About Pokémon Champions
Pokémon Champions is a free-to-play game centered on online Pokémon battles that can be played solo or in pairs. With Pokémon Champions, The Pokémon Company is doing its best to keep players entertained as the tenth generation of Pokémon is anticipated in 2027, culminating in the release of a brand-new game on the Nintendo Switch 2.
First released for download on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, the game is now also available for iOS and Android mobile devices. With cross-play support, it allows smartphone and tablet users to battle console players—and vice versa. Similarly, its cross-save feature lets you save your game on one device and continue playing on another.
With turn-based gameplay, Pokémon Champions combines combat and strategy in arenas. Offering three match formats—ranked, friendly, and private—it builds on the classic foundations of the series, in that you must battle with Pokémon and evolve them. But, contrary to previous titles, the RPG gaming format is a bit set aside, the game being centered on battles.
As a free-to-play game, it isn’t as in-depth as a standard installment, but it’s a great way to pass the time while waiting for the upcoming release of the tenth generation. Each Pokémon has 66 stat points that can be allocated across various categories: HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. Each category can reach up to 32 points, which suggests significant room for progression.
Why Should I Play Pokémon Champions?
Pokémon Champions is a free-to-play multiplayer combat and strategy game. Perfect for enjoying a new game while waiting for the tenth generation, this brand-new title focuses on Pokémon battles, highlighting the series’ iconic gameplay mechanics. Each Pokémon is classified by type, talents, and abilities. The game’s strength lies in its various synergies, offering plenty of room for progression. Available for download on iOS and Android devices, as well as Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, this title is the next must-play for Pokémon Trainers.
Players use an essential combat tool throughout the game: the Omni-Ring. Similar to the Mega Rings found in Pokémon video games, this artifact unlocks new abilities for Pokémon while enabling Mega Evolutions. The game offers three main modes that let you battle players from around the world or your friends. Ranked battles are the most competitive aspect of the game, since each victory allows you to climb the rankings and gauge your skill level against other players.
The goal is to battle opponents of a similar skill level to yours and then work your way up through the tiers. Each victory awards Victory Points (VP), which can then be used to recruit and train new Pokémon. Friendly battles, as the name suggests, have no impact on your ranking, while private battles let you gather in private lobbies with your friends and contacts.
As proof that The Pokémon Company believes in it, the video game championships will take place on Pokémon Champions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
One particularly interesting feature of Pokémon Champions is its link to Pokémon Home. Pokémon Home is an app available on Nintendo Switch consoles and mobile devices that lets you store your Pokémon in one place. Thanks to this feature, you’ll be able to use your saved Pokémon directly in Pokémon Champions. to build teams powerful enough to compete against various opponents.
Additionally, there’s an option that lets you choose your favorite music from a wide variety of tracks from other titles in the Pokémon series.
Is Pokémon Champions Free-to-play?
Yes, Pokémon Champions is free-to-play. All you have to do is download the game on the platform of your choice and start playing right away. It may include in-app purchases, but these are not required to enjoy the whole game.
Where Can I Download Pokémon Champions?
You can download Pokémon Champions for iOS and Android mobile devices. You can play it on your smartphone or tablet. Console players aren’t left out, of course, as the game is also available on the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles.
What Games Should I Play If I Enjoy Pokémon Champions?
If you are a fan of Pokémon, there are some alternatives that may interest you.
Pokémon GO is a true pioneer in augmented reality mobile gaming, available for download on iOS and Android. Using geolocation technology, the game invites players to explore the real world, smartphone in hand, to capture Pokémon using their camera. The aim is then to have them battle each other in arenas. Born from a partnership between Niantic and The Pokémon Company, Pokémon GO was a global phenomenon for many months and is still attractive to new players.
Pokémon TCG Pocket is the mobile adaptation of Pokémon TCG. The game brings the famous Pokémon Trading Card Game to mobile devices, with a version designed for iOS and Android. Published by The Pokémon Company and developed by Creatures Inc. and DeNA, the game focuses entirely on the joy of collecting. The concept is simple: every day, players can open two booster packs for free, expand their collection, and discover rare cards. Completely free—with in-app purchases—it’s a must-have for Pokémon fans.
If you like to catch taming creatures and have them battle, you can also like games like TemTem, Cassette Beasts, or Digimon Story Time Stranger. This is only a small list. TemTem features 2v2 turn-based battles and offers a RPG gameplay. Cassette Beasts adds a vintage look and feel to the taming process; here you do not catch the creatures; you record them on tape! Finally, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a narrative RPG game that offers turn-based combat and where you collect Digimons (monsters pretty similar to Pokémon).
