Pokémon Celebrates 30 Years With Massive Art Book Collection

The Pokémon franchise is preparing another major release to close out its 30th anniversary celebrations. On December 18, 2026, Game Freak and The Pokémon Company will launch a three-volume collection dedicated to the history of the mainline Pokémon games. Rather than introducing a new game, this release will explore three decades of development through artwork, production materials, character designs and behind-the-scenes content covering every generation released between 1996 and 2025.

Each volume will contain roughly 500 pages, bringing the complete collection to more than 1,500 pages. The books will be sold individually for 5,500 yen, or around $35 each, through official partner Overlap. In addition to familiar illustrations, the collection will feature previously unpublished concept art, 3D development materials and images documenting how different Pokémon, characters and environments evolved during production. An exclusive interview with members of the development teams will also be included.

The first volume covers the period from 1996 to 2009, starting with Pokémon Red and Green and continuing through titles such as Gold and Silver, Ruby and Sapphire, Diamond and Pearl, Platinum, and HeartGold and SoulSilver. Volume 2 focuses on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS eras between 2010 and 2017, including Black and White, X and Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and the Sun and Moon games. The final volume covers the Switch generation from 2018 to 2025, including Sword and Shield, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and their respective expansions.

The collection will be printed in full color in B5 format and is currently planned as a Japan-only release. International fans may still be able to import the books through third-party retailers, although additional shipping and import costs are likely. The announcement arrives during a particularly active anniversary year for Pokémon, with new releases, special events, trading card products and classic titles all contributing to the franchise's 30th anniversary. For longtime players, the three books are shaping up to be one of the most comprehensive official archives ever released on the history of the series.