Player Two Co

Gifts for Pokémon Fans of Any Age

Pokémon splits into three separate hobbies — the video games, the trading cards, and the collectibles. Work out which one they're in and the gift picks itself.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

Pokémon is unusual among fandoms because it’s really three different hobbies wearing the same logo, and people are often deep in one and barely touch the others. Getting this right is most of the battle:

The video games — the mainline adventures on the Nintendo Switch where you catch and battle creatures. The trading card game — a genuine collecting and playing hobby with its own economy, which needs no console at all. The collectibles — plushes and figures, which suit younger children and nostalgic adults alike.

A parent buying for a card-obsessed nine-year-old will miss completely with a Switch game, and vice versa. If you’re not sure which camp they’re in, the easiest tell is what they talk about: catching and battling in a game world points to the video games, while pulling, trading or protecting cards points to the TCG.

One useful note on the games: they release in matched pairs — Scarlet and Violet, for example — that are nearly identical apart from a handful of exclusive creatures. Buying the second half of a pair they already own is the classic Pokémon gifting mistake, so it’s worth checking.

How this is funded: Player Two Co earns a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which gift we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked for who they suit and how safe a gift they are. Tap a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t hands-on-tested these — here’s exactly what we do instead.

#GiftBest forPrice
1
Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet

Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet

If the kid (or kid-at-heart) on your list is into Pokémon at all, a mainline Pokémon adventure is a guaranteed hit. Scarlet is the modern open-world entry they can explore at their own pace.

Best video game
$53.80 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Pokémon Trading Card Game Booster Bundle

Pokémon Trading Card Game Booster Bundle

Pokémon cards are their own hobby alongside the games, and a booster bundle is the classic gift — several sealed packs to open, which is most of the fun. Reliable for any Pokémon fan, and great to open on the day.

Best for card collectors
$38.95 · See it on Amazon

$59.9935% off

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Pokémon Pikachu Plush

Pokémon Pikachu Plush

An officially licensed Pikachu plush is a can't-miss for any Pokémon-loving kid. Recognizable to everyone, soft, and inexpensive — a reliable little gift or add-on.

Best for a young fan
$14.99 · See it on Amazon

$15.996% off

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Pokémon Eevee Plush

Pokémon Eevee Plush

Eevee is second only to Pikachu in most fans' affections, and this is a large, officially licensed plush. A soft, safe, instantly recognizable gift that works for a small child or a nostalgic adult.

Best alternative plush
$24.99 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Nintendo eShop Gift Card

Nintendo eShop Gift Card

When you're not 100% sure what they own, a store card is the honest, can't-go-wrong answer. This lets any Switch owner pick their own games and add-ons — no risk of a duplicate.

Safest bet
$50.00 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
Game Traveler Deluxe Switch Travel Case

Game Traveler Deluxe Switch Travel Case

A protective case is the practical, always-useful gift for anyone who takes their Switch out of the house. Officially licensed, holds games too, and cheap enough for a stocking.

Best under $25
$16.98 · See it on Amazon

$19.9915% off

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

7
Nintendo Super Mario Party Jamboree

Nintendo Super Mario Party Jamboree

The newest and biggest Mario Party — a board game crossed with dozens of quick minigames, built for four people in the same room. If the gift is really 'something the family can all play', this is the current best answer.

Best for the family
$52.78 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

Every pick, explained

#1Best video game

Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet

If the kid (or kid-at-heart) on your list is into Pokémon at all, a mainline Pokémon adventure is a guaranteed hit. Scarlet is the modern open-world entry they can explore at their own pace.

Great because

  • Instant excitement for anyone who likes Pokémon
  • Open-world and beginner-friendly
  • Huge replay value catching and battling

Keep in mind

  • Choose Scarlet vs Violet — a few exclusive creatures differ between them
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
Ages 7 & up
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they already own Scarlet or Violet — check first, they're a matched pair.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#2Best for card collectors

Pokémon Trading Card Game Booster Bundle

Pokémon cards are their own hobby alongside the games, and a booster bundle is the classic gift — several sealed packs to open, which is most of the fun. Reliable for any Pokémon fan, and great to open on the day.

Great because

  • Opening packs is genuinely exciting for kids and collectors
  • No console needed at all
  • Easy to pair with a game or a plush

Keep in mind

  • Card sets rotate constantly — you're buying whatever set is current
Platform
Any platform
Type
Collectible
Works with
Any Pokémon fan — no console needed
Good for
Ages 6 & up

Skip it if: Skip if they only play the video games and have no interest in the cards.

Details read from the product listing on August 10, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#3Best for a young fan

Pokémon Pikachu Plush

An officially licensed Pikachu plush is a can't-miss for any Pokémon-loving kid. Recognizable to everyone, soft, and inexpensive — a reliable little gift or add-on.

