Licensed Pokemon tabletop games

Pokemon Board Games: Master Trainer, Labyrinth, Monopoly, and More

By Updated

Pokemon board games range from the 1999 Master Trainer to Ravensburger’s Labyrinth, three Monopoly editions, Uno, Guess Who? and chess sets. Each entry lists players, age and play time, plus how it differs from the Pokemon Trading Card Game.

  • 10 games
  • 1999 to 2026
  • 2 to 6 players
  • 5 classic editions

Gotta catch every box! Check out the three picks below, then open a card for the details.

Most visitors are after the old Master Trainer game, a Monopoly edition, or a way to play the card game at the table. The Pokemon Master Trainer board game is the nostalgic pick, while Hasbro's 2025 Monopoly is the current mass-market option. The three picks below are sorted by group size and age.

Looking for a quick game? Guess Who? Pokemon takes about 15 minutes.

Three Pokemon board games to suit different tables

The card game isn't a board game. Battle Academy is the starter box.

  • Two players

    Guess Who? Pokemon Edition

    A two-player deduction game with 48 Pokemon, about 15 minutes of play and an age rating of 6+. Handy for a quick match.

    Difficulty
    Time to explainabout 2 min
    Player experience
    Geek Level2 / 10Watched it once on a flight
    How we rate

  • Families with mixed ages

    Pokemon Labyrinth

    For 2 to 4 players, ages 7+, with a 20 to 30 minute play time. The rules follow standard Labyrinth, with a variation that lets younger children keep their targets face up.

    Difficulty
    Time to explainabout 5 min
    Player experience
    Geek Level3 / 10Knows the main characters
    How we rate

  • Nostalgia and collectors

    Pokemon Master Trainer

    The 1999 English release is for 2 to 6 players, ages 7+. Since it dates from 1999, any copy is a vintage find.

    Difficulty
    Time to explainabout 8 min
    Player experience
    Geek Level5 / 10Quotes the best lines
    How we rate

These games range from cards to chess sets. Start with titles that have their own rules, such as Pokemon Labyrinth, then compare the Monopoly editions. Their shared name hides some real differences. Each card lists players, age, and play time; the editions line flags reissues and regional releases.

Pokemon Labyrinth, Uno, chess sets and more Pokemon board games

Master Trainer came out in 1999, so check secondhand listings for a copy.

Showing all 10

Main games

Pokemon Master Trainer

  • 1999
  • 2-6 players
  • Ages 7+

The original English Pokemon board game follows a trainer through Kanto. Catch Pokemon and battle rivals on the way to Indigo Plateau.

How it plays

Roll a die, move your Ash mover and resolve the space. Cities let you draw Item cards. On Catch ’em spaces, flip a Pokemon chip and try to catch it with the dice roll printed on the chip. Event spaces mean drawing an Event card. Collect Pokemon worth 20 Power Points, then defeat a Pokemon Master to win.

How it connects to Pokemon

The rulebook cover features Ash and Pikachu, the box includes six Ash movers, and the road runs from Pallet Town through Kanto to Indigo Plateau. Players start with a Starter Pokemon chip, such as Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Clefairy, Meowth or Pikachu.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 8 min
Player experience
Geek Level5 / 10Quotes the best lines
How we rate

Type family board game

  • roll and move
  • collecting
  • vintage
Publisher
Milton Bradley / Hasbro

Source 1 (archive.org) Source 2 (web.archive.org) Source 3 (gamespark.jp) Source 4 (en.wikipedia.org)

How to play Pokemon Master Trainer

Pokemon Labyrinth

  • 2-4 players
  • 20-30 minutes
  • Ages 7+

Ravensburger’s moving maze swaps treasure for Pokemon. It follows the standard Labyrinth turn structure, so the rules should feel familiar to anyone who knows the game.

How it plays

Slide a spare maze tile into a row to shift the paths, then move your Pokemon along them toward the one on your top card. Find all your Pokemon and return to your start space to win. A variation lets younger children keep their targets face up.

