Where to play Pokémon
A short, honest list of the official ways to play Pokémon, for parents. Every link goes to The Pokémon Company or Nintendo, not to us. PEGI is the European age rating for games: 3 suits everyone, 7 allows mild fantasy fighting.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Explore Lumiose City while it is being rebuilt. Battles happen in real time: you and your Pokémon move around and pick moves as it happens, instead of taking turns. Released 16 October 2025.
For grown-ups: PEGI 7 for mild fantasy-style fighting between Pokémon. Optional paid extras are sold in the Nintendo eShop.
Pokémon Pokopia
A calm building game. You play as a Ditto that looks like a person, gathering materials, crafting furniture, farming and building a home that Pokémon want to live in. Released 5 March 2026.
For grown-ups: PEGI 3, the lowest rating, so the gentlest way in for the youngest players. It needs a Nintendo Switch 2.
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet
The classic Pokémon adventure in the open world of Paldea: catch Pokémon, go to school, battle gym leaders and explore in any order. Scarlet and Violet are two versions of the same story, with a few different Pokémon in each. Released 18 November 2022.
For grown-ups: PEGI 7. Battles are turn-based and mild.
Pokémon GO
A walking game. Pokémon appear on the map around you, so you catch them by getting outside. It has optional in-app purchases.
For grown-ups: It uses the phone’s location, so a grown-up should set up and supervise play. Check the store page for the current age rating.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Live
The Pokémon card game played on a screen. Learn the rules, build a deck and play against other people online.
For grown-ups: PEGI 3. It has online play against other people, so check the in-game settings and the store page for chat and purchase options.
Pokémon Sleep
An app that turns sleeping into a game: set a bedtime, and the Pokémon who gather around you while you sleep are there in the morning. It is free to download and has optional in-app purchases.
For grown-ups: It is built around a grown-up’s sleep habits, so it works best on a parent’s phone with the child’s help.
Official Pokémon books and guides
Pokémon Primers are board books for the youngest readers, including ABC and 123 books. The Pikachu Press Pokémon Deluxe Character Guide is a 336-page hardback covering every Pokémon from Kanto to Paldea.
For grown-ups: The Pokémon Company announces new books on pokemon.com. Read the age band on the cover and the blurb before you buy.