The Pokémon brand has been around for generations and is one of the biggest media franchises in the world. It makes most of its money through licensed merchandising, which has led to all these awesome Pokémon-themed gifts, such as apparel, cards, snacks, games, figures, and even furniture.
With all these choices of gifts, it is almost impossible to choose one that is perfect. Here’s a list of the best Pokémon gifts to help you get started on your search, whether it is for your friends or family, there’s a gift here that’ll be truly eye-catching.
Our 20 Best Pokémon Gifts
The products or gifts are not listed in any particular order, since the gifts are quite subjective to the eyes of the receiver. Nevertheless, you’ll surely find and match a gift suited to your Pokémon-loving recipient.
Betty Crocker X Pokémon Fruit Flavored Snack
Betty Crocker X Pokémon Fruit is one of the best sellers on Amazon for a good reason. It is an easy, on-the-go packaged snack that is great for the whole family or for getting your kids a snack for school. Think of it as Skittles with 22 different flavors and, of course, Pokemon.
Pokémon Battle Academy Board Game
Pokémon Battle Academy Board Game is an affordable and easy-to-learn board game that includes three complete Pokemon TCG decks that are perfect for those who want to get into their TCG. It includes an instruction sheet to help you learn the game, including two tutorial guides on how to play the decks. Aside from the cheap deck, it also includes two promo cards featuring the Galarian Obstagoon, which could go up in value for collectors.
Squishmallows Pokemon 14-Inch Pikachu Plush
Squishmallows Pokémon 14-Inch Pikachu Plush gives anyone looking for a snuggle buddy a new best friend. These Squishmallows are unbelievably huggable, hence the name, Squishmallow. These are bigger than your average-sized pillow, and you can put it on top of your bed, sofas, and other furniture as a decoration as well.
Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet 151 Binder Collection
The Pokemon TCG Scarlet & Violet 151 Binder Collection is one of the best gifts for any TCG collector since it also includes a binder where you can start collecting all the cards from the set. There aren’t any promo cards from this product, but it is a great way to get other friends to start collecting because the set involves all the classic Pokémon from the original game.
Funko Pop! Holiday Calendar – Pokémon, 24 Pocket Pop Vinyl Figures
For Funko and action figure collectors, the Funko Pop! Holiday Calendar – Pokémon, 24 Pocket Pop Vinyl Figures gives you at least 24 small Pop vinyl figures that are amazingly adorable because of how small they are. If you are familiar with the Funko Pop brand, they usually have a standard size for them, and this product shrinks the size, making the Pokémons much cuter and easily collectible.
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!
Genwunners: someone who only favors the first generation of Pokémons
For Genwunners, the best gift you can get them back to Pokémon would be the Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! Nintendo Switch game. This game remakes the classic into its modern game graphics and gameplay. They didn’t change much regarding the story, but it gives Genwunners that nostalgic feeling of experiencing the early Red and Blue game for the first time.
Hori Split Pad Pro Pokémon Pikachu & Eevee Nintendo Switch
For Nintendo Switch holders, the Hori Split Pad Pro – Pikachu & Eevee turns your device into a stylish Pokémon-themed handheld. While there is also a limited edition Nintendo Switch Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee, people who missed out on getting that exclusive console can settle for an awesome pastel-colored device.
Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Shiny Treasures JP
The Pokemon TCG Scarlet & Violet Shiny Treasures is a very special set for TCG collectors. These booster packs may contain shiny versions of their favorite Pokémons, but every Pokémon fan knows how hard it is to get shiny Pokémons. Since a lot of Pokémons will have a shiny variation in the set, it is one of the biggest sets in Scarlet & Violet. It’ll take you thousands of dollars to complete the set by ripping through packs, but you never know; you can get a bit lucky pulling the best cards in the set.
The Pokémon Cookbook: Easy & Fun Recipes
The Pokémon Cookbook: Easy & Fun Recipes shows more than 35 easy recipes that would make your dishes look like your favorite Pokémon characters. From a Pokéball sushi roll to Meowth potatoes, you have everything you need to set up your next Pokémon party or maybe just make a fun packed-up lunch box for your kids.
Pokémon 8″ Sylveon Plush
Pokémon 8″ Sylveon Plush is one of the most adorable-looking plushes out there. Sylveon has been one of the most popular Eeveelutions out there, and this is a great gift idea if you know someone particularly fond of Eeveelutions.
MEGA Pokémon Action Figure Building Toys Set
The MEGA Pokémon Action Figure Building Toys Set introduces the main Kanto region Pokémons, which is perfect for anyone who is a fan of Pokémon or trying to get into the brand. It also gives a fun activity in building the Pokémon sets with varying poses. It also helps develop creativity and problem-solving skills, especially for kids.
Pokémon TCG Celebrations Ultra Premium Collection
The Pokémon TCG Celebrations Ultra-Premium Collection is one of the most expensive products on the list. However, getting one of these for your Pokémon TCG friends would really light up their day. This set contains one of the first base set Charizards, a base set Pikachu, a special gold version of Pikachu V, and a golden version of Poké Ball. It comes with 17 Celebration boosters pack that contain four cards each and an additional eight TCG booster packs. It also comes with three storage boxes to keep all the cards together. These boxes are quite rare, so even if it is expensive, they sell out really fast.
Pokémon Travel Bag
The Pokémon Travel Bag is the perfect bag for kids traveling. It also makes a great gym or sports bag if they consistently do physical activities. It can hold multiple items and can even be used as a cool overnight bag to fit all the needed clothes and accessories.