How it connects to Pokemon

Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle are among the Pokemon you chase. The glow-in-the-dark version includes Poke Ball tokens and Pokemon standees.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 5 min
Player experience
Geek Level3 / 10Knows the main characters
How we rate

Type family board game

  • maze
  • family
  • tile shifting
  • easy to learn
Publisher
Ravensburger
Designers
Max J. Kobbert (original Labyrinth)
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Pokemon Labyrinth (Ravensburger product 26949)
  • Pokemon Glow-in-the-Dark Labyrinth (product 22705)

Source 1 (ravensburger.ie) Source 2 (ravensburger.ie) Source 3 (ravensburger.org)

Pokemon Battle Chess

  • 2011
  • 2 players
  • about 15 to 20 minutes

This chess-inspired two-player game from Japan launched at 500 yen. Pokemon pieces battle by comparing Power, with chance able to swing the fight. It isn’t standard chess.

How it plays

Move Pokemon pieces onto enemy pieces to start a battle. The higher Power wins. If it’s a tie, flip a Plus Power card and add its value. A beaten piece flips over; lose again and it’s removed. Pay with defeated pieces to call in Reshiram and Zekrom. Defeat the hidden Victini piece to win.

The Pokemon connection

The BW Version features Pokemon from Pokemon Black and White, including Emboar, Samurott, Serperior, Zoroark, Victini, Reshiram and Zekrom.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 10 min
Player experience
Geek Level5 / 10Quotes the best lines
How we rate

Type family board game

  • chess-like
  • two players
  • Japan release
Publisher
The Pokemon Company
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • BW Version (released December 26, 2011)

Source 1 (dengekionline.com) Source 2 (dengekionline.com)

Pokemon TCG Battle Academy

  • 2020
  • 2 players
  • 30 minutes
  • Ages 6+

This boxed Pokemon Trading Card Game starter includes a game board and three ready-to-play decks. It’s about as close as the card game gets to a board game box.

How it plays

Two players use preconstructed 60-card decks, taking turns to play cards, attack and claim Prize cards. Tutorial guides help new players get started, while a rulebook covers advanced play.

The Pokemon connection

Everything comes from the Pokemon Trading Card Game. The 2024 edition builds its decks around Armarouge ex, Pikachu ex and Darkrai ex.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 20 min
Player experience
Geek Level6 / 10Has a favorite side character
How we rate

Type trading card game In print

  • starter set
  • card game
  • tutorial
  • in print
Publisher
The Pokemon Company International
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Original edition (launched July 31, 2020)
  • 2024 edition (Armarouge ex, Pikachu ex, Darkrai ex, launched June 21, 2024)

Source 1 (pokemon.com) Source 2 (tcg.pokemon.com) Source 3 (pokemon.com)

Licensed classic editions

Monopoly Pokemon Kanto Edition

  • 2014

Monopoly with a Pokemon board. Engadget’s 2014 report says the properties stick to Kanto as it appears in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen.

How it plays

This licensed Monopoly edition keeps the familiar property-trading rules: buy locations, collect rent from rivals and outlast them.

How it connects to Pokemon

The board draws on the Kanto region from the Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen video games, rather than a film or episode.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 8 min
Player experience
Geek Level3 / 10Knows the main characters
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition

  • property trading
  • Kanto
Publisher
USAopoly (now The Op Games)
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (engadget.com) Source 2 (en.wikipedia.org)

Monopoly Pokemon Johto Edition

  • 2016

A Johto-themed Monopoly listed as a 2016 release in Wikipedia’s list of licensed Monopoly editions, after the Kanto edition.

How it plays

This licensed Monopoly edition keeps the core play simple: buy locations, collect rent and outlast your rivals.

How it connects to Pokemon

The board takes its theme from the Johto region of the Pokemon world.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 8 min
Player experience
Geek Level3 / 10Knows the main characters
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition

  • property trading
  • Johto
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (en.wikipedia.org)

Monopoly Pokemon Edition

  • 2025
  • 2-4 players
  • Ages 8+

Hasbro’s 2025 edition turns a Monopoly-style board into a catching race. Poke Balls replace money, making it very different from the Kanto and Johto editions.

How it plays

Explore locations to catch Pokemon for your tracker mat, and battle rival Trainers to collect Poke Balls. Adventure and Challenge cards can trigger battles or trades. Win by collecting one Pokemon of each of the eight types, or by being the last Trainer with Poke Balls.

