스플렌더: Pokémon plays much like the original Splendor game, but with special rules based on Pokémon.

On your turn, you may (1) collect Pokéballs (which come in five colors), or (2) catch a Pokémon, or (3) reserve a Pokémon. If you collect Pokéballs, you take either three different colors of Pokéballs or two Pokéballs of the same color (as long as four are available). If you catch a Pokémon, you pay its cost in Pokéballs, then add it to your playing area. If you reserve a Pokémon — in order to make sure you get it, or, why not, your opponents don't get it — you place it in front of you face down for later catching; this costs you a round, but you also get a Master Ball which you can later use as a Pokéball of any color. Each Pokémon you have caught gives you a permanent Pokéball that you can use toward catching all future Pokémon, meaning as you catch more Pokémon, it becomes easier to catch the ones that are more expensive and worth more points.

Differences from the original Splendor include:

At the end of your turn, you can evolve one of the Pokémon in your collection if the next level of that Pokémon is in the display and you have the required Pokéballs. More points for you, and another card in your Pokédex...

There are two new decks of cards: Rare Pokémon and Legendary Pokémon. Only one of each is on display at a time, and they each provide 2 permanent Pokéballs instead of 1 when caught. Legendary Pokémon are worth more points than Rare Pokémon but require you to use a Master Ball in order to catch them.

When a player has 18 or more points in their collection, you complete the final round, then whoever has the most points wins.