New Pokemon Board Game Looks To Make TCG More Accessible For New Players

The Pokemon Trading Card Game has been around since the '90s, ballooning in size and scope over time as new generations of Pokemon have been introduced. It's heavily supported, with new card packs and expansions releasing regularly, so it's never a bad time to dive into the massively popular game. To help you dive into less murky waters, The Pokemon Company is releasing a new physical board game that aims to teach beginners the ins and outs of the TCG in an accessible format. Pokemon Battle Academy releases June 21 at Target and will be available at other major retailers July 31.

Pokemon Battle Academy comes with three, full 60-card decks led by a popular Pokemon from Generation 1: Pikachu, Mewtwo, and Charizard. The game board is covered with helpful details letting you know where to place your cards and what you can do each turn.

You'll also get tutorial guides and all of the accessories you need to complete a game as well as QR code cards to unlock the decks in Pokemon Trading Card Game Online--a free-to-play digital version of the TCG available on iOS, Android, and your browser.

Pokemon Battle Academy will cost $20, which is a good price even just for the decks themselves. It's not available to pre-order at Target just yet, but expect to see Battle Academy in stores and online in a few weeks.

Simply due to the huge variety of card packs and sets available to purchase, getting into the Pokemon TCG can be a challenge, especially if you're a parent of young kids. Pokemon Battle Academy will hopefully offer an easy jumping-off point that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

If Pokemon Battle Academy winds up being a hit in your house, 2020 has also brought a brand-new generation of cards to the TCG. Generation 8 kicked off earlier this year, featuring Pokemon from the 2019 Nintendo Switch games Pokemon Sword and Shield. The first expansion to the set, Rebel Clash, launched last month.

We'll also learn more about the first Pokemon Sword and Shield video game expansion tomorrow, June 2. Isle of Armor is expected to release this month as the first part of the Pokemon Sword and Shield expansion pass, which comes with comes with a unique outfit if you pre-order.