Every now and then, The Pokémon Company drops something so unexpected that you can’t help but grin. Today, that surprise came in the form of Pokémon Goita, a brand-new physical card game inspired by an old traditional favourite from Noto Town in Ishikawa Prefecture. It’s one of those ideas that feels both oddly specific and absolutely perfect the moment you see it.

If you’ve never played Goita before, the original game is a quiet little gem from Japan’s Hokuriku region. It’s a 2-on-2 strategy card game where half the fun comes from trying to read your partner without speaking. You’re basically working together while pretending you’re not, which always leads to that mix of silent tension and sudden laughter when a round goes sideways.

Pokémon Goita keeps that core idea intact, but of course, everything has been lovingly reworked into Pokémon flavour. The artwork leans into the classic look of traditional Japanese playing cards, but with Pokémon characters slipping into the roles. Think of it like a mash-up between folkloric aesthetics and modern creature design a combination that shouldn’t work as well as it does, but somehow absolutely does.

The best part? That “no talking to your teammate” rule is still here, which practically guarantees chaos in the best possible way. Pokémon battles are already loud and dramatic in the games and anime, so watching players try to strategise in complete silence is going to be comedy gold.

Pokémon Centre Japan announced that the set launches on December 18, and judging by the early reaction online, this might end up being one of those quirky collector pieces fans rush to grab before it disappears. It’s the sort of release that feels tailor-made for the holiday season too small enough to be a perfect stocking filler, but charming enough to pull in people who never touched the original Goita.

Whether you’re a long-time Goita fan, a collector who grabs every Pokémon novelty, or just someone who enjoys party games that turn friends into confused statues for a few minutes, Pokémon Goita looks like it’ll be a fun little addition to the franchise’s growing pile of unexpected side projects.

If nothing else, it proves The Pokémon Company still knows how to catch us off guard. And sometimes, that’s the most delightful part.