Matthew BaileyToday, we’re going to be looking at Pokémon Trainer Expert, a fast-paced electronic deduction game where you’re trying to identify one of the original 151 Pokémon before everyone else.
Before the game begins, place the double-sided board in the centre of the table, choosing either the Beginner or Expert side depending on how much of a challenge you want. The Expert side requires you to be much more familiar with Pokémon, while the Beginner side is far more accessible. Each of you takes a coloured ring and selects the matching player colour on the electronic Game Master, which guides you through the game and keeps track of the scores.
You then choose whether you’re playing solo or with up to four players. At the start of each round, the Game Master secretly selects a Pokémon and begins revealing clues one at a time. The clues start off fairly broad before gradually becoming more and more specific. The challenge comes from deciding when you know enough to commit to an answer, as the earlier you guess correctly, the more points you’ll score.
As the clues are revealed, study the board and work out which Pokémon is being described. As soon as you’re confident, press your player button and place your coloured ring over the Pokémon you think is correct. If you’re right, you’ll score points based on how many clues had been revealed, with earlier correct guesses being worth the most. Once everyone has locked in their answer, the correct Pokémon is revealed and the points are awarded.
It’s worth pointing out that you can play this quite comfortably even if you’re not particularly knowledgeable about Pokémon. Choosing the original 151 was a smart decision, as they’re the ones most adults are likely to recognise, while kids generally know them just as well. In many ways, it feels like a Pokémon-themed electronic version of Guess Who?, with clues gradually narrowing down the possibilities.
The game continues over a series of rounds until someone reaches the target score (usually 30 points), with the highest-scoring trainer being crowned the winner.
The boys have really enjoyed playing this, and it’s quickly become one of the games they ask to get out when friends come over after school. It’s incredibly easy to explain, moves at a nice pace and strikes a good balance between the electronic interaction and the physical board, as you’re still placing your magnifying rings over the Pokémon you think is correct.
The build quality is also impressive. The electronic unit feels well-made, and the coloured magnifying rings fit securely into the device when they’re not being used. My only real criticism is the storage. Because the box is designed as a try-me display for shops, everything doesn’t pack away particularly neatly afterwards. I think the insert could have been designed better, or alternatively, the Pokémon boards could have slotted into the electronic unit itself. As it stands, you still need to keep the box simply to store everything together, which feels like a missed opportunity.
Overall, I’ve been really impressed with Pokémon Trainer Expert. I especially like that the Beginner side allows you to enjoy the game even if you’re not a huge Pokémon fan, while the Expert side offers a genuine challenge for long-time trainers. It combines electronic gameplay with a physical board really well, and the Pokémon licence is used effectively rather than simply being there for decoration. If your children enjoy Pokémon, this is an easy recommendation, especially over the summer holidays when you’re looking for something fun to do indoors or in the shade, and it’s an excellent choice for playdates.
