Pokémon is a part of my childhood, and it blows my mind that a collectable card game that I indulged in as a kid is still hanging around. Although I dip my head into different titles on my Nintendo Switch virtually, I have fallen behind and lost touch with Pokémon TCG over the years.

With all the new generations, releases, and variations, for me - it was hard to keep up! But I do feel the need and twinge often to pick up my Pokeballs and head back to Gym for some competitive battles.

Pokémon TCG Battle Academy // The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Battle Academy is a fantastic way to casually play Pokémon - and it's been updated this year. With the newest and updated cards, or as a starting point to learn the current mechanics. Players will learn the ropes of the gym, in a board game format; teaching the fundamentals of battling it out against another trainer.

Pokémon Themed Decks // Pokémon TCG Battle Academy

Pitched for players who may have taken some time off, like me, or newcomers to the title. The new updated box will come with three updated decks containing players to master the gym floor with Pokémon Pikachu, Eevee, and Cinderace.

Inside the Box // Pokémon TCG Battle Academy

Inside the box along with the pre-built deck, guides and tutorials for play, rules, tips and tricks and visual counters for tracking damage. Completely compatible with the wider world of Pokémon.

Personally, I really like the concept if you ignore the wider world of Pokémon. Picking up a box for some battles here and then that's set up in one place will be a lot of fun without tieing myself to every announcement and release for the game. Sure, if it gets played a lot, expanding to more cards is totally possible. However, a 'pick up and play' boxed set seems like a lot of fun when running a few battles during games night in a fair arena.

Card Preview // Pokemon TCG Battle Academy

If you have found yourself interested or intrigued by Pokémon TCG Battle Academy. It is a fantastic place to introduce the wider world of Pokémon. Whether you want to stay there or explore further is down to you!

Remember if you are looking for the new updated version for 2022, look out for Eevee on the box in the corner. Rather than Pikachu and Charizard battling it out.

Cause you never know, you may be the very best... like no one ever was. Or you could just be a casual Pokémon Trainer, because it took so many years for Ash to win a league. It's a competitive world out there!