LEGO® Pokémon™ SMART Play™: Play Ideas and Inspiration for Parents

This might take you down memory lane, as many of us first discovered Pokémon through the original video games back in the day. Over the years, those early adventure moments of catching, battling, and exploring new pixelated worlds have now become cherished childhood memories. Fast-forward to today, Pokémon continues to inspire and delight fans of all ages, just as it did from the very beginning.

While we marvel at how quickly time has passed, there’s something undeniably cool about being one of the original Trainers, right? Even more exciting, a new era has just begun… LEGO® Pokémon™ SMART Play™ sets are finally here, including some of the most beloved Pokémon. With 12 sets available, boasting two All-in-One sets and 10 Compatible sets, it’s practically every Trainer’s dream come true!

With these sets, you can invite a new generation of Trainers into an incredible world brimming with fascinating LEGO® Pokémon™ creatures, diverse environments, and, of course, countless possibilities of screen-free fun and interactive play that you can enjoy together as a family!

So, let’s dive into a selection of the sets and explore some great play ideas you and your young Trainer(s) can enjoy together. Ready? Let’s catch, build, and play!

Catch and build them together!

Once your child has caught their favorite LEGO® Pokémon™ set(s), the real fun begins! If your child has chosen an All-in-One set, you’re in for the full SMART Play™ experience: with one or more SMART Bricks, several SMART Tags, and a SMART Charger (psst… for a quick recap on the SMART Play™ System, check out this page). If your child has picked a Compatible set, you can look forward to a package full of fun LEGO building play that lasts for hours and hours – but also SMART Tags that unlock interactive play features, once you add a SMART Brick from an All-in-One set.

Both set types feature the exact same level of building fun that comes with every LEGO set, so you can join your young Pokémon Trainer in building their dream team and maybe (just maybe) share some of your Trainer wisdom along the way. We know you can’t resist!

Become a LEGO® Pokémon™ Trainer

With the LEGO® Pokémon™ SMART Play™ sets, kids can step into the shoes of a LEGO® Pokémon™ Trainer… guided by your expert Trainer advice, of course! Once you’ve built your child’s dream team together, it’s time to bond, train, and battle! Even if your set doesn’t include a SMART Brick, there are endless roleplay adventures waiting with iconic LEGO® Pokémon™ creatures. Let’s jump into a few fun play ideas, starting with some of the Compatible sets!

The Berry Bash with Bulbasaur and Bidoof (72155) is just as delightful as it sounds! With this set, you can look forward to hours of fun, imaginative play, where young Trainers can care for their lovable Pokémon. Pick berries from the tree, blend them in the smoothie machine, and whip up refreshing drinks for LEGO Bulbasaur and LEGO Bidoof to give them energy and prepare them for battle.

You can also unleash a rock-smashing showdown with the Charmander and Geodude’s Cavern Clash (72157) set! Here, kids can embark on their first Trainer adventure and guide their LEGO Charmander through the rocky cave in search of a hidden shiny crystal. Aaaah, watch out! Swiveling out of the shadows comes LEGO Geodude! Sending rocks flying with its giant fists. Can you steer clear of the flying rocks and find the hidden crystal?

Or how about zooming into an action-packed Trainer’s Buggy Adventure with Squirtle (72156)? With an ultra-maneuverable buggy and water that blast from the shooters, your child and LEGO Squirtle can douse out fires on the flaming grill, race through wild terrain, and cruise through one adventure to the next!

Speaking of adventure, even more excitement awaits at Cubone and Gengar’s Spooky Showdown (72166). Grab your Ultra Ball and sneak into the shadowy grove to train LEGO Cubone and LEGO Gengar together! Hit the tree plate to start training your Pokémon, then place a Pokémon on the battle platform, take aim, and knock down both targets. When the guarding Pokémon falls, a hidden treasure pops up. Great aim, Trainer!

Or… you could take on the epic challenge of Mewtwo’s Lab Break (72163). LEGO Mewtwo is about to awaken and unleash its Psychic-type powers! Turn the dial on the tank to open the chamber… LEGO Mewtwo is rising! Quick! Can you catch it with your Master Ball before it escapes?

As you can see, endless adventures and imaginative roleplaying await you and your young Trainer with the Compatible sets!

Bring LEGO® Pokémon™ play to life!

Now that we’ve explored some of the many roleplaying options that come with the Compatible sets, it’s time to bring play to life like never before… and, yes, we’ve got even more play ideas for you coming up!

It’s time to put spotlight on the SMART Brick… the one piece that unlocks all the magic and all the exciting interactive social play.

Add a SMART Brick from one of the All-in-One sets to a Compatible set and watch as the action leaps off the table: mesmerizing sounds, Pokémon chattering, and lights that flash in all sorts of colors, responding to whatever adventure your child dreams up.

Since the All-in-One sets already come with the full SMART Play™ technology, you and your young Trainer can jump straight into all the interactive fun! And there are so many interactive play experiences and surprises to discover together.

With the Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle (72167), you can live out every Trainer’s dream and become a Pokémon champion as you challenge each other with a head-to-head battle! Aaah, attack incoming – quick, block or dodge! Now, fire up a charged attack, and… AIM! The winning Pokémon lights up and victory music plays. It’s the ultimate showdown for two Trainers to enjoy together!

The Training House with Pikachu (72164) is also packed with fun interactive play experiences. Test out each of your catching skills and see who will catch LEGO Pikachu first behind the tall grass. You can also test your Pokémon battle skills at the training dummy and see who of you can reach the highest level.

And just when you thought we’d covered it all, there’s still so much more to explore. Dive even deeper into the All-in-One sets for our best secrets and Trainer tips.

There you go, Trainer! Our best play ideas and inspiration for you and your young Pokémon fan. Get building, get playing, and enjoy the many adventures together!