A new Pokémon party game is putting players' detective skills to the test! Pokémon: Who Is Team Rocket? has received a fresh promotional trailer, alongside new details about its hidden-role gameplay and the cards included in the box. The upcoming tabletop game is a collaboration between The Pokémon Company and Chinese tabletop publisher YOKA Games. Previously announced for Japan, the game is now scheduled to launch on 12 November 2026.
Can you uncover Team Rocket?
Pokémon: Who Is Team Rocket? is a hidden-role party game designed for four to six players, with sessions expected to last around 30 minutes. At the start of the game, everyone is assigned a secret identity. Players will take on the role of a Gym Leader, a Trainer or a member of Team Rocket, with each group bringing its own objectives to the table. The main challenge is to win a series of Pokémon battles while avoiding elimination and working out which players are secretly Team Rocket grunts. That means victory isn't just about winning battles. Players must also pay attention to their opponents, question their motives and decide who they can trust. Team Rocket members will need to keep their identities hidden, while everyone else attempts to expose the villains lurking among them. It's a fitting setup for a franchise packed with disguises, secret schemes and suspicious characters! Expect plenty of accusations as players try to work out who's genuinely fighting for the good guys.
A different kind of Pokémon battle
Rather than simply recreating the traditional Pokémon Trading Card Game, Who Is Team Rocket? takes the franchise in a social deduction direction. The hidden-role mechanics encourage players to think beyond their own battles, weighing up the actions of everyone around the table. Even a successful attack might not tell the whole story, and figuring out another player's allegiance could be just as important as winning a fight. With support for up to six players, the game could be a natural fit for Pokémon fans looking for something to bring to their next game night. Its relatively short playing time should also make it easy to fit in a few rounds, giving everyone another opportunity to bluff, investigate and settle old scores. A new promotional video has now been released, offering a closer look at the game. Images of its cards and components have also been shared, providing more insight into how the tabletop adaptation will bring the Pokémon world to life.
When does Pokémon: Who Is Team Rocket? release?
The game is scheduled to launch in Japan on 12 November 2026, with the official Japanese website providing further details and a look at the components. For now, the announced release is limited to Japan, and no international launch details have been confirmed in the information shared so far. Pokémon fans will therefore have to keep an eye out for further announcements if they hope to get their hands on the game outside Japan. Until then, the question remains: can you identify Team Rocket before they sabotage your plans?
