Punirunes Digital Toy | $17.99 at Amazon
Tamagotchi Nano x Sanrio | $34.99 at Amazon
Care Bears Cyber pet | $24.99 at Amazon
Pokemon and toy brand Takara Tomy released the ultimate in digital pet toy last year, and I can't stop thinking about it. While typical Tamagotchi-style toys only allow you to just stare at your pixelated baby through a small screen, the Pokemon Poke-nade Monster Ball allows you to actually pet Pikachu, or at least simulate it by rubbing the top of its Poke Ball exterior.
I've been collecting the Pokemon merch since the '90s, so I'm aware this isn't the first Tamagotchi-style toy Pikachu has appeared in. Back then, we had the Pocket Pikachu that counted your steps and let you raise a small mesh of pixels that was meant to represent everyone's favorite electric mouse. But this Poke-nade Monster Ball is the version is a big step up from what we had in the 90s - I just wish it wasn't a Japan exclusive.
The Pokemon Poke-nade was released in Japan in October 2025 and has since then remained available only in Japan. You can unofficially grab it at second-hand auction sites like eBay, but I've spotted it listed for upwards of $99.99 (eBay), which is a big markup from its ¥7,480 MSRP (approximately $48.30).
I won't lie to you, I've almost imported this incredible collectible more than once despite its highly inflated price. For one thing, I love digital pets and tamagotchis. Over the years, I've amassed a small collection of them that goes from the Tiger Electronics Little Mermaid Giga Pet, all the way up to a Grumpy Bear Care Bears Cyber Pet, so adding a Pokemon one to the mix would be a dream - especially when you factor in that you can actually pet your favorite Pokemon.
According to the official Pokémon Poke-nade Monster Ball website, rubbing the Poke Ball vertically and horizontally will pet Pikachu, or a range up to 157 Pokemon on the colored touch-screen display. How Pikachu, Eevee, Sylveon, or even Lucario reacts will depend entirely on how friendly you are with your digital bff. They will also show different expressions depending on how long you pet them - here's hoping they hope they don't get the zoomies like my real-life cat, Kylo.
Its name is actually a combination of "Pokemon" and the Japanese term "naderu" according to Essential Japan, which means 'petting' and refers to the unique feature of this adorable toy. While frankly I'm obsessed that I can pet my favorite Pokemon and get closer to my childhood Pokemon Trainer dream, I do wish Takara Tomy had gone the extra mile.
Toy line Punirunes consists of a digital pet that you can not only pet, but actually feel. It's available for $18.25 at Amazon and features a hole (settle down now) that you can put your finger through and actually 'feel' its squishiness. When I first heard about the Poke-nade Monster Ball I actually assumed they had managed to utilize the same tech, but rubbing the top of a Poke Ball is just as neat.
If you do manage to hunt down Poke-nade Monster Ball, you'll be happy to know that it contains a full English language mode. That's one of the big reasons why I've almost bought so many times, as while it's expensive, I knew I'd be able to play through its different modes without issue. It also features Pokemon battles and mini-games where you clean and care for your favorite Pokemon pals, which sound like they'd be a lot easier to navigate with a full grasp of the language.
With the Pokemon 30th Anniversary upon us, every part of me hopes that Takara Tomy will launch this at US and UK retailers. Tomy has been releasing Pokemon toys out of Japan for decades, with many of my original small plastic figures all sharing the 'Tomy' logo branding, so it wouldn't be entirely unheard of. Until the day comes to be, don't be surprised if you find me checking out eBay.
Check out our guide to the best Lego sets if you're after more Pokemon toys and collectibles.
