Whether you’re a longtime collector or just love staying up to date with all things Pokémon. 2025 is turning out to be one of the franchise’s most exciting years in recent memory. From major console releases and mobile app expansions to stunning new bundles and spin-offs, the Pokémon universe is growing in every direction—but not all of it involves battling or competitive play.
Let’s take a look at every major Pokémon console and mobile game update in 2025 so far, plus what’s coming before the year wraps up.
Quick Jump
Pokémon Legends: Z‑A – October 2025
Combat: Features a real‑time battle system where defeated wild Pokémon don’t immediately vanish—players have a window to catch them—earning praise for cinematic, dynamic mechanics
Release Date: Thursday, 16 October 2025 for both original Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. There is also a bundled physical Switch 2 edition launching the same day and pre‑orders available beginning 5 June 2025.
Setting: The Kalos region’s Lumiose City (from Pokémon X/Y), featuring daytime and nighttime exploration, wild “alpha” Pokémon zones, detective side‑quests, and investigations into rogue Mega.
Mega Evolutions: Introduces new “Rogue Mega Evolution” wild threats and the first look at Mega Dragonite.
Pokémon Champions – New Strategy Spin‑Off Coming in 2026
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android. Fully compatible with Pokémon Home, supporting cross‑platform multiplayer battles.
Genre: Turn‑based strategy with trial recruitment, Victory Points, and Mega Evolution and Terastallization support. Developed by The Pokémon Works, this marks the franchise’s first release from that studio.
Release Window: Officially announced for 2026, without a firm date yet
Pokémon Friends — A Delightfully Cozy Puzzle Game, Available Now
Release Date: Worldwide on 22 July 2025 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, iOS, and Android—announced via Pokémon Presents at 10 p.m. JST the same day.
Developer & Publisher: Developed by Wonderfy and published by The Pokémon Company.
Genre: Light puzzle game featuring over 1,200 bite‑sized challenges, collectible plushies, and customizable virtual rooms.
How It Works & What You Collect
- Each session presents three randomly selected puzzles—think guiding Pikachu across electric tracks, helping Bulbasaur cross via Lotad lily pads, or Pumpkaboo’s shadow‑shapes challenge.
- Completing puzzles rewards yarn, which players insert into a “Plush‑O‑Matic” to create virtual Pokémon plushies. Some yarn types yield rare plush (2% drop rate) while others have more common outcomes (8%).
- Plushies can be arranged in cozy plush rooms and exchanged with NPCs in Think Town, who grant furniture and rewards. Up to five save files allow multiple users or play styles.
Pokémon Sleep – Cresselia vs. Darkrai & New Area Research
Legendary Research Heats Up This Autumn! Pokémon Sleep is set for a major shake-up as two iconic Legendary Pokémon Cresselia and Darkrai take center stage in a series of Night Research Events launching in September 2025. Players will soon be able to participate in limited-time sleep research tied to each Legendary, with exclusive rewards and themed gameplay mechanics based on your sleep styles. Following the Legendary event arc, a new area called Amber Canyon is scheduled to debut in November 2025, expanding the game’s biome roster with fresh Sleep Pokémon discoveries, snacks, and environmental effects. This marks Pokémon Sleep’s most content-rich period yet, keeping collectors and casual sleepers alike invested through the end of the year.
Streaming & Media Tie‑ins – Pokémon Concierge Returns + New Stop‑Motion Series Incoming
During the Pokémon Presents livestream in July 2025, The Pokémon Company offered a first look at several upcoming media projects, expanding the franchise far beyond cards and consoles. Most notably, Pokémon Concierge is officially returning for Season 2 this September (2025) on Netflix, continuing its charming stop-motion storytelling on the tropical Pokémon Resort with Haru, Psyduck, and new guest Pokémon rumored to include Vulpix and Togepi. In addition, fans got an early teaser for a new stop-motion anthology called Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu, currently in development and slated for release in 2027. With quirky humor and an artistic style reminiscent of Wallace & Gromit, this upcoming series promises to bring a lighthearted, narrative-driven twist to Pokémon’s streaming catalogue.
A Big Year for Collectors and Casual Fans Alike
From cozy puzzle titles like Pokémon Friends to expanded media tie-ins and the growing world of Pokémon Sleep, 2025 is showing that the Pokémon brand is thriving well beyond battles and badges. While competitive players may be watching for metagame shifts, collectors and casual fans are getting what they’ve long asked for: more personality, more charm, and more ways to connect with Pokémon at your own pace.
Whether you’re filling your Pokédex in Amber Canyon, chilling with Psyduck on Netflix, or just matching berries with your favorite starters, there’s plenty to be excited about before the year is out. And with the potential of a new console generation on the horizon, this might just be the calm before a very collectible storm.