Pokémon Champions
Cover art
Developer The Pokémon Works
Publishers Nintendo Switch
  • JP: The Pokémon Company
  • WW: Nintendo
iOS/Android
The Pokémon Company
Directors Masaaki Hoshino
Kazumasa Iwao
Producers Masaaki Hoshino
Katsuhiko Ichiraku
Akira Kinashi
Shinya Saito
Toyokazu Nonaka
Takanori Sowa
Kenji Endo[2]
Designer Shigeki Morimoto
Programmers Sei Nakatani
Ryoma Tachimoto
Artist Tatsuya Makita
Composers Minako Adachi
Go Ichinose
Series Pokémon
Engine Unity
Platforms
  • Nintendo Switch
  • iOS
  • Android
Release Nintendo Switch
April 8, 2026[1]
iOS/Android
2026
Genre Turn-based strategy
Modes Single-player, multiplayer

Pokémon Champions is a strategy video game developed by The Pokémon Works and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS. It is a spin-off of the Pokémon video game series focused on multiplayer gameplay. It was announced on February 27, 2025 during a Pokémon Presents livestream, alongside the gameplay reveal of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.[3] The game was released on Nintendo Switch on April 8, 2026,[1] with a port to iOS and Android to follow later the same year.[4]

This is the first game from The Pokémon Works, a joint venture between The Pokémon Company and ILCA.[5] As a turn-based strategy game, it is similar in gameplay to the Pokémon Stadium series of video games, and features compatibility with Pokémon Home, which allows it to connect with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet[5][6][7] and other games on the Nintendo Switch, as well as cross-platform play between mobile platforms and Nintendo Switch.[3] It supports Mega Evolution, and is expected to also feature other battle mechanics in future, including Terastallization.[8] The game will also be used in place of the latest game in the mainline series at VGC events organized by Play! Pokémon, including the Pokémon World Championships.[9] This will start with the Malaysia Master Ball League and the Indianapolis Regional Championships, scheduled for May 9–10 and May 29–31, respectively.

Reception

The game received "Mixed or Average" reviews according to the review aggregator website Metacritic.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Romano, Sal (March 24, 2026). "Pokemon Champions for Switch launches April 8". Gematsu. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  2. ^ https://web-view.app.pokemonchampions.jp/docs/credit/0/1/2026.html
  3. ^ a b Gould-Wilson, Jasmine (February 27, 2025). "Pokemon Champions: Everything we know so far". GamesRadar+. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  4. ^ Romano, Sal (February 27, 2026). "Pokémon Champions Brings The Fight To Switch This April". Nintendo Life. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  5. ^ a b Parrish, Ash (February 27, 2025). "Pokémon Champions gets right to the fights". The Verge. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  6. ^ Deschamps, Marc (February 27, 2025). "Pokemon Champions Announced". ComicBook.com. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  7. ^ Middler, Jordan (February 27, 2025). "Pokémon Champions announced for Nintendo Switch and mobile". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  8. ^ Goodwin, Brad (February 27, 2025). "Pokemon Champions Is An Online Battling Game Now In Development". NextPlay Australia. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  9. ^ DeFreitas, Casey (August 17, 2025). "Pokémon Champions will Replace Scarlet and Violet at the Pokémon World Championships Next Year". IGN. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  10. ^ "Pokemon Champions Reviews - Metacritic". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved April 12, 2026.