Pokémon is continuing its 30th anniversary celebration with another new release, but this one is not a video game. Pokémon Plakoro, a tabletop battle dice game, is officially launching in Japan on July 18.

The new release brings back the Plakoro name from the original Pokémon Plakoro game, which first appeared in 1997. The 2026 version is described as a dice-based battle game built around luck and strategy, giving fans a different way to enjoy Pokémon outside the usual digital RPG format.

At launch, Pokémon Plakoro will include six starter sets based on popular Generation I Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, Eevee, and Mew. Each starter set comes with one character die, one energy die, 18 custom chips, one character card, seven move cards, and an instruction sheet.

An additional Adventure Set will also launch alongside the starter sets, featuring Pokémon such as Articuno, Zapdos, Onix, and Moltres. More Adventure Sets are expected to arrive later, suggesting that The Pokémon Company plans to support the game beyond its first wave.

Each starter set is priced at about 990 yen, or roughly $6. Western collectors may still be interested, but import and shipping costs will likely make the sets more expensive outside Japan.

For now, Pokémon Plakoro is confirmed only for Japan, but that does not necessarily mean it will stay there permanently. Pokémon has a long history of international releases, and anniversary products often attract attention from collectors around the world.

With Pokémon continuing to expand through video games, collaborations, merchandise, and tabletop products, Plakoro adds another nostalgic piece to the franchise’s 30th anniversary lineup. It may not be the kind of “new Pokémon game” fans first expected, but for collectors and tabletop players, it could become one of July’s most charming releases.