2026 is quite the milestone year for Pokémon games, with the ever-popular series hitting 30. Yes, three decades of catching, raising, battling over 1,000 species. To celebrate, Nintendo and Game Freak re-released two classics, Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch, showcasing the very heart of the Pokémon concept – the roots of just what make a Pokémon game so distinct.
Over on the Nintendo Switch 2, the ultra-cosy Pokémon Pokopia has captured the hearts of fans, putting the monsters directly in the spotlight. A charming tale that swaps out battles for crafting and community building; a new spin on the ’90s nostalgia.
The third pillar of Pokémon celebrations focuses heavily on the battle element with the competitive free-to-play Pokémon Champions – launching first on Nintendo Switch, with mobile versions due later in the year. At its core, Champions is exactly as it says on the tin: classic turn-based battles playing out on the big screen. Is there enough here to deliver a comprehensive battle experience out the gate?
Think of Pokémon Champions as a modern take on the classic Pokémon Stadium set of games. Arena matches where trainers dabble in single or doubles matches, with three (four in doubles) critters picked to send out to the frontline. Pick a move, dish out damage, hope for the best. Unlike Stadium, there aren’t any multiplayer minigames or a separate solo campaign mode – the experience is very much tailored to quick casual or ranked play, leaning more toward Pokémon Battle Revolution by closest comparison.
There’s no need to grind through the tall grass, as it’s a case of selecting Pokémon to form a team and roll out (pun intended). At time of review, there isn’t the most comprehensive number to choose from – 186, or around a tenth of the overall roster, with a fair few fan favourites missing the cut. Because of the need to be hardened for the fight, most of the selection will be fully evolved anyway – including the likes of Raichu, Blastoise, Arcanine, Machamp, joined by recent additions like Ceruledge, Tinkaton and Hydrapple. Despite the relatively low number for now, there is a solid variety to choose from, with presumably more on the way as the service evolves. Yes, that was another pun.
Out the Pokémon box and players have access to a rotation of randomized Pokémon to rent, with the option to permanently add to the Champions squad using in-game currency called VP. The ranch of adoptees refreshes every 22 hours, with a way to rent out a critter for a week as part of a trial period – using VP or one trial Pokémon for free per day. It’s a neat way of exploring different faces without needing to commit – try out varying strategies and try to build up a perfect squad of six. Once a Pokémon has become permanent, they can also be trained. This isn’t in the traditional sense – grinding and levelling up – but the ability to tinker with a Pokémon’s various stats. Fancy bumping up their HP in favour of a lower speed? Why not. It’s a different take than the standard game fare, leading to interesting and fresh ways of building the ideal team.
With a team ready to rumble, it’s time to venture online to take on a handful of lobbies. Ranked is for those chasing victory, with points allowing trainers to climb and showcase their Poké-prowess. Casual, as the name implies, takes the pressure off. Private lobbies for friend matches are also available for those who want to avoid those public players who are a little too good at battling. Rounds are snappy, too, with minimal connection lag from tested online sessions – easy to dive into, with responsive moves and reasonable countdowns to keep things flowing nicely. Indicators, which note if a move will be effective or not, are also useful for newcomers to get to grips with the myriad of types to learn. Three decades on and this reviewer still doesn’t know them all. For shame.
Mechanically battles play out very much like a modern Pokémon game – with selected items available to attach to critters, the return of Mega Evolution, stat advantages and all the quirks a seasoned Pokémon pro could do a dedicated Powerpoint presentation for. There are missing items that may put off battle enthusiasts, though, preventing some of their battle strategies from being played out – for now at least. However, what makes Champions appealing is that it is accessible for newcomers and casual players to tuck into, with the space for experienced folk to get a hearty fill.
It is a shame that Pokémon Champions doesn’t quite have an additional solo mode, though, for those who want an offline Stadium-like experience. Having cups or tournaments to battle CPU trainers would be a neat touch, even an optional paid add-on. Likewise, the game currently doesn’t have a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 performance patch to improve framerates – it’s not a sluggish experience by any means, but the 30fps cap with drops can be noticeable at times.
As a free-to-play experience, Pokémon Champions offers a fair bit of content without needing to shell out cold, hard cash. Battles can be played, Pokémon rented and made permanent. It does take a little time to build up points, as most free-to-play titles do, but the full battle experience is available. Where paid bonuses come in is for those needing more storage, cosmetics, or tickets to speed up the process. A one-off starter pack does just that, with a reoccurring membership unlocking the option for additional teams to be created, member missions and cosmetic perks. A nice to have, but not essential for starting out at least.
For those who have dabbled in Pokémon games before, there is connectivity with the Pokémon HOME service – allowing critters from past titles to be brought in as guest visitors. The process is a little finicky, needing to be first actioned in Pokémon HOME, then again in Champions to import or export. It’s a neat option to have – allowing favourites to be added (providing the Pokémon are available and have compatible moves). Shared player presets, accessible via a code, can also be imported – again providing that the Pokémon are already unlocked in the game.
Finally, for stats enthusiasts, Champions has a rich amount of juicy Pokémon data – stats and modifiers as you would expect, but also a breakdown of how other players are battling around the world. It’s not a feature most players would likely access, but a neat touch to start building a community around.
