You can save $20 on several Nintendo Switch games for Pokémon Day

Metavives February 27, 2024

*Twist on your trainer’s cap and try to catch these deals before they sell out.* | Image: The Pokémon Company

Oh, would you look at that. It’s Pokémon Day, an annual celebration commemorating the game’s launch on this very day in 1996. Fun fact: Pokémon was first a video game, but it was quickly adapted as a trading card game and anime, both of which are arguably equally as responsible as the Game Boy titles for its success in becoming a global craze.

Today, we’re celebrating all facets of our fandom by tuning in to the latest announcements from Pokémon Presents and highlighting a few of the best Pokémon Day deals. Right now, for example, Walmart is discounting Pokémon Legends: Arceus for the Nintendo Switch to $39.99 ($20 off), which nearly matches the title’s lowest price to date.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a prequel to Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond (which we’ll get to in just a moment). It’s an original open-world adventure akin to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet that takes place in the same region of Sinnoh. Unlike most Pokémon games we’ve enjoyed this generation, however, Arceus ditches the turn-based battling system for a new take that balances it with real-time action-based combat. Your pokémon can attack with different styles that give them speed and power advantages in battle, and if you strategize correctly, you can sneak in extra attacks before your opponent can respond.

Arceus represents a refreshing change of pace for those who felt the classic formula was getting a little stale, but we also promised you some good deals on Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond, didn’t we? A physical copy of Pokémon Shining Pearl for the Switch is going for $39.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and Walmart right now, and you can get Pokémon Brilliant Diamond for the same price at Walmart in both physical and digital formats.

Nintendo faithfully recreated the two older DS titles with upgraded 3D graphics and quality-of-life improvements that make it easier to build your team, along with a charming character design reminiscent of classic 2D sprites. The Switch games take place in the Sinnoh region, which features Turtwig (Grass-type), Chimchar (Fire-type), and Piplup (Water-type) as starters. Chronologically, it makes sense to play them after Arceus, but I wish I’d played them first.

It can be hard to revisit the older (but greatly refined) combat system and linear world after dreaming about some of the elements Nintendo will potentially borrow from Arceus for future mainline games. By no stretch does that make the games bad, however, especially if you’re a nostalgic player who’s into the competitive scene that still favors the classic battling system. Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond are worth a run-through whether you’ve played the original games or skipped them entirely.

If the mainline Pokémon games don’t sound appealing, Walmart is also taking $20 off New Pokémon Snap for the Switch, dropping it to just $40. The 2021 release builds on the success of the original N64 title, which has you taking on the role of a photographer set in the world of Pokémon. The peaceful gameplay doesn’t feature any battling — instead, you explore lush jungles, rainforests, and other natural habitats to capture snapshots of pokémon doing their thing.

Catch more great Pokémon Day deals

PowerA’s Pikachu Moods Enhanced Wired Controller for the Nintendo Switch is down to $19.99 ($8 off) at Amazon. The Charizard Vortex model is also on sale for $23.79 (about $4 off) at Amazon. The affordability and design of these controllers make them ideal for children, as does the USB connector that plugs directly into your Switch’s dock.
GameStop is currently discounting PowerA’s Pikachu Color Shift Protection Case for the Switch, dropping it to $15.99 ($4 off). It fits all Nintendo Switch models, whether you have the original handheld, the OLED upgrade, or the Switch Lite. You can also get PowerA’s Pikachu cartridge holder for $12.69 (15 percent off) at Amazon. The latter is a hard shell case with rubber grooves that can hold up to 12 Switch games and up to 12 microSD cards, one that folds to fit neatly in your pocket or bag.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game: Trainer Toolkit 2023 has everything you need to get started with the tabletop battler — including booster packs, die, condition markers, and a deck-building guide — and it’s on sale at Best Buy for $17.49 (about $18 off). You can also pick up the 2023 Pokémon TCG Holiday Calendar for around $25 ($25 off) at Best Buy and GameStop, which has collectible coins and a new pack to open for each of the first 25 days in December (or whichever month you feel like opening them). If you’re ready to go all in with the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Best Buy has the full Classic collection for $319.99 ($80 off), complete with a playing mat and everything else required for a proper round of battling. Keep in mind, though, that all the TCG deals are set to expire at the end of today, February 27th.
Several Funko Pop Pokémon figurines are on sale today as well. GameStop is selling Ponyta for just $2.78 (about $10 off), for instance, while Amazon has Oshawott for $5.99 ($7 off), Charizard for $15.98 (about $4 off), and Bulbasaur for $12.99 (about $4 off).