Pokémon has its hands in basically every jar imaginable, with video games only representing one corner of its massive reach in popular culture. Pokémon video games are obviously an enormous and paramount corner, to be fair, but there are probably plenty of Pokémon fans who lightly dabble in the games, rather than collecting and playing all of them religiously.

Pokémon TCG and its related accessories, for example, probably encompass one of the largest corners of the community fanbase. That said, board games have their own corner of the fanbase, however niche it may be, and a brand-new one set to release later this year seems like it’ll be taking a novel approach to Pokémon’s typical gameplay formula, even if it wouldn’t necessarily be a giant leap for board games, in general.

X user CentroLeaks shared a promotional image of a brand-new Pokémon board game arriving in November 2026, with “more details coming soon.” The image features art for the game, and it may reveal quite a bit about it: a Pokémon logo, a YOKA Games publisher logo, a couple of cards included in the board game, and a mysterious, smirking character wearing a grey sweatshirt with the hood drawn over their head to conceal their identity, joined by a Gengar and a mischievous-looking Pikachu.

Translated from Japanese to English), the board game is called “Are You Perhaps with Team Rocket?” The character being a focal point has fans confused, with user chin_glendon shouting out, “Who the heck is that guy???” Likewise, user PKM4itsme writes, “The strangest thing here is the supposed Team Rocket grunt in disguise with a Pikachu.”

User t_cradily guesses that the upcoming game will be “Werewolf but Pokémon.” This could be an accurate deduction, as the title “Are You Perhaps with Team Rocket?” suggests that players could be tasked with interrogating one another and attempting to deduce which one among them is sneakily a member of Team Rocket.

If this is the case, it appears as if the hoodie-wearing mascot of the Pokémon board game is meant to resemble the player. And, consequently, fans could probably expect “Are You Perhaps with Team Rocket?” to emulate similar gameplay to social deduction games like “Werewolf” and Among Us.

Users like GaboV5443 are already comparing it to Among Us, at least based on how little information—true or not—that we’ve received about “Are You Perhaps with Team Rocket?” It’s certainly a popular premise, and it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to see it inherited and adapted by Pokémon. Unfortunately, however, there’s nothing to yet suggest that it’ll be making its way stateside.

Video Game(s)

Pokemon Red and Blue, Pokemon Yellow, Pokemon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Crystal, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokemon Sapphire, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, Pokemon Platinum, Pokemon Black and White, Pokemon Black and White 2, Pokemon X and Y, Pokemon Sun and Moon, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon Winds and Waves, Pokemon Legends Arceus, Pokemon Legends Z-A

Pokémon is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, launched by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures in 1996. Centered on fictional creatures called Pokémon, the series spans video games, trading cards, animation, films, merchandise, and competitive events. Players assume the role of Trainers who capture, battle, and trade Pokémon. It is one of the highest-grossing entertainment franchises in history.