The Pokémon franchise is introducing a brand-new game called Pokémon GOITA, releasing exclusively in Japan. The title launches on December 18 and will be available both as a physical tabletop game and a free mobile app.
Pokémon GOITA is based on the traditional Japanese tile game Goita, a team-based matching game that uses 32 tiles, each with specific roles, point values, and ranks. The objective is simple: players must strategically play out all the tiles in their hand while countering opponents with the correct defensive moves.
In the Pokémon version, the tiles are replaced with Pokémon characters, including familiar names such as Mew, Mewtwo, Charizard, Dragonite, Pikachu, Raichu, Pidgey, Ponyta, and Rattata.
What’s Included in the Physical Edition
The physical board game will retail for 2,970 yen (around 19 USD) in Japan and includes:
- A set of Pokémon GOITA tiles
- A play mat
- A drawstring storage bag
The mobile version is free to download and reportedly contains no in-app purchases, making it an accessible companion app for players wanting to learn or practice the game.
Is a Global Release Likely?
Despite many Pokémon products eventually reaching international markets, Pokémon GOITA may not follow that trend. The original Goita game is not widely known outside Japan, and the culturally specific gameplay may limit its global appeal.
This mirrors Pokémon’s previous Japan-only tabletop adaptations, such as a Pokémon-themed version of another traditional card game released earlier this year.
At this time, no international release or localization has been announced.
