Pokémon first appeared in the wild in 1996 as a pair of games for the original Game Boy. This was quickly followed by an anime series and a trading card game. More recently, Pokémon made a comeback with the hugely popular Pokémon Go mobile game, as well as the release of new games for the Nintendo Switch to celebrate 25 years of Pokémon. Needless to say, these little creatures have been beloved for decades.
This massive Pokémon popularity is the reason for the sea of 3D printable pocket monster models available online. A large portion of those are intended to serve as figurines or ornaments to display, but we’ve also found some functional models and practical accessories, which will give your Pokémon a purpose. Whether you’re searching for a cool desk ornament, a useful Pokémon-themed object, or a cool project to keep you occupied over the weekend, we’ve got something in store for you!
If you want to immortalize your go-to starter Pokémon but don’t have the setup to print it yourself, try Craftcloud. With suppliers around the world printing in every color under the sun, your new pocket monster will be delivered to your door before you can say “Pika Pika”!
Decoration & Accessories
First up are our picks of the best models for home decorations and accessories, like planters, desk boxes, and chess sets. Put your Pokémon to work!
Cookie Cutters
Cookies! Who doesn’t love cookies? Everyone knows that cookie cutters are one of the easiest things to print. Plus, they make a great addition to any themed 3D printing collection.
To our amusement, we discovered a lot of Pokémon cookie cutters online. The best collection we found includes a whopping 19 different Pokémon cookie cutters. It’s quite a collection!
The author recommends a layer height of 0.4 mm and using PLA with 25% infill. You might want to read a bit on food-safe 3D printing before you get started!
- Who designed it? DimenzionCreativa
- How printable/popular is it? The collection combined has hundreds of likes on Thingiverse and the individual models have a handful of makes combined.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Logo
A great use for multicolor printing is this logo from the Pokémon series. The iconic look of this print makes it the perfect desk decoration, complete with little stands to keep it upright.
With the right color combination, this print can really pop, while enabling Ironing on your slicer can be used for a smooth surface and an impeccable final print. If you’re having issues with the corners peeling up during printing, consider using a brim for some additional bed adhesion.
- Who designed it? firstgizmo
- How printable/popular is it? Almost 900 people have downloaded this model, while 12 shared their makes!
- Where to find it? Printables
Keychains
Keychains are a simple print that can add a ton of personality to your keyring or bag. This keychain set features all three of the Generation 1 starter Pokémon, with a special Pikachu appearance as well!
Each keychain is designed for a two-color print, using a black base followed by your color of choice. You can achieve this using any 3D printer simply by swapping the colors mid-print. Turning on Ironing is recommended to get a smooth finish on your final layer. The designer also has other starter Pokémon generations available for download as well!
- Who designed it? Mario37
- How printable/popular is it? These keychains have been downloaded over 4,700 times, garnering a whopping 65 shared makes in the process.
- Where to find it? Printables
Planters
These might be the perfect models for fans of plant-type Pokémon! They’re easy to print but look awesome, especially if you match the plant to the Pokémon! To make the 3D printed planters more visually appealing, consider painting the models after printing.
Some of the Pokémon planters don’t require supports thanks to their simple geometry, but some might. Also pay attention to whether the model you’re printing has drainage holes. If not, you might want to add some before hitting “Print”!
Togepi Egg Cup
This is one of the cutest entries on our list, hands down! Togepi makes for a perfect egg cup, as long as it’s not too upsetting to eat your egg afterward…
A cool thing about this model is that it’s very easy and quick to print. For best results, we recommend using PLA, a 0.2-mm resolution, and 20% infill. The designer has also shared a nice short video of it on YouTube.
- Who designed it? Kickass3DPrints
- How printable/popular is it? Downloaded more than 1,300 times on MyMiniFactory, this one is clearly a popular design.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Poké Ball Box
We couldn’t put together an article like this without a Poké Ball or two, don’t you think? This is another very fun project to make, and the low-poly foldable design makes for a cool desk accessory.
For a more accurate replica, there’s also this Poké Ball that opens and closes. The author did a good job of designing the latch and hinges of the ball, so we recommend checking out the schematics on the Pinshape page and our tips on printing smooth spheres.
