LEGO's SMART Brick initiative takes center stage in the company's 2026 Pokémon slate, which already saw a run of adult-sized sets released in late February and more launches scheduled for August.
The LEGO Group's SMART Play line integrates motion-sensing bricks and scannable tags into traditional builds; the first Pokémon releases put that technology to work with franchise mascots and battle-focused sets.
The Pokémon franchise is managed by The Pokémon Company in partnership with Nintendo and developer Game Freak; mainline Pokémon titles appear on Nintendo Switch platforms.
The smaller of the two SMART Play launch sets is SMART Play: Training House with Pikachu.
The set contains 400 pieces and is priced at £59.99.
It ships with one SMART Brick, four SMART Tags and a SMART Charger.
The SMART Brick itself is a 2×4 element that reacts to movement and communicates with SMART Tags to trigger lights and sound effects when integrated into a model.
In journalistic terms, the reviewer observed that the SMART Brick “brought Pikachu to life,” noting the brick detects the toy's SMART Tag to animate the figure with a gentle shake, vocalizations and light cues.
Built, the set includes a small Pikachu figure, a two-storey treehouse with a convertible kitchen/bed, a mini Poké Ball and a sandwich accessory.
The set stages capture and training activities: placing Pikachu in tall grass and launching the mini Poké Ball produces a capture sound effect, while interacting with a training dummy increases the toy's activity states and triggers attack sounds.
The larger SMART Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle set contains 751 pieces and costs £109.99.
It includes two SMART Bricks, a charger, a potion accessory and a rocky pillar with spinning targets.
The set supports direct, dodge and charged attack motions through distinct movements, and the bricks indicate a Pokémon's health with changing light colors.
Both Charizard and Jolteon miniatures are noted for faithful miniature designs consistent with other recent LEGO Pokémon releases.
One confirmed limitation: the sound effects used in these SMART Play sets are original recordings rather than existing in-game or TV vocalizations.
The reviewer noted that the sounds are not the official Pokémon cries familiar from games and shows.
The LEGO SMART Play Pokémon sets demonstrate how interactive electronics can extend traditional brick play, while remaining tied to LEGO's physical build and design strengths.
Review copy for this hands-on was provided by The LEGO Group.
The LEGO Group's SMART Play line integrates motion-sensing bricks and scannable tags into traditional builds; the first Pokémon releases put that technology to work with franchise mascots and battle-focused sets.
The Pokémon franchise is managed by The Pokémon Company in partnership with Nintendo and developer Game Freak; mainline Pokémon titles appear on Nintendo Switch platforms.
The smaller of the two SMART Play launch sets is SMART Play: Training House with Pikachu.
The set contains 400 pieces and is priced at £59.99.
It ships with one SMART Brick, four SMART Tags and a SMART Charger.
The SMART Brick itself is a 2×4 element that reacts to movement and communicates with SMART Tags to trigger lights and sound effects when integrated into a model.
In journalistic terms, the reviewer observed that the SMART Brick “brought Pikachu to life,” noting the brick detects the toy's SMART Tag to animate the figure with a gentle shake, vocalizations and light cues.
Built, the set includes a small Pikachu figure, a two-storey treehouse with a convertible kitchen/bed, a mini Poké Ball and a sandwich accessory.
The set stages capture and training activities: placing Pikachu in tall grass and launching the mini Poké Ball produces a capture sound effect, while interacting with a training dummy increases the toy's activity states and triggers attack sounds.
The larger SMART Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle set contains 751 pieces and costs £109.99.
It includes two SMART Bricks, a charger, a potion accessory and a rocky pillar with spinning targets.
The set supports direct, dodge and charged attack motions through distinct movements, and the bricks indicate a Pokémon's health with changing light colors.
Both Charizard and Jolteon miniatures are noted for faithful miniature designs consistent with other recent LEGO Pokémon releases.
One confirmed limitation: the sound effects used in these SMART Play sets are original recordings rather than existing in-game or TV vocalizations.
The reviewer noted that the sounds are not the official Pokémon cries familiar from games and shows.
The LEGO SMART Play Pokémon sets demonstrate how interactive electronics can extend traditional brick play, while remaining tied to LEGO's physical build and design strengths.
Review copy for this hands-on was provided by The LEGO Group.
