LEGO’s physical-digital hybrid platform, Smart Play, is expanding to the Pokémon franchise across six countries following a Star Wars-themed rollout earlier this year, introducing interactive Smart Bricks and tags designed to bring brick-built creatures to life without screens or apps.
When LEGO first introduced its Smart Play platform earlier this year, the initial Star Wars-themed sets drew mixed reactions from builders. While reviewers praised the lack of screens and apps, the physical design compromises—such as open rears to accommodate the internal hardware and chunky proportions—left adult collectors cold. Six months later, the technology has arrived in the Pokémon universe, offering a clearer look at how the toy maker intends to balance digital interactivity with traditional brick construction.
Pokémon Expansion and Availability Across Six Global Markets
The Smart Play ecosystem remains restricted to just six countries: Australia, France, Germany, Poland, the UK, and the US. To test the new range, enthusiasts and reviewers have traveled to events such as the Pokémon World Championships/XP 2026, where LEGO maintained a prominent partnership to showcase the hardware. The expansion brings a dozen new Pokémon sets to store shelves, though the product lineup uses a bifurcated approach to manage costs.
- Smart Play All-In-One: These packages include the titular 2×4 Smart Brick—equipped with built-in lighting, sensors, and speakers—alongside a wireless charger.
- Smart Play Compatible: These builds lack the expensive electronic brick but incorporate smaller 2×2 Smart Tags. When a user drops a Smart Brick into the model, the brick reads the internal tag to trigger specific behaviors.
Most of the 12 Pokémon sets rely on the cheaper Smart Tags rather than bundling an expensive electronic brick. Options range from an entry-level Jigglypuff priced at $15 to larger builds like the Training House with Pikachu (72164) and Charizard vs Jolteon Ultimate Battle (72167).
Design Improvements in the Pokémon Wave
Builders examining the new Pokémon sets note a distinct improvement in aesthetic fidelity compared to earlier releases. Reviewers testing the Training House with Pikachu and Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle found that the larger creatures retained recognizable, solid proportions that would not look out of place alongside non-motorized Lego releases. Despite housing the Smart Brick, the models avoid the overt structural compromises that plagued vehicles like Vader’s TIE Advanced.
Public exhibitions, such as the LEGO Pokémon SMART Play Experience in Los Angeles, CA, have allowed families to interact directly with the hardware. Users can partially disassemble their brick-built companions, insert the electronics, and trigger feeding routines, resting states, or battles simply by moving the figures into close proximity.
Audio Fidelity and Play Mechanics Under Scrutiny
Despite the improved physical design, hands-on testing reveals notable technical limitations. Observers note that the onboard audio is heavily compressed and low fidelity. Rather than utilizing recognizable cries from the video games—which have existed since the release of original Game Boy titles in 1996—the Smart Brick generates generic sound effects. Gengar produces ghost-like gurgling reminiscent of popular ghost characters, while Charizard emits generic flying and burning noises.
Combat mechanics rely heavily on imagination. Bringing two smart brick creatures together initiates randomized damage exchanges, requiring players to manually heal their models using small buildable Potion accessories included in the displays. Analysts and adult collectors suggest that while younger builders may find plenty of engagement, the high price point and basic sensory feedback mean the platform’s long-term commercial success will depend entirely on broader market sales figures.