- Who designed it? 3D-mon
- How printable/popular is it? You will find that two people have shared their makes of this Poké Ball already.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Ancient Poké Ball Game Cartridge Holder
Maybe the previous design sparks your curiosity but isn’t quite meeting your gaming needs…
There are plenty of Nintendo Switch game cartridge holders around. What makes this one special is the fact that it’s also a functional Poké Ball with multiple inserts, latching closed to keep all of your games or even your jewelry safe. The model is fashioned after the Ancient Poké Ball found in the Pokémon Legends: Arceus game.
The Poké Ball prints just fine without any support needed. All of the pieces snap together, making it easy to print them individually in your color of choice before assembly. However, because everything needs to fit, you’ll want to make sure that your printer is calibrated before you get started. The inserts are removable and interchangeable, making it a very versatile design!
Nintendo Switch Lite Charging Stand
You’re keeping your cartridges in a themed box, but why not improve your setup even more? This design is a special stand for charging your Nintendo Switch Lite!
The designer has shared two versions, one of Pikachu and one of Eevee. We recommend using PLA with 20% infill on this one, and the designer suggests printing it upright.
- Who designed it? TheFronk
- How printable/popular is it? The pair of designs combined have more than 807 likes on Thingiverse, with 9 users sharing their makes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Chess Set
This next piece is an incredibly detailed design that took quite some effort from the creator. It’s a Pokémon chess set that would work great as a gift, or just as a personal project. Frankly, this set is so beautiful that you could print it as a decorative item even if you’re not into playing chess.
Every piece was designed to be printed in two parts, the base and the model itself. This means that the bases can be printed in two contrasting colors to designate teams. We recommend using PLA, 20% infill, and the lowest layer height possible for a high-quality surface.
The two parts then have to be glued together. The bases can also be filled with something heavy to stabilize the pieces on the board.
- Who designed it? sch00f
- How printable/popular is it? This design is very popular, with 61 makes and 18 remixes shared on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Board Game Pieces
Continuing in the spirit of merging board games and Pokémon, this next design also functions as both a board game set and a beautiful piece of home decoration. Why not use it instead of the traditional tokens for your favorite board game?
The creator put a lot of thought into designing the set, complete with its box to securely hold the pieces. Since the bases of the figurines are slightly elliptical, giving them a small turn will lock them into place.
Each piece has two parts, the model and the base, to be glued together after printing. We recommended reading all of the instructions on the Thingiverse page as there are some useful tips.
- Who designed it? ransoing
- How printable/popular is it? This design has 71 makes and 5 remixes shared on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Unknown Alphabet
The Unknown are curious Pokémon shaped like letters of the alphabet. While they may not be powerful, they sure are cute, especially in their 3D printed forms. Each Unknown prints in two separate pieces for easy assembly. Use them to decorate around the home, putting names above bedrooms, or complete your game room with the entire collection.
If you’re interested in kitchen decor, there’s a remix that turns these models into fridge magnets. Keep in mind that you’ll need to pause the print mid-way to drop the magnet into place before it’s sealed inside the model. This keeps the magnets securely in place once the print is finished.
- Who designed it? J-BLA
- How printable/popular is it? Each of the Unknown files has over 800 downloads. You’ll find two makes and three remixes of the models as well.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Figurines
Here we’ve got some standout figurines as well as collections of models. Because at the end of the day, we have to catch ’em all! We’re almost certain you’ll find your missing piece here.
Snorlax
Sometimes, simple is better. This model is a great representation of the cuddly Pokémon. The model prints in multiple pieces, allowing you to customize the look of your Snorlax from the start. You can print out one in the original colors, print a shiny variant, or show off your own unique take on the Pokémon.
The body prints upright while the inner color swap piece is printed flat, giving the piece a natural belly button in the process. The claws are printed separately and can be a bit of a pain to attach given their size, but it’s a task that’s manageable; glue is recommended. A black marker can be used to add the finishing touches to the face of the figure.
Psyduck
An underappreciated Pokémon from the Sinnoh region, Psyduck appears here as a cute little figurine. This is a fairly simple model that might make a nice desk ornament, being especially well suited for those moments when your brain gets cloudy. We recommend using PLA with 15% infill and the lowest possible layer height for the best results.
- Who designed it? Gelbar
- How printable/popular is it? This is a popular design with over 1,300 downloads so far.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Charizard Assembly
Charizard is a classic, right? This model is 3D printed in several pieces that require assembly. The original model even includes a base for Charizard, making it seem like he’s mid-flight in fiery fury.
