From Star Wars to Super Mario, Monopoly has collaborated with some of the biggest and most beloved brands in popular culture, and Pokémon is no exception. Since its original Japanese debut in 1996, this massive Game Freak imprint has become a cultural phenomenon, spanning video games, manga, trading cards, and more.
For its part, the long-running Pokémon franchise continues to captivate millions of fans worldwide thanks to a strong focus on adventure, strategy, and camaraderie — making it a perfect fit for Monopoly’s legacy of creative crossovers.
Pokémon-themed Monopoly games have popped up before, each allowing would-be Trainers to try their hands at becoming the very best from the comfort of their game tables. Now, an all-new edition is ready to hit store shelves, bringing the excitement of the latest Scarlet and Violet Nintendo Switch titles to the classic board game.
Monopoly Pokémon Edition drops players into the vibrant Paldea region, where they’ll compete to capture 48 unique Pocket Monsters of varying shapes and sizes. Departing from Monopoly’s traditional money-based mechanics, this version replaces cash with Poké Balls and property spaces with locations where players can cross paths with characters like Graveler, Greninja, Hitmonlee, Rhydon, and Rockruff.
Players take on the role of Pokémon Trainers tasked with assembling a team that includes one Pokémon of each type: Grass, Fire, Water, Fighting, Electric, Psychic, Ice, and Rock. Capture all eight types to complete your tracker mat and claim victory — or outlast your opponents by being the last Trainer with Poké Balls in hand by game’s end.
To further immerse players in the Pokémon universe, this edition also incorporates battle mechanics and swaps out classic pewter pieces like the car, cannon, and Scottish Terrier for miniaturized versions of Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, and Pikachu. Adventure and Challenge cards replace Chance and Community Chest, offering new opportunities to collect Pokémon, claim locations from rivals, and power up one’s strategy. As you traverse Paldea, you’ll also explore beaches, forests, and gyms reminiscent of the areas where players encounter wild Pokémon in the core video games, thus creating a truly thematic experience that’s sure to be appreciated by fans.
Monopoly Pokémon Edition is set is available now through various retailers for $24.99 USD. Whether you happen to be a longtime enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of Pokémon, this game offers a fun and fresh way to catch ’em all right from your tabletop.
Are you ready to start your journey to become the ultimate Pokémon Master?
