchic, Treecko, or Mudkip to hatch and raise. The first task is placing the egg in a basket and stroking it until it hatches. From there, the player builds a relationship with their Pokémon through toys, Pokéblocks, and outdoor challenges — training them across three of four skill categories. The goal is not survival, as in a standard virtual pet game, but development.