McDonald's launches Pokémon Happy Meals: Here's what you get

McDonald’s has launched a new Pokémon Happy Meal in the U.S., allowing fans of the enduring cultural phenomenon to catch ‘em all.

The new Happy Meals launched in restaurants on Tuesday nationwide "for a limited time," the company said. 

Here’s what to know:

McDonald's launches Pokémon Happy Meals

What we know:

Each McDonald’s Happy Meal includes a Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) booster pack, featuring four of 15 available Pokémon cards, a Pokémon poster, and one sticker sheet to decorate the poster. There are four different Pokémon-themed Happy Meal box designs featuring Charizard, Pikachu and Dragonite together, Rayquaza, and Roaring Moon.

The McDonald's Pokémon Happy Meal boxes are pictured in a provided image. (Credit: McDonald's)

Those who order on the McDonald’s app can also unlock an "in-game bonus" for the Pokémon TCG Pocket app for free, the company said. Fans will get a free, one-time redeemable code to unlock 24-pack hourglasses and 12 wonder hourglasses which can be used to open two digital booster packs and select one randomized digital card as part of the Wonder Pick feature. 

What they're saying:

"There’s nothing more exciting than when we can bring campaigns to our fans with partners that we’re fans of ourselves," Guillaume Huin, Senior Marketing Director at McDonald's, said in a statement – adding that many have a "deep nostalgia and love for the Pokémon brand."

The backstory:

The first Pokémon games were released in 1996 in Japan. An anime series premiered the next year in the country and helped propel Pokémon to worldwide popularity. In 1998, the franchise made its international debut, with the release of "Pokémon Red and Blue" for the Game Boy in the U.S. The anime also debuted in the U.S. in September 1998, and its catchphrase "Gotta Catch 'Em All!" became iconic, further cementing Pokémon's place in pop culture.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game was introduced in 1999, igniting a worldwide craze. Players could collect, trade, and battle with Pokémon cards, adding another layer of engagement to the franchise.

The cards prompted tournaments and leagues to form around the game. The card game has since been shipped to 93 countries and regions in 15 languages.

Pokémon Go, a mobile augmented reality (AR) game, launched in 2016 and also became a global phenomenon.

Pokémon GO PokéStops at McDonald’s

What we know:

Pokémon fans can also visit their local McDonald’s restaurant to participate in the Pokémon GO activation that kicked off in the U.S. in December. Trainers can visit Sponsored PokéStops or Gyms when visiting all U.S. McDonald’s restaurants.

Timeline:

 Pokémon GO players can visit the participating McDonald's locations during specific weeks from now until the end of March "to encounter Pokémon attracted by active Lure Modules and participate in five-star raids at McDonald’s Gyms," the company said. The weeks are Jan. 20 – Jan. 26, Feb. 10 – Feb. 16, and March 10 – March 16.

The Source: This story was reported using information published by McDonald's on Jan. 21, 2025. It was reported from Cincinnati, and Stephanie Weaver contributed. 

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