How it connects to Pokemon

Choose a Pokemon partner from Pikachu, Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly. The board visits cities, Pokemon Gyms and stadiums.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 8 min
Player experience
Geek Level3 / 10Knows the main characters
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition In print

  • catching
  • battles
  • tracker mat
  • in print
Publisher
Hasbro

Source 1 (instructions.hasbro.com) Source 2 (pokemon.com)

How to play Monopoly Pokemon Edition

Pokemon UNO

  • 2019

Standard UNO with Pokemon artwork. The deck documented here is from Mattel Japan, and its instruction sheet carries a 2019 Mattel copyright.

How it plays

Match the top card by color, number or symbol, and be first to empty your hand. This deck adds special cards named for Snorlax and Greninja.

How it connects to Pokemon

The cards feature Pokemon characters. The copyright line credits Nintendo, Creatures, Game Freak, TV Tokyo, ShoPro and JR Kikaku.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 2 min
Player experience
Geek Level2 / 10Watched it once on a flight
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition

  • card game
  • quick
  • Japan
Publisher
Mattel
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Mattel Japan deck with Snorlax and Greninja cards (2019 copyright)

Source 1 (mattel.co.jp)

Guess Who? Pokemon Edition

  • 2026
  • 2 players
  • about 15 minutes
  • Ages 6+

The newest game here is Guess Who? with 48 Pokemon instead of faces. It’s a two-player deduction game for younger players.

How it plays

Each player secretly chooses a Pokemon, then asks yes-or-no questions to figure out the other player’s choice, closing the doors on Pokemon that don’t fit. The first to guess five mystery Pokemon wins the series.

The Pokemon connection

The Pokemon sit on double-sided character sheets, grouped by type: Grass, Fire, Water and Electric.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 2 min
Player experience
Geek Level2 / 10Watched it once on a flight
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition In print

  • deduction
  • two players
  • kids
Publisher
Hasbro

Source 1 (instructions.hasbro.com) Source 2 (comicbook.com)

How to play Guess Who? Pokemon Edition

Chess sets

Pokemon Center Chess Set

  • 2 players

This Pokemon Center Original chess set has resin pieces and a board with a Poke Ball design. The rules are standard chess; only the cast changes.

How it plays

Play standard chess, with Magikarp as pawns, Snorlax as rooks, Rapidash as knights and Dragonite as bishops. Pikachu fills both the king and queen roles.

The Pokemon connection

The Pokemon pieces include 16 Magikarp, 4 Snorlax, 4 Rapidash, 4 Dragonite and 4 Pikachu, plus a board with a Poke Ball design.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 15 min
Player experience
Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
How we rate

Type chess set

  • standard chess rules
  • collectible
  • resin pieces
Publisher
Pokemon Center
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (pokemoncenter.com)

Compare Pokemon board games by player count, play time, and age

Pokemon games compared by year, players, ages and type
GameYearPlayersAgesType
Pokemon Master Trainer19992-67+family board game
Pokemon LabyrinthNot listed2-47+family board game
Monopoly Pokemon Kanto Edition2014Not listedNot listedlicensed classic edition
Monopoly Pokemon Johto Edition2016Not listedNot listedlicensed classic edition
Monopoly Pokemon Edition20252-48+licensed classic edition
Pokemon UNO2019Not listedNot listedlicensed classic edition
Guess Who? Pokemon Edition202626+licensed classic edition
Pokemon Center Chess SetNot listed2Not listedchess set
Pokemon Battle Chess20112Not listedfamily board game
Pokemon TCG Battle Academy202026+trading card game

Pokemon board games, from 1996 to 2026

From the Game Boy launch to the newest Guess Who?, licensed games arrived in waves.

Looking for a quick game? Guess Who? Pokemon takes about 15 minutes.

The Pokemon Trading Card Game gets its own section because many visitors expect to find it here. It’s a card game, and Battle Academy is its only boxed link to board games. For a comparison with another publisher’s card game, see the Disney Lorcana trading card game, which also has no board.

Pokemon TCG Battle Academy: card game or board game?

The Pokemon Trading Card Game often sits beside board games in stores, but it plays differently.

Pokemon board games

Each is a standalone game with its own board and rules, like Master Trainer, Labyrinth or the Monopoly editions. Everything you need is in one box.

Pokemon Trading Card Game

This two-player card game has exactly 60 cards per deck. Win by taking all your Prize cards, knocking out every opposing Pokemon in play, or reaching the start of your turn when your opponent has no card to draw. Booster packs are random, so decks grow from a collection.

