The Lego Pokémon Line Shows Toys Are Only for Rich Adults Now

WIRED 

Who cares about kids when adult collectors are willing to pay top dollar? From the moment a pixelated Gengar and Nidorino faced off in the opening animation of the first games on the original Game Boy back in 1996, the franchise has been a perennial favorite of kids and adults alike. With 2026 marking 30th anniversary, Lego's first-ever collaboration with the enduringly popular monster-catching megahit is perfectly timed--a crossover of pop culture titans with just one problem: Anyone who isn't an ultra-fan with cavernously deep pockets isn't invited. The recent announcement of a line of Lego Pokémon wasn't a surprise--the Danish brick brand first revealed it had entered into a "multi-year partnership" with The Pokémon Company back in March 2025 --but the makeup of the range itself was. Despite the mass appeal, Lego is launching with just three sets, and every single one is age-rated 18+.