Pokémon Kids Suitcase
For traveling out of the city or country, the Pokemon Kids Suitcase is a much better choice. It also goes well with the Pokémon travel bag if you want to have things that match. The suitcase is 49cm x 33cm x 22cm (H/W/D), and most airlines approve of it as a cabin bag size. It has an extendable handle, full zip closure, and a zipped internal compartment.
Pokémon THERMOS Water Bottle
The Pokémon THERMOS Water Bottle is a stainless steel vacuum-insulated water bottle that holds and keeps drinks cold for up to 12 hours. It’s great for kids who need drinks for daily use, whether they are going to school or an outdoor activity. It’ll always come in handy.
Pokémon Pikachu Japanese Puzzle Power T-Shirt
The Pokémon Pikachu Japanese Puzzle Power T-Shirt is an officially licensed Pokémon men’s shirt from the Pokémon Company. It comes in different sizes, and it features a basic graphic print of a Pokéball along with Pikachu’s many faces.
Pokémon GO Plus+
The Pokémon GO Plus+ lets you catch and track your rest rhythms with a press of a button. It is an accessory mainly used for the Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Sleep app. The device can sing you lullabies or have a Pokémon wake you up as an alarm clock in the morning. You can use the device to spin PokéStops or throw Pokéballs automatically in the Pokémon Go game for phone-free gameplay.
Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet 151 Box Japanese
The Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet 151 Box Japanese contains 20 sealed 151 set booster packs, each containing 10 cards and a basic energy card. As a collector myself, this Japanese version is way rarer since it contains a Master Ball Holo version of the cards. These Master Ball Holo variations give collectors new things to collect in the set, and it isn’t available in the English version of the cards.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—151 Ultra-Premium Collection – Mew
The Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—151 Ultra-Premium Collection – Mew is the last 151 set you’ll see on the list. However, this set is really special because it caters to every Pokémon fan who played the initial Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow games. If you were a bit unlucky with the other 151 booster packs, you’ll surely get your money’s worth on the UPC because it’ll give you three two rare promo cards (Mew and Mewtwo) and a Golden Mew card made out of steel. It also includes a playmat, but for collectors who don’t really play the TCG, you can keep it or use it as a mouse pad.
Hallmark Pokémon Wrapping Paper
The Hallmark Pokémon Wrapping Paper finishes the list as a way to make sure the receiver knows they are getting a Pokémon-themed gift for the occasion. It is cheap wrapping paper from Hallmark, and you can reuse the remaining wrapping paper on other gifts as well. There are different Pokémon-themed wrapping papers, but you can choose whichever design or color you want.
Honorable mentions
Most, if not all, of the products mentioned are easily available through Amazon, but as a Pokémon fan myself, I can tell you that there are other truly unique gifts you can find in the official Pokémon store in Japan. They have thousands of products in their stuffed toys category alone, and you’ll surely spend hours sorting through their listings.
You can find a life-sized made-to-order Meralba stuffed toy or even a cute Squirtle plush toy. If you are shopping from Japan’s official Pokémon store, you should be aware of the Japanese names of some of the Pokémons because they are completely different.
Here’s another useful tip: they also have Pokémon store-exclusive items, which are only available if you buy them physically at the store. For example, the rare Pilot Pikachu plush is only available in the Pokémon store at Narita Airport. If you want to go above and beyond to get the perfect gift, you can take a trip to Japan to get some awesome exclusives at their Pokémon Centers.
FAQs About Pokémon Gifts
Where should you buy the best Pokémon gifts?
There are a lot of options to buy Pokémon gifts, but the best Pokémon gifts in terms of selection would be from the official US Pokemon Center or the Pokémon Center in Japan. Their selections are often in the thousands, but it also depends on whether you need the item quickly or not. Amazon is also a great place to buy Pokémon gifts and some of them offer same-day delivery.
How do you spot knock-offs?
Spotting knock-offs is pretty hard, but if you buy straight from a Pokémon Center or an officially licensed store from Amazon, you’ll surely get an original product. If you see other brands offer Pokémon products, it is best to search if they ever did a collaboration or partnership with the Pokémon Company.
What Pokémon cards should you buy?
For Pokémon card collectors, things can get really complicated. Some collectors love getting all the cards and completing their set, but some usually use it as an investment. For example, the Pokémon TCG Sword & Shield: Evolving Skies set is one of the most sought-after card sets because of the alternate secret art Eeveelutions. A non-graded Umbreon VMAX (alternate secret art) could go for roughly $900. This skyrocketed the price of the Evolving Skies set to more than $100 per Elite Trainer Box. Normally, these Elite Trainer Boxes go for $40 – $60, depending on the set.
If you are gifting a Pokémon TCG collector, you can never go wrong with buying a rare box like the Evolving Skies. However, if you want to give a great Pokémon card gift to a collector without spending that much, you can go for sets that could increase in value like the Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet 151 set. The 151 set will always be special because it contains the original Pokémons from the first generation. If this set gets too expensive, you can never go wrong with buying the latest set instead, whether it is the Twilight Masquerade or a newer set in the future.
Once you have decided on a set, you can look for Elite Trainer Boxes, Booster Boxes, Ultra Premium Collections, separate booster packs, and other product variants of the set. These all differ in price, but as long as you have decided on a particular set, you can buy whichever product you feel like spending.
Is the Pokemon Center in the USA the same as the Pokemon Center in Japan?
They are completely different. However, some of their selections have similarities because it is from the same company, after all. However, you can also find different exclusives. If you find the same item in both stores, the only difference would be their prices because they are from different regions.