gaming

Lego launches Pokémon Smart Play sets and tops summer 2026 toy picks

Lego released new Pokémon Smart Play sets that are being highlighted as the standout kids’ toy for summer 2026. The review ties the launch to late‑1990s Pokémon merchandise — stuffed animals, bouncy balls with plastic monsters, and gold cards — and recalls wheeled launcher toys the writer still keeps. This matters because the collaboration pairs Lego’s building play with a major franchise that appeals to both today’s children and nostalgic parents.

• Lego unveiled new Pokémon Smart Play sets marketed for children in summer 2026.
• The review names these Smart Play sets the best kids’ toy of the summer.
• The piece compares the new sets to late‑1990s Pokémon merchandise, citing stuffed animals, bouncy balls with plastic monsters, and collectible gold cards.
• The writer notes personal nostalgia for wheeled launcher Pokémon toys kept from childhood and says the Smart Play sets would have been especially impressive then.