Ethan Crossfield 
The Pokémon Company and an official partner have revealed the cover art for a three-book collection celebrating the franchise’s 30th anniversary. The color art books are scheduled to release in Japan on December 18, 2026, offering a chronological look at the series from its earliest games through Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
What happened
The collection is split into three volumes, with each book focused on a different period of Pokémon history. Book 1 covers the Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh eras, including the original games, remakes, and later releases such as Pokémon Platinum and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Its cover features starters from the first four generations alongside artwork inspired by important moments from those games.
Book 2 moves into the Unova, Kalos, Hoenn, and Alola eras. Its cover combines starter sprites with game screenshots arranged around the word “Pokémon.” The volume includes Pokémon Black and White, Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and both the original and expanded Alola releases.
Book 3 focuses on the Switch and Switch 2 period. It includes Pokémon: Let’s Go, Sword and Shield, Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet, both parts of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, and Legends: Z-A with its Mega Dimension content.
Why it matters
This is not presented as a ranking of the best Pokémon games. Instead, the set is designed as a broad visual history of the franchise’s three decades, giving each major generation and region a place in the timeline. The books will be printed in color at B5 size and together will contain roughly 1,500 pages.
Each volume is expected to cost about 5,500 yen, or approximately $35, and fans should be able to buy the books separately. The initial release is limited to Japan, so buyers elsewhere may need to rely on third-party sellers, potentially at a higher price. The books will also include new developer insights from Game Freak, adding material beyond a straightforward collection of game artwork.
What to watch next
The December release is one part of a wider anniversary year. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen have launched on Switch and Switch 2, while Pokémon Home support is expected to provide players with a free Celebi. Rumors also point to Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald potentially arriving on Nintendo’s current consoles later in 2026, although that has not been confirmed in the source material.
Other anniversary activity includes events in Pokémon GO, a free rare-item giveaway in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and a major Pokémon Champions update released on September 8. The Pokémon Trading Card Game’s 30th Celebration set has been delayed, showing that not every anniversary product will arrive on its original schedule.
Key takeaways for Pokémon fans
- The three books release in Japan on December 18, 2026.
- Book 1 covers Kanto through Sinnoh, Book 2 covers Unova through Alola, and Book 3 covers the Switch-era games.
- Each volume is expected to cost around 5,500 yen and can likely be purchased separately.
- The full collection contains approximately 1,500 color pages and includes Game Freak developer insights.
- International fans should monitor third-party retailers because the launch is Japan-only.
The three books at a glance
| Volume | Covered eras | Notable releases |
|---|---|---|
| Book 1 | Kanto to Sinnoh | Red and Green through Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum |
| Book 2 | Unova to Alola | Black and White, X and Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Sun and Moon |
| Book 3 | Switch and Switch 2 era | Let’s Go, Sword and Shield, Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet, Legends: Z-A |
Expert View
The collection’s strongest feature is its structure. By dividing the timeline into clear hardware and generation eras, it gives longtime players a tangible record of how Pokémon evolved without reducing the franchise to a greatest-hits list. The Japan-only launch is the main limitation, but the combination of extensive artwork and new Game Freak commentary makes these books more significant than a standard anniversary merchandise release.
