Pokémon Battrio is an arcade game released in Japan on September 14, 2007, and never available anywhere else. Developed by Takara Tomy and AQ Interactive on the Triforce system, it pits teams of three Pokémon against each other, represented by tokens that you scan and place on the cabinet. Its name blends “battle” and “trio”. As a Japan-only game, it is not rated.
Tokens to battle with
Each player chooses three of their tokens, discs illustrated with a Pokémon, and swipes them over the cabinet’s scanner. Once recognized, the tokens are placed on the playing surface: their position determines that of the Pokémon on the field, in an offensive or defensive formation. Battles are played three-on-three, a format that was new to the series at the time. See how to play.
A collection
Like the TCG, Battrio is built on collecting: the cabinet gives you a token after every match, and token packs are sold separately. About twenty series came out between 2007 and 2012, from Diamond and Pearl to Black and White. See the packs.
For kids
Pokémon Battrio targeted ages 6 to 12, with simple rules, far from the tactical depth of the main games. Takara Tomy hoped for 30 billion yen in revenue over three years. The game was discontinued after the announcement of April 18, 2012, and replaced by Pokémon Tretta on July 14, 2012.
