Are Pokémon booster packs a good gift?
Short answer. As a small extra, maybe, but not as the main present. What is inside a sealed pack is down to chance, often a card they already have. A gift they can see, keep and play with lands better.
If you want the gifts themselves, Pokémon gifts they can see before they open them are on our list.
What is in a Pokémon booster pack?
A booster pack is a small sealed pack of trading cards. The cards inside are random, so nobody knows what they will get until it is open. Tins, collection boxes and the bigger trainer boxes mostly hold the same sealed packs, with a promo card or a figure beside them.
That is the fun for some fans. It is also why one pack can be over in a minute, with nothing new for the binder. New sets often sell out in the shops and come back from resellers for far more.
What should I give a child who plays the card game?
A battle deck is a complete deck, ready to play straight out of the box. Two decks, or a set made for two players, let them play a friend or a parent the same day.
What can I give for the cards they already have?
- A card binder. Pages with pockets keep the cards flat and easy to show friends.
- Card sleeves. They protect the cards they play with most.
- A deck box. A small box keeps a deck together in a school bag.
These are cheap, useful, and they choose what goes inside.
Are Pokémon plush and figures a good gift?
Yes, and you know exactly which Pokémon you are giving. A small plush suits a young child, and a big one makes a statement on a teen's bed. Figure sets show every figure on the box, so there is no surprise to regret.
Which Pokémon video games suit which age?
Check the age rating on the box first.
The age rating steps
PEGI rates games 3, 7, 12, 16 and 18, with a mark at 12. The Pokémon games below sit on the first two steps, under the mark.
These play on Nintendo Switch or Switch 2:
| Game | Plays on | Age rating |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Pokopia | Switch 2 | ESRB E, PEGI 3 |
| Pokémon Scarlet | Switch | ESRB E, PEGI 7 |
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A | Switch, and a Switch 2 Edition | ESRB E10+, PEGI 7 |
Most Pokémon games need some reading, so younger children often play alongside a parent at first. For more picks by age, see Switch games for kids.
What Pokémon books and puzzles are there?
Sticker and activity books suit early readers, and chapter books follow the story of the series. Older fans and grown-ups often like a big jigsaw puzzle or a guide to every Pokémon.
How do I keep the fun of opening a Pokémon gift?
- Make a starter kit. Wrap a battle deck with a binder and sleeves as one present.
- Fill a stocking. Small figures and a deck box fit inside.
- Hide a little one. Tuck a deck into the arms of a plush before you wrap it.
For the wrapping itself, our guide shows how to wrap a present.
Is a booster pack ever a good idea?
As a stocking filler for a fan who loves opening packs, it can be. Keep it small, next to a main present they can see.
What is the difference between a battle deck and a booster pack?
A battle deck is a complete deck, ready to play. A booster pack is a small sealed pack of random cards.
What Pokémon gift suits a 6-year-old?
A plush, a sticker book or a simple game they can play with a parent. The card game says 6 and up on most boxes, and a battle deck is the easiest way in.