Pokémon Fans Are Shocked by a Lego Set That Costs More Than a Switch 2
Unfortunately, Lego’s recent realization that its core audience is no longer children but nostalgic thirty-somethings has been disastrous for anyone who isn’t one. Over the past few years, brick counts and complexity have dropped while prices have surged, peaking with last year’s infamous Death Star controversy.
From Kids’ Toy to Nostalgia Luxury
When the Lego and Pokémon collaboration was first announced, it felt like a dream come true for fans of both brands. A small desk Pikachu sounded perfect, until the price tag appeared. At $199.99, the idea of a casual collectible quickly turned into a luxury purchase.
The reveal trailer for the Lego Pokémon line doesn’t even attempt to market itself to children. Instead, it leans heavily into nostalgia, showcasing adults in old-school windbreakers and Ash Ketchum hats, clearly signaling who this line is really for.
Eye-Watering Prices Across the Lineup
The pricing only reinforces that message. The desk Pikachu and Poké Ball set costs $199.99 and can be found on the official Lego site.
Even the so-called budget option, a seven-inch-tall Eevee, comes in at $59.99, which is roughly the price of a brand-new Pokémon game, one that lets you collect as many Eevee as you want, digitally.
Then there’s the flagship set: Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise, priced at a staggering $649.99. While it may not reach Death Star levels of infamy, it’s still an extraordinary amount to pay for what is essentially a desk display rather than a functional playset.
More Expensive Than Nintendo’s Next Console
To put things into perspective, Nintendo’s upcoming console, the Nintendo Switch 2, is priced at 469,99 € with a release date of 5 June 2025.
That means Lego’s top-tier Pokémon set costs significantly more than an entire next-generation gaming console, and that console actually comes with games to play.
Final Thoughts
As controversial as the Switch 2’s launch pricing may be, Lego has somehow managed to outdo it. At this rate, you might need to sell your console just to afford a plastic Charizard. For lifelong Pokémon fans, the sets are undeniably beautiful, but for most people, the prices make them more of a display of excess than a celebration of nostalgia.
