The Pokémon Company has announced that the official Pokemon board game Are You Team Rocket? will launch on November 12, revealing new details on its price and rules.
Priced at 2,200 yen, the game is designed for four to six players ages 10 and up, with each session lasting around 30 minutes. A TV commercial has also been released featuring the anime's iconic Team Rocket voice cast: Megumi Hayashibara, Shin-ichiro Miki, and Inuko Inuyama.
Set inside a Pokemon Gym in a small town, the game pits three factions against one another in a battle of deception: the newly appointed Gym Leader and the Gym Trainers, the Challengers, and Team Rocket members hiding among them.
Each role has its own victory conditions, and the Gym Leader is the only player whose identity is revealed. Players choose a partner from randomly distributed Pokemon cards, work out which opponents fit their victory conditions, and fight their way to a win through Pokemon battles.
How to Play
Are You Team Rocket? is a hidden-role board game in which players become the Gym Leader, a Gym Trainer, a Challenger, or a Team Rocket member. Each player must use Pokemon battles to complete their role's unique victory conditions.
Everyone except the Gym Leader must keep their role secret. That means players will need to uncover everyone else's identity while quietly working toward their own win!
Game Flow
1. Draw a role card and choose your partner Pokemon
First, randomly distribute the role cards to determine each player's identity. Players are then dealt random Pokemon cards and choose one as their partner.
Your choice of Pokemon can dramatically change how you fight, so players will need to select one that complements their role and strategy. New players can also consult the recommended Pokemon for each role while learning the ropes.
The game includes an impressive roster of 60 battle-ready Pokemon.
Based on their abilities, the Pokemon are divided into five types:
- Attack: Deals heavier damage with moves.
- Defense: Highly durable and built to withstand attacks.
- Balanced: Well-rounded abilities make this type highly versatile.
- Support: Specializes in support effects such as drawing cards from the deck.
- Disruption: Interferes with opponents by reducing the cards in their hands and limiting their options.
Every Pokemon has different abilities, opening the door to a wide range of tactics, bluffs, and mind games depending on your role. No two sessions have to play out the same way.
2. Draw game cards and let the battle begin!
Once everyone has chosen a Pokemon, each player draws four game cards from the deck, beginning with the Gym Leader and moving counterclockwise. The game is then ready to begin.
The Gym Leader takes the first turn, with play continuing counterclockwise to the next Trainer.
There are five types of game cards:
- "Take This!": Used to unleash a Pokemon's moves.
- "Dodge!": Used to evade a Pokemon's moves.
- "Held Item": An item that can be given to a Pokemon.
- "Item": Used to restore a Pokemon's condition, raise its level, and more.
- "Event Card": Used to take cards from another Trainer's hand or damage their Pokemon.
Choosing the right card, target, and moment can completely turn the tide of the game. Players will need to understand each card's effects and time every move carefully.
For a more detailed explanation of the rules, visit the official website.
The commercial features voice performances by Megumi Hayashibara, Shin-ichiro Miki, and Inuko Inuyama. Hayashibara and Miki play mysterious characters who may—or may not—be members of Team Rocket.
▼ Are You Team Rocket? TV Commercial
Are You Team Rocket? will be sold at Pokemon Center locations across Japan, Pokemon Center Online, electronics retailers, toy stores, and other participating outlets. The game will also be showcased and sold ahead of launch at Game Market 2026 Autumn, taking place at Makuhari Messe on October 17 and 18, 2026.
Are You Team Rocket?
Price: 2,200 yen
Release date: November 12, 2026
Contents:
- Pokemon cards: 60
- Game cards: 108
- Role cards: 6
- Player reference cards: 6
- Rulebook: 1
- Quick-start guide: 1
- Marker sheets: 4
- Custom sleeves for Pokemon cards: 30
