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Take a picture of Pokémon’s best-loved mascot, Pikachu, and show it to almost anyone aged five to 50 and most would instantly recognise the bright yellow electric mouse. Breaking into popular culture in the 1990s, the Pokemon universe has expanded from the original 151 Pokemon to over 1000 of the colourful mini monsters. With such an enormous and well-developed backstory told through multiple TV series, films and books, the marketplace of Pokemon games can seem like a bit of a minefield - particularly if you’re not a fan yourself. So if you have children under the age of 10 that have taken a liking (or a bit of an obsession!) to Pokemon, and you want to play a game with them that they are already engaged with the concept, how do you know what to buy? Or if you want to choose a gift for a young Pokefan, but you aren’t sure what’s suitable for them, here’s three top picks to consider.
Pokemon: Trading Card Game
Age recommendation: 8+
Number of players: 2
How to play: Each player has a deck of Pokemon cards and two players battle it out with their Pokemon until all six of a player’s prize cards have been claimed. To battle, players must draw cards and place their Pokemon into play. Each ready-to-battle Pokemon deck that you can buy includes a fold-out play mat which helpfully includes the rules and shows where all the cards need to go - such as the prize cards, discard cards and Pokemon in play. Essentially, each player takes it in turns to draw a card to add to their hand, evolve their Pokemon (each pre-formed battle deck includes the cards needed), add energy cards and use items, and finally, attack an opponent’s Pokemon using their own. Once a Pokemon’s health points have been whittled down to zero, the opposing Pokemon’s card is put in the discard pile and the victor takes a prize card from their pool. The game is won once a player has claimed all of their prize cards.
Things to consider: For kids to be able to really engage with this game, reading and comprehension is a must; enough to read and understand the instructions on the cards - although they are usually very simple. The game also relies on a basic understanding of strategy; the cards clearly say what they enable the player to do, and it’s up to the player to ‘achieve’ what the card needs to be able to attack - usually, have enough energy cards. Players will also need to be patient enough to take turns and concentrate for 20-30 minutes to see the game through, although if this is too much, you can lessen the number of prize cards to be won.
Rating: 9/10 This game is a classic that’s really withstood the test of time for a good reason. It’s fun and engaging once kids understand how it works, and encourages intelligent forward-thinking, planning and taking turns. There’s almost unlimited deck options once kids are confident to break out of the pre-made decks and create their own with their favourite Pokemon from other decks or found in Pokemon card packs. It’s also fun to look at, with the pictures on the cards all drawn in different styles, and interesting Pokemon trivia to immerse you in the Pokemon universe as you play.
Pokemon Trainer Trivia Game
Age recommendation: 4+
Number of players: Up to 4
How to play: Pokemon Trainer Trivia is the game of choice for households with kids of different ages that all enjoy Pokemon. It plays like a game-show, with each player choosing a mascot (either Pikachu, Charmander, Bulbasaur or Squirtle) and the ‘host’ quizzing players through the built-in speaker, and answers given through pressing the central Pokeball buttons or the mascot button. There are 3 difficulty levels, which makes the game family-friendly. Younger ones are unlikely to know all of the answers, but there’s enough to keep them involved and engaged and there’s a handy feature to pause the game or repeat questions. It also means that the game will stay fresh as players get older and move up difficulty levels. There’s 1000 questions programmed, so you’re unlikely to have questions repeated frequently (depending how much you play!) The rounds take a variety of different formats, such as ‘fastest finger first’ to keep play interesting. If you’re looking for a game that can be played solo, Pokemon Trainer Trivia also has a single player mode, which is ideal.
Things to consider: This game is suitable for children of different ages owing to its simple format and lack of reading skills, which is a definite plus. The lack of strategy does make it a bit ‘samey’ for adults playing after a while, and it would definitely grow old quickly if you don’t know any trainer trivia. This game is a perfect fit for households with multiple Pokefans, or kids that are happy to play solo.
Rating: 7/10. It’s bright, colourful suitable for all the family and can be played single or multiplayer – what’s not to like! It could probably benefit from having a volume switch and ‘party mode’. But it’s an all-round winner that scores bonus points for being suitable for much younger ages than a lot of games on the market.
Pokémon Monopoly
Age recommendation: 6+
Number of players: 2-6
How to play: Most people have played a version of Monopoly at some point and Pokemon Monopoly brings the same fun of traditional Monopoly with some new quirks. In this version the properties are Pokemon, the stations are Pokeballs and Community Chests and Chance cards are replaced with Pokemon characters. And there’s no silver dog in Pokemon Monopoly – instead you get to choose your own starter Pokemon to move around the board! Pokemon Monopoly Gameplay is largely similar to traditional Monopoly; players must travel around the board to gyms to collect Pokemon, aiming for a set. With a set in-hand, you can build Poke Marts and Pokemon Centres and charge other players when they land on them. The game ends when all players, except one, are bankrupt, thus crowning the Master Trainer!
Things to consider: You don’t need to know a single thing about Pokemon to really enjoy this game, which is perfect if you are new to Pokemon and willing to learn more or share a child’s hobby, and is a winning choice if you’re already a Pokemon fan. It’s a bit of a missed opportunity that Pokemon Monopoly didn’t adopt smaller values for Pokemon Dollars like Monopoly Junior, which would have made this easier for younger children, but it’s good practice and the game is also great for communication skills in asking for payment, bargaining and negotiation
Rating: 8/10 Making a new version of Monopoly is always a risky move in a busy Monopoly marketplace, but Pokemon Monopoly definitely got it right. It’s bright, it’s colourful and the board and tokens look and feel of good quality. The game concept has universal charm for all ages, making it a family favourite for fans and novices alike.