Pokemon TCG Battle Academy

This starter box has three ready-made 60-card decks, a game board, tutorial guides and a rulebook. The rules are still card game rules. For 2 players, ages 6+.

Pokemon TCG Classic

Pokemon.com dates this set to late 2023. It has three decks built around Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise, plus a two-player game board. Metal orbs take the place of coin flips. It’s still a card game for two players.

Where it all started

Pokemon started with Game Boy games in Japan in February 1996. The card game arrived in October 1996, followed by English cards in January 1999.

Master Trainer gets plenty of questions, partly because the name has been used for more than one game. Before buying, match the year to the player count: the 1999 and 2005 boxes hold different games. Our Pokemon Master Trainer rules page covers the 1999 game in depth, including the Kanto route and chip catching.

Classic Monopoly fans will find the familiar rules in Parker Brothers' collector's edition, with Pokemon twists.

Pokemon Master Trainer rules and editions

More than one game uses this name, so check the year before buying.

  1. 1997: Pocket Monsters in Japan

    Tomy released the Japanese original, which became the basis for the English game.

  2. 1999: Pokemon Master Trainer

    Milton Bradley and Hasbro’s English release is for 2 to 6 players, ages 7+. Roll to move, catch Pokemon by matching the dice roll printed on a chip, and collect Pokemon worth 20 Power Points before facing a Pokemon Master.

  3. 2005: Pokemon Master Trainer III

    A different Milton Bradley game listed for 2005, not a reprint of the 1999 box.

Pokemon Monopoly has three eras: an early Parker Brothers collector's edition, the USAopoly Kanto and Johto boards, and Hasbro's 2025 catching game. Read about the Pokemon Monopoly Kanto Edition if you want a USAopoly board themed on FireRed and LeafGreen. Hasbro's 2025 game trades money for Poke Balls.

Pokemon Monopoly rules by edition: Kanto, Johto and Hasbro

Pokemon Monopoly has had several versions, and the newest plays very differently.

  • Parker Brothers Collector’s Edition

    Hasbro hosts the rulebook for this early edition, for 2 to 6 players, ages 8+. Poke Money takes the place of dollars, while Poke Centers and Poke Marts replace houses and hotels. Professor Oak and Trainer Battle cards replace Chance and Community Chest. Roll doubles to use an optional Pokemon Power.

  • 2014 Kanto Edition

    According to Engadget’s Toy Fair report, USAopoly’s board sticks to the Kanto region as it appears in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen.

  • 2016 Johto Edition

    Wikipedia’s list of licensed Monopoly editions dates this Johto-themed follow-up to 2016.

  • 2025 Hasbro Edition

    Poke Balls replace money. Catch Pokemon, fill a tracker mat and battle Trainers. Win by collecting one Pokemon of each of the eight types, or by being the last Trainer with Poke Balls.

Pokemon board game facts

The card game isn't a board game. Battle Academy is the starter box.

  • Pokemon started as a Game Boy video game in February 1996. The trading card game arrived in Japan that October.

    Source 1 (corporate.pokemon.co.jp)

  • The Kanto Monopoly board takes its cues from the Kanto region in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen.

    Source 1 (engadget.com)

  • In the 1999 Master Trainer, you need Pokemon worth 20 Power Points before you can face a Pokemon Master.

    Source 1 (archive.org)

  • The Pokemon Center chess set gives Magikarp the pawns and Pikachu both the king and queen roles.

    Source 1 (pokemoncenter.com)

  • In Pokemon Battle Chess, you win by defeating the opponent’s Victini piece, hidden under egg pieces at the start.

    Source 1 (dengekionline.com)

  • Pokemon Labyrinth uses standard Labyrinth rules. A variation for younger children lets them play with their targets face up.

    Source 1 (ravensburger.org)

These quick answers cover common questions, from Uno to chess. If you're asking about the card game rather than a board game, the Battle Academy section above covers the rules basics. For quiz-style games based on other films and shows, browse our movie trivia games hub.

Pokemon board game questions and answers

Is there an official Pokemon board game?

Yes, several. Milton Bradley and Hasbro released Pokemon Master Trainer in 1999, and Ravensburger makes Pokemon Labyrinth. You’ll also find Pokemon editions of Monopoly, UNO and Guess Who?, along with chess sets.

