Although most of the Pokémon IP business already comes from merchandising , the fundamental pillars of the franchise are video games and card games. However, many more Pokémon games exist, such as board games . Unfortunately, not all Pokémon board games are sold in our country. Despite this, we have created a list of the best Pokémon games to enjoy with family or friends , depending on the type of player we are.
Pokémon board games for all audiences
Pokémon Monopoly – Kanto Edition
Choose your starter Pokémon and conquer the 8 Kanto medals in the classic game of Monopoly. As always, the Monopoly games adapt quite a bit to the franchise they crossover with. And in this case, it is no less. The Monopoly Pokémon board is made up of gyms . Each color is the gym of a city in the Kanto region . For example, the first lane represents Silver City, with Brock’s gym (brown), and Celeste City, led by Misty. To win a gym, we will have to get all the properties of the same color . Once you have possession of a city, it’s up to you to build Pokémon stores and hotels, which represent Pokémon centers .
This Monopoly basically follows the aesthetics of the television series and not so much the video game. There are a total of three different reviews of this game, although you will usually find the English version. However, if you know how to play Monopoly, the language should not be an impediment. And if not, you can always use Google Translate on your mobile in camera mode if you don’t fully understand a specific letter. In general, the game is full of small details that are worthwhile if you are a fan of pocket monsters, especially if you fell in love with the series during the first generation .
There is also a Johto version , in the same style, but adapting the board to the map of the second generation of Pokémon.
UNO – Pokémon
The UNO is a classic, and it adapts very easily to all kinds of franchises. Basically, because the game remains almost unchanged, and only the cards are personalized , in this case, with Pokémon. Even so, there is a way to play with some changed rules , which differentiate this game a bit from the others. Regarding the game itself, there is little to comment that we do not already know. It is a very fun strategy game, with different colored cards that will make us squeeze a bit with its various mechanics.
Pokemon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon card game is almost as popular as video games, although it is only suitable for the most pure fans of the saga. The game is designed by Wizards of the Coast , so it’s no coincidence that it shares a lot of mechanics with Magic: The Gathering . There are many generations of TCGs and decks can be purchased in many different ways , from buying single packs to buying themed packs or even second-hand sets. It is a game for two people and, although the learning curve is steep at first, the truth is that the mechanics are easy to understand. There is also a free online version of the game , very useful for learning strategy while you still haven’t been able to get hold of a handful of cards that have a good synergy effect.
Regarding age, The Pokémon Company considers the game to be suitable for ages 7 and up. Probably because the original game was already released with those age limits. However, there is a reduced version of the game for children, as we will show you later.
Pokemon board games for kids
Pokemon Labyrinth – Ravensburger
This board game is available with motifs from different franchises, and is intended for ages seven and up . It is a board game where you can play games from 2 to 4 players . The objective of the game is to find a series of treasures hidden throughout the maze. However, it has its complications, since the labyrinth undergoes certain alterations in each turn , forcing children to be attentive, reason quickly, changes in strategy and, in general, to develop logical thinking . Only the most cunning will get the treasure along with their favorite starter Pokémon. The games usually last between 20 and 30 minutes, although the normal thing is that, after the first game, the rest of the players ask the winner for a rematch, since it is a game that encourages you to play a couple of times in a row.
Pokémon TCG: Battle Academy
There have been multiple versions of Pokémon games of this style over the years. As you know, Pokémon has a large part of its business centered on its card game, which is very popular and world championships are held every year. However, the Pokémon Trading Card Game metagame is a bit complex, and The Pokémon Company has never wanted to miss the opportunity to train the little ones in its game . That’s why this Battle Academy exists, which is nothing more than a simplified Pokémon Trading Card Game , so that two players over 6 years of age can learn the basics of Pokémon card games. The game consists of 3 different decks with 60 cards each. Each deck has a protagonist: Mewtwo, Charmander and Pikachu. As a negative point, the game is in English, but it is so intuitive that it is not a barrier even for the little ones. However, if you have doubts, in the comments on Amazon there is a discussion of parents in the ‘questions’ section where they explain in detail why it does not matter too much that the game is not in Spanish.
In any case, it’s a great way to learn the Pokémon Trading Card Game and get a few basics before jumping into the full Trading Card Game .
Pokemon Trainer Trivia Game
If your children are starting out with Pokémon and you want them to have a good level of English, this Trivial can be very entertaining. A thousand different questions about Pokémon, true or false. And it is answered through an interactive color keyboard. There are three levels of difficulty , from questions for beginners to others that only true Pokémon masters will know how to answer. A total of 4 players can play at the same time, although it also has a solo mode , to train a little.
