Best Pokémon launches of 2026 (so far): Lego, rare cards, and G-Shock

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I’m not bragging or anything, but I was a pretty big Pokémon fan before things got weird. I was collecting cards and building an unstoppable team on Pokémon Blue way back in the ’90s. I still think about my overpowered combo of Blastoise and Pidgeot that absolutely dominated the Pokémon League. Was it truly competitive? Absolutely not, but they were happy times.

I’m not as deep in the hobby as I once was, and I probably fall into the category of slightly bewildered old dude who can’t quite comprehend the prices and hype that surrounds Pokémon in 2026. But that doesn’t mean I’m not a fan. And it definitely doesn’t mean I’m not well aware of what’s been launched by Pokémon this year.

We are officially halfway through 2026, and the hype train shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. The collabs are getting more ambitious, the prices continue to baffle me, and I can’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy of anyone just getting started in this wild world. From massive Lego sets to uber-trendy watches, Pokémon is leaning extremely hard into the nostalgia of ’90s kids like me.

Looking to treat your inner child to a blast from the past? Or maybe you’re now bankrolling the hobby for your own kid? Whatever your reasons, these are the absolute best Pokémon product launches of 2026 so far.

Lego Pikachu and Poké Ball

Lego and Pokémon coming together feels like Lebron and Jordan teaming up in their prime. It’s unfair to everyone else.

Mashable made a whole lot of fuss about this collaboration early in 2026, and I’m still not over it. I know that not everyone is thrilled with how they look (Pikachu seems to get a lot of negative publicity), but come on! Do you know how I would have lost my mind about this collab back in the day? Yes, I know the world is a horrible, cynical, and bitter place, but can we not allow ourselves to have just a modicum of fun? Please. We need this.

Spoiler incoming: I feature all three of the first-ever Lego Pokémon sets in this roundup, but it felt right to start with Pikachu. This build consists of 2,050 pieces, capturing the little guy leaping straight out of a brick-built Poké Ball that can be displayed either popped wide open in a battle stance or entirely closed up.

I don’t own this set, but my Luke Skywalker (Red Five) Helmet is starting to sweat. We go way back, but I can’t deny that the Pikachu and Poké Ball would look great on my desk.

Pokémon Pokopia

Are you completely burnt out by Pokémon Champions or the relentless pursuit of trading cards at anything close to market value? Nintendo dropped the perfect tonic back in May.

Pokémon Pokopia is Pokémon for Animal Crossing fans. You’re tasked with building and running a peaceful, customized island sanctuary for wild Pokémon. There are no battles, no dread about coming up against that trainer who has you figured out, and no stress whatsoever. Instead, it’s all about positivity and vibes.

For anyone who wants to decompress after a long day of staring at spreadsheets, Pokémon Pokopia is the perfect salve.

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box

OK, let’s get into it. The trading card market was bananas last year, and absolutely nothing has changed. In fact, it feels even wilder in 2026 after a wave of Mega Evolution releases. At the risk of sounding like an old man yelling at clouds, I remember the days when you could quite simply walk into a store and pick up a humble pack of cards for retail price.

Those days are long gone. Nowadays, you have severe price volatility, mass scalping, and investors rather than collectors.

The Pokémon TCG entered into a new Mega Evolution block in 2026, and demand has never been higher. Ascended Heroes kicked off the madness in January, and it remains the most sought-after TCG launch of the year. You can’t buy the standard 36-pack booster boxes. If you want packs, the Elite Trainer Box is your best route.

It comes packed with 11 booster packs, two full-art N’s Zekrom promo cards, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, six damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, and a storage box with dividers. The pull rates have been notoriously brutal, but the secondary market prices reflect the hype. The top chase card, the full-art Special Illustration Rare of Mega Gengar ex, is currently trading online for upwards of $950. Guys, that’s a lot for a Pokémon card. Should we maybe calm down and take a good, long look at ourselves?

Lego Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise

We did promise you more from the first-ever Lego Pokémon launch, and here’s the second installment.