How many players can play the Pokemon Master Trainer board game?

Hasbro’s rulebook says the 1999 edition is for 2 to 6 players, ages 7+. Milton Bradley’s 2005 Pokemon Master Trainer III is a separate game.

What are the Pokemon Master Trainer rules?

Roll a die and travel the Kanto road from Pallet Town. Land on Catch ’em spaces to flip a chip and try to catch the Pokemon shown by your dice roll. Draw Event cards and collect Item cards in cities. Gather Pokemon worth 20 Power Points, then defeat a Pokemon Master.

How do you play the Pokemon Labyrinth board game?

Use the spare tile to shift a row of maze tiles, then move your Pokemon along open paths toward the Pokemon shown on your top token. Find all your Pokemon and return to your starting space to win.

What are the Pokemon Monopoly rules?

Rules vary by edition. The Parker Brothers collector’s edition uses standard Monopoly rules, with Poke Centers and Poke Marts replacing houses and hotels. Hasbro’s 2025 edition plays differently: catch Pokemon, battle Trainers and win with one of each of the eight types or as the last Trainer holding Poke Balls. USAopoly’s Kanto and Johto editions are themed Monopoly boards.

Is the Pokemon Monopoly Kanto Edition still in print?

USAopoly announced it for 2014. The Op Games, USAopoly’s current name, lists no Pokemon Monopoly in its online shop, so copies mostly come from resellers. The Hasbro 2025 Pokemon Monopoly edition is a separate game.

Is there a Pokemon Uno?

Yes. Mattel Japan’s UNO Pokemon instruction sheet carries a 2019 copyright and describes a deck with special Snorlax and Greninja cards.

Is there a Pokemon chess set?

Yes. The Pokemon Center sells a chess set with resin pieces: Magikarp pawns, Snorlax rooks, Rapidash knights, Dragonite bishops, and Pikachu as king and queen. Pokemon Battle Chess is a separate Japanese game with its own rules.

Is there a Pokemon Guess Who? game?

Yes. Hasbro’s Guess Who? Pokemon Edition has 48 Pokemon, is for 2 players aged 6 and up, and was reported available from April 2, 2026.

What is the Pokemon TCG Battle Academy?

Pokemon TCG Battle Academy is a starter box for the Pokemon Trading Card Game, with three ready-made 60-card decks, a game board and tutorials. It’s for 2 players, ages 6+, and takes about 30 minutes.

Is the Pokemon Trading Card Game a board game?

No. It’s a two-player card game that uses 60-card decks and doesn’t need a board. Battle Academy adds a board, but the rules are still for a card game.

Did Pokemon start as a card game?

No. Pokemon Red and Green debuted on Game Boy in Japan in February 1996. The card game arrived that October.

Master Trainer came out in 1999, so check secondhand listings for a copy.

Looking for a quick game? Guess Who? Pokemon takes about 15 minutes.

Sources

  1. Pokemon corporate history corporate.pokemon.co.jp
  2. Pokemon TCG Battle Academy tcg.pokemon.com
  3. Pokemon TCG Classic pokemon.com
  4. Pokemon TCG rulebook assets.pokemon.com
  5. Hasbro Monopoly Pokemon Edition instructions instructions.hasbro.com
  6. Hasbro Monopoly Pokemon Collector's Edition rulebook hasbro.com
  7. Hasbro Guess Who? Pokemon Edition instructions instructions.hasbro.com
  8. Ravensburger Pokemon Labyrinth ravensburger.ie
  9. Ravensburger Pokemon Labyrinth rules ravensburger.org
  10. Pokemon Master Trainer (1999) rulebook at the Internet Archive archive.org
  11. Game*Spark: the 1997 Pocket Monsters board game gamespark.jp
  12. Engadget: Zelda and Pokemon Monopoly at Toy Fair engadget.com
  13. Pokemon Center chess set pokemoncenter.com
  14. Dengeki Online: Pokemon Battle Chess BW Version dengekionline.com
  15. Wikipedia: licensed Monopoly editions (USA) en.wikipedia.org
  16. Wikipedia: Milton Bradley products en.wikipedia.org
  17. Hasbro: Pokemon Master Trainer rulebook (archived copy) web.archive.org