Great because

  • Universally recognized and loved
  • Officially licensed, good quality
  • Cheap enough to pair with a game

Keep in mind

  • A plush, not something to play
Platform
Any platform
Type
Collectible
Works with
Any Pokémon fan
Good for
Kids & up

Skip it if: Skip if they're not into Pokémon.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#4Best alternative plush

Pokémon Eevee Plush

Eevee is second only to Pikachu in most fans' affections, and this is a large, officially licensed plush. A soft, safe, instantly recognizable gift that works for a small child or a nostalgic adult.

Great because

  • One of the most-loved Pokémon after Pikachu
  • Large size and officially licensed quality
  • Works as a main gift for a young child or an add-on for anyone

Keep in mind

  • A plush, not something to play
Platform
Any platform
Type
Collectible
Works with
Any Pokémon fan
Good for
All ages

Skip it if: Skip if they specifically want a game or cards instead.

Details read from the product listing on August 10, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#5Safest bet

Nintendo eShop Gift Card

When you're not 100% sure what they own, a store card is the honest, can't-go-wrong answer. This lets any Switch owner pick their own games and add-ons — no risk of a duplicate.

Great because

  • Impossible to get wrong — they choose
  • No worry about duplicate games
  • Available in several amounts

Keep in mind

  • Feels a touch less personal than a wrapped game
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Gift card
Works with
Any Nintendo Switch account
Good for
All ages

Skip it if: Skip if you'd rather give something they can physically unwrap.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#6Best under $25

Game Traveler Deluxe Switch Travel Case

A protective case is the practical, always-useful gift for anyone who takes their Switch out of the house. Officially licensed, holds games too, and cheap enough for a stocking.

Great because

  • Protects the console and holds game cards
  • Officially licensed
  • Inexpensive and universally useful

Keep in mind

  • Confirm it fits their model (regular, Lite or OLED)
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Accessory
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite & OLED
Good for
All ages

Skip it if: Skip if they never take their Switch anywhere.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#7Best for the family

Nintendo Super Mario Party Jamboree

The newest and biggest Mario Party — a board game crossed with dozens of quick minigames, built for four people in the same room. If the gift is really 'something the family can all play', this is the current best answer.

Great because

  • The largest Mario Party yet — huge amount of content
  • Four players on one Switch, no extra consoles needed
  • Mixed ages compete on genuinely even terms

Keep in mind

  • Much less fun played alone
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they mostly play solo — this needs company to shine.

Details read from the product listing on August 10, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

Buying for the card collector

If they’re into the trading cards, a booster bundle is the classic gift and it’s hard to get wrong. The appeal is largely in the opening — several sealed packs, each with the chance of something rare — which makes it a genuinely good thing to hand over in person rather than something they open alone later.

Two honest notes. First, card sets rotate constantly, so you’re buying whichever set is current rather than a specific one; that’s normal and fine. Second, be wary of inflated prices on hyped sets. When a particular set gets popular, third-party prices can run far above what the product is worth. We check the live price on every pick and deliberately avoid the collector-priced listings.

Buying for the video-game player

Check what they own first, because of the matched-pair problem above. If you can’t check, a Nintendo eShop gift card is genuinely the smart move here — more so than in most fandoms, because the risk of buying the wrong half of a pair is so high.

Buying for a young child

Plushes are the safest gift on this entire page for a small child. Pikachu is the obvious one and is beloved for good reason; Eevee is the pick if you want something slightly less predictable that fans love just as much. Both are officially licensed, soft, and instantly recognizable, and neither requires a console, a card binder, or any knowledge on your part.

Age ratings

The mainline Pokémon games are rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB, which makes them among the safest video-game gifts for children of any age on this site. We show the official rating on every game so you never have to guess.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best gift for a Pokémon fan?

It depends which of the three Pokémon hobbies they're in: a mainline Switch game for video-game players, a booster bundle for card collectors, or an official plush for a young child or nostalgic adult. Ask what they talk about most.

How do I avoid buying a Pokémon game they already have?

The games come in matched pairs — Scarlet and Violet, for instance — that differ only in a few exclusive creatures, so buying the other half of a pair they own is the classic mistake. If you can't check, a Nintendo eShop card lets them pick.

Are Pokémon trading cards a good gift?

Yes, for anyone into the card side — opening sealed packs is most of the fun, and it needs no console at all. Just watch prices on hyped sets, where third-party listings can run well above what the product is worth.

What's a good Pokémon gift for a young child?

An official plush is the safest pick — soft, recognizable and needing no console or knowledge. Pikachu is the classic; Eevee is the slightly less obvious choice that fans love just as much.

Are Pokémon games suitable for young children?

Yes — the mainline Pokémon games are rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB, making them among the most child-friendly video games available. We display the official rating on every game we list.

Sources

  • ESRB — Ratings Guide — The Entertainment Software Rating Board's official age-rating definitions: E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature 17+) and the content descriptors printed on every game box (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • ESRB — Ratings Search — ESRB's official database for looking up any game's age rating and content descriptors before you buy (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • Nintendo — Nintendo eShop Cards — Nintendo's own page on eShop cards: funds add to a Nintendo Account balance to spend on games and DLC in the eShop; cards are sold in fixed amounts (accessed July 22, 2026)

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