Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets Deserve All the Awards

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Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a few hours immersed in the delightful world of the new Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets, and I can’t help but feel like a kid again. To put it simply: I adore these new sets so much that I would happily commit to them.

To be frank, these sets are simply amazing.

I admit I was a bit disappointed with the earlier Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets. I approached the opportunity to demo the Lego Pokémon sets with some skepticism. my colleagues, who share my passion for Pokémon, and I had an incredible time engaging with these sets ahead of their August 1 release.

I’m eager to explore how these sets function, what new additions are on the way, and whether they’re a worthy addition to your Lego collection.

What Exactly Are the Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets?

Charizard in all its glory. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

Mashable has kept a close eye on the rollout of Lego Smart Play. We covered the Smart Brick’s impressive debut at CES 2026 and attended the London launch event for the Pokémon Smart Play Sets this summer.

The Smart Brick enables interactivity with the Mewtwo’s Lab Break set. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The Smart Play system revolves around the innovative Smart Brick, a specially designed 2×4 Lego piece. This brick is packed with advanced technology, including an accelerometer, microphones, speakers, LED lights, magnetic field sensors, a gyroscope, and a color sensor. The Smart Brick interacts dynamically with Smart Tags that accompany the Smart Play sets, as well as various Smart Minifigures. a wireless charger is provided to ensure your Smart Brick stays powered.

Recharge your Smart Bricks with the included charging pad. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The result is a Lego set that actively responds to your play. Now, your Lego Mini Figures can converse with one another. They light up and produce sounds based on your movements.

Here’s the Lego Jolteon with a Smart Brick. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets enhance this experience even further. Your beloved Pokémon not only produce charming sounds but also engage in battle mode. You can power up special abilities, level up your Pokémon, and have them face off against each other.

The Smart Brick sits right in Charizard’s tummy. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

How Do the Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets Create Adorable Sounds?

The secret ingredient behind the new smart Lego Pokémon sets? Iconic characters like Pikachu, Squirtle, Bidoof, Geodude, Charmander, and Eevee produce delightful sounds. They squeak and chatter when placed near one another. For example, when you push Squirtle’s buggy, it makes charming choo-choo sounds.

Lego Smart Play Training House with Pikachu Set. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

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The pièce de résistance? The Pikachu Treehouse Set includes a hidden Murphy Bed. When Pikachu or one of its smart companions is placed on the bed, they fall asleep and snore.

Lego Smart Play Pikachu takes a nap in the Training House. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

This level of cuteness is enough to make anyone squeal, which is precisely what happened during our playtime with these adorable characters at the Mashable office.

The battle mode mentioned earlier is also very enjoyable. Some of the sets feature training stations where you can level up Pokémon for a better chance at victory. You can enhance your Pokémon’s special abilities (but be careful; shake too hard, and the move may fail), dodge attacks, and simply have a great time.

These represent just a few of the main interactive features, and much of the excitement lies in experimenting with various combinations. You can mix and match Smart Tags and Smart Bricks with different creatures to discover new ways to play.

Squirtle comes with a buggy and barbecue set, obviously. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

Even as someone who isn’t a die-hard Pokémon fan (I lean more towards the original Harry Potter series), I found immense enjoyment in playing with these charming characters.

When Can You Get Your Hands on the Lego Pokémon Sets?

There’s one aspect of the Lego Smart Play sets that I find slightly disappointing: not all sets come with a smart brick. While this isn’t as significant of an issue as it was with the pricier Star Wars sets, it’s essential to read product details carefully. You’ll need to purchase at least one set that includes a smart brick and charger to start your collection. Thankfully, add-on sets begin at $19.99, while comprehensive sets are available for $69.99. Lego’s pricing can be a bit steep at times.

The Lego Pokémon Smart Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle set. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The charming Training House featuring Pikachu and the Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle sets are complete kits that include Smart Bricks.

Geodude rocks! Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

You can also purchase interactive “Smart Play Compatible” sets, which include:

• Mewtwo’s Lab Break

• Eevee and Lapras’s Treasure Hunt

• Berry Bash with Bulbasaur and Bidoof

• Trainer’s Buggy Adventure with Squirtle

• Charmander and Geodude’s Cavern Clash

• Cubone and Gengar’s Spooky Showdown

Three of these sets are available on Amazon, while the rest can be preordered from the Lego online store. More smart Pokémon sets are likely to be released in the future.

Are the Lego Pokémon Smart Play Sets a Good Investment?

Definitely! We had a fantastic time with these sets, and we value the fact that many options are available for under $75. If you’re a fan of both Lego and Pokémon, this collection promises enjoyment for all ages.