Pokémon Friends shadow dropped as new puzzle game on mobile

• Pokémon Friends was revealed during a Pokémon Presents stream on July 22nd.
• It was shadow dropped immediately after the presentation.

Pokémon Friends is a new multiplatform puzzle title out today on Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch.

The title has been shadow dropped immediately following today’s Pokémon Presents, an online presentation on July 22nd, 2025 which showcased updates to various Pokémon mobile titles like Go and TCG Pocket.

The presentation unveiled Friends as another new Pokémon game now available on mobile, and showcased various puzzle games within designed to "untangle your mind".

Pokémon gets puzzling

Pokémon Friends has been published by The Pokémon Company with over 1,200 puzzles included at launch. These puzzles fall into various categories and completing them nets players in-game plushes, unlocking new customisation options as they progress.

Among Pokémon Friends’ puzzle challenges is a tile-based mode where players must draw one line connecting all lightbulbs on screen. Another has players slide blocks around one another to create a path for a Pokémon to cross.

A third mode showed the trajectory of arrows flying towards balloons, with fans expected to select the balloons that won’t be popped along their path.

Other minigames briefly shown included an ice slider, a maze, an isometric guiding challenge and more. The modes all had timers counting down, implying that finding solutions within a time limit will form part of the challenge.

"Solve puzzles and get your daily ‘aha’ moment. Use the plush you get from solving puzzles to decorate your in-game plush room," the trailer stated.

In-game purchases have also been confirmed, and it appears certain features are locked behind paid DLC.

The new game has launched as the mobile puzzle genre continues to evolve, with recent hits like Rollic's Color Block Jam picking up over $100 million in player spending.