Matthew BaileyToday, as part of our Lunar New Year gaming, we are revisiting “Splendor: Pokemon Edition”, a game that has caused quite a stir in the group over the last few years.
After what is probably more plays prior to a review than almost any game I’ve covered on here, played extensively with Jack (10) and Toby (7), it felt like the perfect time for a rereview.
“Splendor: Pokemon Edition” is the South Korean import version of Splendor, themed around the Pokémon franchise. Theme aside, this remains, in my opinion, the best version of Splendor you can buy.
For anyone unfamiliar, this is a set collection game where you are trying to be the first player to collect Pokémon worth 18 or more points.
The display is arranged into rows of four Pokémon cards across three levels, along with special legendary and mythic piles at the top. As you would expect, higher level Pokémon are harder to obtain but reward you with more points.
Owning Pokémon does two things. Firstly, it moves you closer to that all important 18 point target. Secondly, it grants you permanent Pokéballs, which act as ongoing discounts for future purchases.
On your turn, you can:
• Take three different Pokéball tokens (excluding Master Balls)
• Take two of the same token colour, provided enough remain
• Reserve a card and take a Master Ball
• Catch a Pokémon from the display
Purchasing Pokémon works exactly as Splendor veterans would expect. You spend tokens, combined with your permanent Pokéball discounts, to acquire new cards. The familiar engine-building snowball is very much present.
Games tend to start slightly slowly as players build their initial economy, but once things begin to flow, turns feel satisfyingly efficient. One thing that continues to impress is how tight the endings are. Across many plays, victories are usually separated by a turn or two at most.
The standout addition here is the evolution mechanic.
Being able to evolve your Pokémon adds a genuinely meaningful layer of decision making. Evolutions are cheaper than buying outright and, crucially, occur outside your normal turn. This makes them feel incredibly powerful and rewards careful planning.
Token scarcity also plays a larger role than you might expect. With a limited supply of Pokéballs, you frequently find yourself watching opponents’ needs, anticipating colours, and occasionally reserving cards purely to disrupt their plans.
I’ve always liked Splendor, although I historically leaned slightly toward Century. This version, however, really has shifted things.
Everything about “Splendor: Pokemon Edition” just works. The evolution system improves the pacing, the Pokémon theme fits the mechanics beautifully, and the overall experience feels richer without adding complexity.
The boys, particularly Toby, absolutely adore this. It has become one of those games that regularly hits the table without any prompting.
One extra touch I still love is the collection metagame. The game includes a checklist pad of all Pokémon in the set. Each time you acquire one, you cross it off. It adds a fun, long-term goal that younger players especially enjoy.
Component quality is excellent. The Pokéball tokens are authentic poker chips with a lovely weight to them. The cards are slightly unusual in size but feel durable and well produced.
The biggest challenge, of course, is availability.
“Splendor: Pokemon Edition” remains a South Korean exclusive, making it relatively difficult to obtain in the UK. I purchased my copy via travel-games.co.uk and continue to recommend them. If they don’t have it in stock, contact them, and they can usually source a copy. You can buy on ebay but beware of fakes.
DO NOT BUY A FAKE COPY FROM TEMU OR ALIEXPRESS
Yes, it is an import. Yes, it is not cheap.
But this remains one of my favourite set collection games and easily my favourite version of Splendor.
Whether you are a Pokémon fan or not, this is simply a superb design.
Absolute top-tier stuff and still firmly in our regular rotation.
