It was announced back in March thatLEGOis teaming up with another extremely popular Nintendo-related franchise, this time the wildly successfulPokemonseries.LEGOsets based on thePokemonlicense are slated for release in 2026, but it’s currently unclear how many sets fans are getting or what those sets will look like.
If LEGO’s collaboration withPokemonis anything like its ongoingpartnership withSuper MarioandAnimal Crossing, then fans can expect an enduring relationship between the two mega brands. And if fans are lucky, then some LEGO sets based onPokemonmight only be the tip of the iceberg of this collaboration.
LEGO’s Pokemon Collab Should Inspire a New Type of LEGO Game
A LEGO Pokemon Game Would Be a Match Made in Heaven
When it comes to family-friendly video games, few can claim to be quite as popular asPokemon. ButLEGO gamesaren’t too far behind them. Over the last two decades or so, LEGO has made a sizable impact on the video game world, delivering both licensed and non-licensed action-adventure games that distinguish themselves through charm and vibrancy.
If LEGO andPokemon’s upcoming collaboration goes well, it could pave the way for a more involved partnership between the two companies, one that ends up producing a crossover game that combines the two franchises. While a fully-fledged mainlinePokemongame in a LEGO style seems unlikely, a spinoff in a similar vein to thePokemon Mystery Dungeonseriescould suit LEGO’s lively aesthetic well.
A Standalone LEGO Turn-Based RPG Could Work Well
Even ifLEGO andPokemon’s upcoming collaborationdoesn’t lead to a crossover video game, it could still inspire LEGO to try a genre it’s never really adopted before. LEGO has never made a turn-based RPG for consoles before, though some of its recent games, likeLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, have included RPG-lite elements like character classes and skill trees.
LEGO Legacy: Heroes Unboxedwas a turn-based RPG released back in February 2020, though it’s only available on iOS and Android.
LEGO could take these systems and use them to form the building blocks of a proper LEGO turn-based RPG. The creativity and personalization associated with LEGO’s brand naturally paves the way for a good amount of character and build customization, as does the franchise’s penchant for in-game collectibles.
For instance, aLEGO turn-based RPGcould see players exploring an open-world and collecting various parts and pieces during their journey. These pieces could be used to customize party members' ability sets and builds. Players could find new torso pieces that allow them to change their party’s armor, or new backpack pieces that grant party members special abilities like temporary flight.
This should all culminate in a turn-based combat system inspired byPokemon. WhilePokemon’s battle system is far from the most engaging or complex out there, its high level of accessibility makes it the ideal blueprint for a LEGO game, whose primary audience would be younger children who may not be used to turn-based mechanics just yet. With a ton of customization, high level of accessibility, and plenty of trademark LEGO charm, a LEGO turn-based RPG could have some real promise.
