The Pokémon Company has just announced a new tabletop experience that blends the world of Pokémon with the traditional Japanese game of Goita. Get ready for "Pokémon Goita," a four-player, 2-vs-2 team battle where the objective is simple: be the first team to play all eight of your tiles.
While the rules are easy to pick up, victory is a thrilling mix of luck, sharp judgment, and psyching out your opponents. A free companion app to practice the rules is also slated for a mid-December release.
In this four-player game, the rules of "Pokémon Goita" are deceptively simple: just get rid of your eight tiles before the other team does. Even though you're fighting alongside a partner, communication is strictly forbidden. Each player starts with eight tiles, and the team with the first player to empty their hand scores points based on the value of their final tile (the number in the bottom-left corner). The first team to hit 150 points wins!
The game revolves around three basic actions:
Match (Uke): Play a tile that is the "same" as the one played by the previous player.
Attack (Seme): After successfully matching a tile, you can play any tile you want.
Pass (Nashi): If you want to skip your turn, just say "Nashi!" to pass.
Play proceeds counter-clockwise from the starting player, with everyone taking turns to either "Match → Attack" or "Pass."
▼ Official Introduction Video
How a Round Works
① Determine the Dealer and Teams
Use four tiles to decide who starts as the dealer and who the teams are. Teammates sit opposite each other.
② The Dealer Plays First
The dealer starts by playing one tile face-down in the "Match 1" spot, followed by a face-up tile in the "Attack 1" spot to declare their attack.
③ Match and Attack in Sequence
If the next player has the same Pokémon tile, they can "Match" it. After matching, they can play any tile they want as their attack. If you can't match—or choose not to for strategic reasons—just say "Nashi" to pass.
④ Ending the Round
The first player to play all eight of their tiles wins the round for their team, scoring points. The first team to reach 150 points wins the game!
There are eight types of tiles in total (Mewtwo and Mew are considered the same type). The Mewtwo/Mew tiles have special rules that can be key to turning the tide of battle.
Special Rules:
Normally, you need to play an identical tile to "match" an opponent's move. However, Mewtwo (and Mew) follow a different set of rules.
Matching with Mewtwo/Mew
A Mewtwo/Mew tile can match any other tile except for Rattata and Pidgey.
Attacking with Mewtwo/Mew
You can lead an attack with a Mewtwo/Mew tile under two conditions: if a Mewtwo/Mew has already been played in the round, or if you hold both Mewtwo/Mew tiles and are using one as your final, game-winning play.
Pokémon Tiles
Mewtwo (King): 50 pts / 2 tiles
Mew (Jade): 50 pts / 2 tiles
Charizard (Rook): 40 pts / 2 tiles
Dragonite (Bishop): 40 pts / 2 tiles
Raichu (Gold): 30 pts / 4 tiles
Pikachu (Silver): 30 pts / 4 tiles
Ponyta (Knight): 20 pts / 4 tiles
Rattata (Lance): 20 pts / 4 tiles
Pidgey (Pawn): 10 pts / 10 tiles
"Pokémon Goita" is set to launch on December 18, 2025, with a suggested retail price of 2,970 JPY. The set includes 34 tiles, one playmat, and an instruction manual. Additionally, pre-orders will come with a non-woven fabric drawstring pouch featuring the game's logo, available while supplies last.
To help new players get the hang of it, a free practice app will be released simultaneously! It's scheduled to launch in mid-December 2025 for both iOS and Android, but will be available exclusively for download in Japan.
via： 「寶可夢將棋橋牌」官網