Mysterious New Pokémon Board Game Announced for July Release
A secretive new tabletop experience is officially joining the world of pocket monsters this summer, as The Pokémon Company has officially revealed the release of a new board game for the monster catching franchise.
Pokémon is a world-renowned series following the adventures of trainers as they catch and battle mysterious creatures across various regions.
The upcoming game, officially titled “Pokémon Whoosh!”, will look to turn the iconic video games into a physical board game which has been described as “a completely new format”.
While official details for “Pokémon Whoosh!” are currently scarce, early promotional materials revealed on Thursday, May 23, confirm the secretive game will officially launch on July 30, 2026:
The promotional images showcase several famous characters, including Pikachu, Mewtwo, Meowth, and Greninja.
The official announcement also features the energetic tagline “Let everyone fly!”, hinting at a potentially action-oriented or physics-based gameplay mechanic.
Tabletop game fans attending the Game Market 2026 Spring event in Japan this past weekend were treated to an exclusive early playtest of the game, though the wider public will have to wait for further updates to learn exactly how these matches will unfold.
The release of “Pokémon Whoosh!” will coincide with the launch of another Pokémon tabletop game experience, offering fans more ways than ever before to enjoy the series.
Bandai Spirits is officially bringing back the classic “Pokémon Plakoro” dice battle game, which originally debuted in 1997.
The revived retro game features a strategic system where two players battle to reduce their opponent’s health points to zero using specific move cards.
Players roll a “Charakoro,” which is a character-shaped die where the physical shape affects the probability of the roll.
This unique mechanic is combined with “Enekoro” energy dice, which feature customizable faces that players can alter using special chips to match their specific strategy.
The “Pokémon Plakoro Starter Sets 01-06” are available in Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, Eevee, and Mew variants, priced at 990 yen (approx. $7 USD / £5 GBP).
These introductory kits contain everything needed for one participant to jump into the action, though the manufacturer noted they will initially be offered at a special limited first-edition price of 500 yen (approx. $3 USD / £2 GBP).
Meanwhile, the “Pokémon Plakoro Tanken Box” expansion adds a new die, custom chips, and five move cards to a player’s arsenal for just 385 yen (approx. $3 USD / £2 GBP).
Finally, the “Pokémon Plakoro Evolution Set” introduces upgrade mechanics to the tabletop game, allowing participants to power up their pocket monsters mid-battle for 2,530 yen (approx. $17 USD / £13 GBP).
Gamers can track down the retro “Pokémon Plakoro” sets at hobby shops across Japan this July, before the secretive “Pokémon Whoosh!” arrives at the end of the month on July 30.
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