McDonald’s is bringing back its Pokémon Happy Meal to U.S. restaurants on Nov. 10, pairing a new collection of toys with trading cards and an interactive game. The promotion will begin expanding to other countries in November and continue with additional markets in December and January 2027.
The latest offering gives fans two physical collections to seek out: a set of 15 toys and a separate group of 15 Pokémon trading cards. The restaurant chain has identified Pikachu, Eevee, Charmander, Squirtle and Umbreon among the characters included. Promotional material also shows Piplup, while an early look at the cards included Jirachi, Pikachu and Absol.
Toys designed for play and display
The toys are miniature versions of Happy Meal boxes, with each one decorated with a different Pokémon. McDonald’s executive Guillaume Huin provided an early look at the figures and showed that they can be converted into bag charms. The design gives the small toys a function beyond being standalone collectibles.
The complete card checklist has not been announced. Images and previews have pointed to additional characters, including Metagross, Zoroark and Jirachi, alongside the Pokémon already identified by McDonald’s. The promotion therefore combines a fixed toy collection with a card series whose full lineup will be revealed through the rollout.
A QR code adds a digital component
Each participating Happy Meal box will also connect to a digital activity. A QR code printed on the packaging opens a game in which players search for all 15 Pokémon toys in virtual settings that include a classroom and a playground. The activity is built around the same collection featured in the physical promotion.
- The U.S. launch is set for Nov. 10.
- The collection includes 15 toys and 15 trading cards.
- The packaging links to a game featuring a virtual search for the toys.
International rollout begins in November
The first wave outside the U.S. includes Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, New Zealand and Spain, along with the United States. In December, the promotion is scheduled to reach more than 40 additional countries, including Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
A third wave is planned for January 2027 across Latin America. The staged rollout follows McDonald’s earlier Pokémon promotions, but this edition adds the bag-charm toy format and the QR-linked game to the familiar Happy Meal packaging.
