Best Pokémon launches of 2026 (so far): Lego, rare cards, and G-Shock

I'm not bragging or anything, but I was a pretty big Pokémon fan before things got weird. I was collecting cards and building an unstoppable team on Pokémon Blue way back in the '90s. I still think about my overpowered combo of Blastoise and Pidgeot that absolutely dominated the Pokémon League. Was it truly competitive? Absolutely not, but they were happy times. I'm not as deep in the hobby as I once was, and I probably fall into the category of slightly bewildered old dude who can't quite comprehend the prices and hype that surrounds Pokémon in 2026. But that doesn't mean I'm not a fan. And it definitely doesn't mean I'm not well aware of what's been launched by Pokémon this year. We are officially halfway through 2026, and the hype train shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. The collabs are getting more ambitious, the prices continue to baffle me, and I can't help but feel a tinge of jealousy of anyone just getting started in this wild world. From massive Lego sets to uber-trendy watches, Pokémon is leaning extremely hard into the nostalgia of '90s kids like me. Looking to treat your inner child to a blast from the past? Or maybe you're now bankrolling the hobby for your own