This absolute behemoth lets you build the iconic trio in 6,838 pieces. Each figure sits on its own type-specific base: Venusaur gets a lush jungle with movable vines, Charizard is propped on a volcano with posable wings, and Blastoise stands on a sandy beach complete with articulated water cannons.

They connect to form one build, but each Pokémon can also be detached to display solo on your shelf. It feels like the ultimate tribute to my childhood Game Boy sessions, and with that in mind, I will be discarding Venusaur and Charizard and firmly focusing my attention on Blastoise. We can reminisce about the good old days and how he ripped through all my rivals whilst I was sat in the back of my parents’ car.

Pokémon x G-Shock GA-110PKM-7A

Preorders for this new watch went live on July 1.

Casio’s newly unveiled Pokémon watch is undeniably cool. Casio has taken its classic, chunky GA-110 analog-digital model and stuffed it full of little details to please Pokémon nerds. The watch hands, pushers, dial, and translucent bezel are accented in the retro red, blue, and green color scheme of the original Game Boy games. The inset dial is shaped like a classic Poké Ball, with a little yellow speed indicator needle designed to look like Pikachu’s tail.

The strap features custom illustrations of 30 distinct Pokémon spanning the entire history of the franchise. It even ships inside a metal display tin designed to look like a Poké Ball.

Collabs involving major brands can sometimes come across as lazy. Why would they put the effort in when they know that fans are going to buy the product regardless of quality? But that’s not the case here. It genuinely feels like a lot of effort has gone into this launch. $270 isn’t exactly cheap, but all the little touches combine to offer something of real value for fans. I don’t even wear a watch, but I’m tempted. Just think of the cool points from the other dads at the playground.

Lego Eevee

Rounding out the Lego Pokémon drop is this charming Eevee model. It was the design that escaped most of the bad reviews on launch, and it’s easy to see why. It’s adorable.

At just under 600 pieces, this is the most accessible and budget-friendly of the Pokémon sets. Despite its smaller footprint, Lego did not skimp on features. You can tilt Eevee’s head, adjust its perky ears, move all four limbs, and angle its bushy tail.

It’s a seriously cute build that won’t break the bank like some of the other items on this list. It’s still not cheap, but this is Pokémon we’re talking about. That ship sailed a long time ago.

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Display

Pull rates from the Ascended Heroes expansion can be soul-crushing. The release of Chaos Rising helped out collectors.

The star attraction here is the guaranteed foil promo card of Mega Greninja ex. Unlike the blind gamble of an Elite Trainer Box, you know exactly what you are getting upfront here: the playable Mega Greninja ex, a giant oversized version of the same card for your display binder, a high-quality enamel pin, and 36 Chaos Rising booster packs.

If you actually play the physical game rather than just hoarding cards in your basement like a Pokémon-obsessed Gollum, this is easily the most valuable TCG product released this year. And if you are sat in the dark whispering to your cards that you’ll always love them and nobody will come between you, those booster packs should scratch that itch.

Pokémon x Target Starter Pullover Jacket

I don’t know much about fashion, but I know this jacket slaps (as the kids say).

It’s an official three-way collab between Pokémon, Target, and Starter. It features a high-contrast royal blue, yellow, and red shell with heaps of ’90s energy. The spacious front pocket flap showcases Kanto Region text on the outside, plus embroidered Kanto Gym Badges on the inside of the flap and zipper pocket. Need I say more?

Pokémon Champions

Pokopia is busy helping out exhausted gamers. Pokémon Champions is doing the exact opposite. If your idea of a good time is sweating over damage calculations, predicting double-switches, and stressing over potential attacks, this is your new obsession.

Pokémon Champions strips away the open-world lag and focuses entirely on the battle box. It is fast, unforgiving, and addictive. It’s also free-to-play for mobile devices and Nintendo Switch, which is neat.

The mobile port launched in June with surprisingly solid cross-play. Although it is technically free-to-play, you will have to grind (or open your wallet) to unlock certain battle cosmetics.