Pokémon gets the Lego Smart Play treatment with new sets arriving this summer, and they’re not as eye-wateringly expensive as the previous Pokémon builds
Lego is expanding its Pokémon partnership with a new Smart Play line that prioritizes affordability and interactivity over the expensive, large-scale builds that characterized its initial Pokémon collection. Twelve new sets will launch on August 1st, featuring a more accessible price point designed to appeal to a broader audience of children and fans.
The Smart Play sets utilize Lego Smart tags, allowing players to interact with their brick-built Pokémon. Players can attach Smart tags to various elements within the sets to trigger actions—feeding Pikachu, tickling Charizard, or engaging with other Pokémon companions. This interactive functionality extends beyond simple animations; the sets incorporate mechanics that mirror core Pokémon gameplay elements, including capturing, bonding with, and training monsters.
Set details reveal design choices that evoke the Pokémon experience, with inclusions like potions, food items, and targets that suggest gameplay mimicking the franchise’s core mechanics. While the sets are technically targeted at children, Lego has invested considerable effort in capturing the spirit of the franchise in ways that appeal to adult fans as well.
Notably, the new Smart Play line excludes traditional Lego minifigures of human characters such as Ash, Misty, and Brock. According to Lego’s design director Siddharth Muthyala, the company’s primary objective was capturing the essence of the Pokémon themselves rather than the human trainers. This decision reflects input from young Pokémon fans consulted during development, who emphasized the centrality of the monsters themselves to the franchise’s appeal.