LEGO’s partnership with The Pokémon Company has finally expanded its collection to include 17 new Pokédex entries, but not in a way you may have expected — or, given the response to its latest technology, hoped. A massive 12 new sets are lined up for August 1, but they’re part of the SMART Play line-up.
I was pretty impressed with the first batch of Star Wars-themed LEGO SMART Play sets, though I’m more than aware that a newly crowned 40-year-old man like me is far from the target audience for this latest expansion of the line-up. Still, Pokémon is, by definition, a digitally savvy franchise, so perhaps this might be what lifts LEGO’s proprietary tech to expected heights.
The first three LEGO Pokémon sets were a little hit and miss. The 6,800-piece mammoth aside, Eevee (72151) was excellent, but the Pikachu and Poké Ball (72152) build was a real misstep for me — proof, perhaps, that certain monster model sizes don’t quite work with LEGO’s elements — and it appears the newest dozen are making the most of what’s available, too, for better and worse.
What’s worth noting is how the range is clearly designed to hide the SMART Bricks, meaning they aren’t hamstrung by odd design decisions to make them fit and spoil the finish, and presumably attract casuals who don’t want the interactivity.
Personal favorites for me are:
On the other hand, others look remarkably limited, despite showing some good ideas. Two sets — Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly Battle (72158), and Berry Bash with Bulbasaur and Bidoof (72155) look like Duplo; Garchomp’s likeness is average at best; the all-in-one Pikachu set is broadly fine, even if he has a beveled cube head (which at least works for the smaller and larger Eevee incarnations); and while it does look like an excellent statement piece, I just can’t get past Mewtwo’s head and neck design.
Judge for yourself, but one thing that runs in the expanded LEGO Pokémon range’s favor is the price point: it ranges from $15 to $120, giving a lot of options for different budgets. You still can’t buy the SMART Brick and charger separately, though, and it feels like gatekeeping to force customers into acquiring one of five premium sets (minimum spend $70) to get them.
All 12 new LEGO Pokémon sets arriving in August 2026
LEGO SMART Play: Training House with Pikachu (72164)
Pieces: 400
Price: $69.99 (£59.99; €69.99)
Dimensions: Over 8in (20cm) high, 11in (27cm) wide, 4in (11cm) deep
Includes: 1 SMART Brick, 4 Tags, figure and charger
LEGO SMART Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle (72167)
Pieces: 751
Price: $119.99 (£109.99; €119.99)
Dimensions: Charizard stands over 7in (18cm) tall, Jolteon stands over 5in (12cm) tall
Includes: 2 SMART Bricks, 4 Tags, 2 figures and charger
LEGO SMART Play: Berry Bash with Bulbasaur and Bidoof (72155)
Pieces: 240
Price: $19.99 (£17.99; €19.99)
Dimensions: Brick-built Bulbasaur measures over 2.5in (6cm) high, 1.5in (4cm) wide, 2.5in (7cm) deep
Includes: 2 SMART Tags, 2 figures
LEGO SMART Play: Trainer’s Buggy Adventure with Squirtle (72156)
Pieces: 320
Price: $29.99 (£24.99; €29.99)
Dimensions: Buggy measuring over 4.5in (12cm) high, 7.5in (19cm) long, 3.5in (9cm) wide
Includes: 2 SMART Tags, 1 figure
LEGO SMART Play: Charmander and Geodude’s Cavern Clash (72157)
Pieces: 198
Price: $19.99 (£17.99; €19.99)
Dimensions: Charmander measures over 3in (7cm) high, 2.5in (6cm) wide, 3in (7cm) deep
Includes: 2 SMART Tags, 2 figures
LEGO SMART Play: Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly Battle (72158)
Pieces: 313
Price: $34.99 (£29.99; €34.99)
Dimensions: Quaxly stands over 3.5in (8cm) tall
Includes: 3 SMART Tags, 3 figures
LEGO SMART Play: Jigglypuff Concert (72159)
Pieces: 88
Price: $14.99 (£12.99; €14.99)
Dimensions: Over 2in (5cm) high, 2.5in (6cm) wide, 5in (5cm) deep
Includes: 1 SMART Tag, 1 figure
LEGO SMART Play: Drone Search for Mythical Mew (72161)
Pieces: 429
Price: $49.99 (£44.99; €49.99)
Dimensions: Over 4in (11cm) high, 3.5in (9cm) wide, 3in (8cm) deep
Includes: 3 SMART Tags, 1 figure
LEGO SMART Play: Eevee and Lapras’s Treasure Hunt (72162)
Pieces: 623
Price: $59.99 (£54.99; €59.99)
Dimensions: Lapras measures over 6in (16cm) high, 6.5in (17cm) wide, 5in (13cm) deep
Includes: 3 SMART Tags, 2 figures
LEGO SMART Play: Mewtwo’s Lab Break (72163)
Pieces: 605
Price: $69.99 (£59.99; €69.99)
Dimensions: Mewtwo stands over 7.5in (19cm) tall
Includes: 1 SMART Tag, 1 figure
LEGO SMART Play: Umbreon vs. Garchomp Championship Battle (72165)
Pieces: 831
Price: $79.99 (£69.99; €79.99)
Dimensions: Garchomp stands over 6in (15cm) tall
Includes: 2 SMART Tags, 2 figures
LEGO SMART Play: Cubone and Gengar’s Spooky Showdown (72166)
Pieces: 782
Price: $89.99 (£79.99; €89.99)
Dimensions: Gengar measures over 4.5in (11cm) high, 4.5in (12cm) wide, 5in (13cm) deep
Includes: 4 SMART Tags, 2 figures
There’s also a gift with purchase, and it’s probably the best one I’ve seen in a long time. LEGO SMART Play: Ditto as Squirtle: Movie Night (40887) is 185 pieces and comes with one SMART Tag, and while the official line right now is that it’s included with LEGO SMART Play Pokémon purchases, there’s no clarification yet on minimum spends.
Looking at the product numbers sequentially, it appears 72160 is missing, but an apparent leak may have given that set away: a LEGO Arcanine, which genuinely looks fantastic. While I very much doubt I’ll invest in this collection (though I’m sorely tempted by Mewtwo, despite my criticisms), it’s frankly impossible to resist everyone’s favorite burning lion/tiger hybrid.