For an extra challenge, YouTuber RCLifeOn took on the project of 3D printing Charizard at 500% to get an ultra-large champion. The detailed YouTube video walks you through each step, including 3D printing, assembling, post-processing, and painting. It’s pretty impressive!
- Who designed it? albertiny87
- How printable/popular is it? 14 Thingiverse users have posted successful prints of this model, not to mention the giant version from RCLifeOn.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Low-Poly
Low-poly, short for low-polygon, is a great minimalist art style used in game design, animation, and illustration. It comes from a modeling technique that uses a reduced number of polygons to create a 3D model, thereby producing a simpler result that’s easier to work with. That includes being easier to print!
These models look cute, modern, and unique, which makes them a perfect choice for desk or home decoration. The collection comes from well-known 3D modeler Agustin Flowalistik and includes seven of the most iconic Pokémon plus dual-extrusion alternatives of the classic starters: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, and Pikachu!
- Who designed it? flowalistik
- How printable/popular is it? With over 300,000 downloads for some of the designs, you could say these models are an absolute hit!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Voxel
Next up is a collection of cleverly pixelated Pokémon. The designs are truly impressive, though the designer warns that they’re not easy to print!
The voxels have been turned by 45°, so you shouldn’t need supports to print the models. For best results, it’s recommended to print with PLA at a slow speed, with a layer height of 0.1 mm and 10% infill.
- Who designed it? joehann
- How printable/popular is it? The entire collection has about a dozen makes and over 650 likes on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Articulated
This next collection is truly impressive: 21 Pokémon figures that you can print and assemble into articulated toys! These make for nice gifts as well as an excellent light-hearted activity for Pokémon fans.
The designer printed all the parts in different colors of PLA, except for the joints, which were printed using TPU. They recommend using a 0.2-mm layer height for the main body parts, and for the smaller parts, 0.1 mm.
- Who designed it? Entopop
- How printable/popular is it? The collection combined has about 4,000 downloads on MyMiniFactory.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Voronoi
This collection is based on the previously mentioned low-poly style but takes it further using a Voronoi pattern. Incredibly, these entirely hollow models don’t require any support material. Printing them in PLA works nicely, but if you’ve got something a bit more flexible (like TPU), try to print with that. Rubber-like filament combined with these hollow shapes should achieve great flexibility, making them fun to play with!
The designer suggests using a small layer height and printing with a brim, since the base is small and it may not be able to stand still on the print bed without it.
- Who designed it? sir_indy
- How printable/popular is it? 21 Thingiverse users have successfully made these models.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Quest Figures
The Pokémon Quest game definitely has a unique art style. Fans will fall in love with these adorable blocky figures. Each figure prints in a few pieces and assembles to give the final product the best possible surface finish.
Designer James M. Drachenberg has created figures for all three of the original starter Pokémon, including Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. Of course, there’s also a model available for Pikachu. Print out one of each to complete your collection!
- Who designed it? DragonMountainDesign
- How printable/popular is it? Each of these figures has earned about 500 downloads on its own, with the Pikachu model sitting at 1,400.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Ultra-Swole
And last but not least, what better way to finish off the list other than… ultra-swole Pikachu!
Kudos to the author for putting so much effort into the sculpting of the design. They also made ultra-swole models for Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander. If you want a truly unique spin on your favorite starter Pokémon, this could be the set for you!
- Who designed it? cyenyee
- How printable/popular is it? There have been a whopping 21,000 downloads on MyMiniFactory for Pikachu alone, with many more downloads for the other three designs.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Bonus: Full Collection
You may be thinking, “Sure, it makes sense that there are a couple of versions of Pikachu, but there’s no way there are models for all of the Pokémon.” Believe it or not, there are. Pretty much every Pokémon has been turned into a 3D model (based on the 3DS game Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon) and made available for download, thanks to user ChingKittyCat on The Models Resource.
The website is devoted to collecting 3D models from video games, which means there’s a huge range of options (around 50,000 models). For Pokémon alone, there are models from 45 games present, with collections including characters and accessories as well as the Pokémon themselves. The only downside is that the models generally aren’t designed for 3D printing specifically, so there might be some repairs needed to make them printable.
- Who designed it? ChingKittyCat
- How printable/popular is it? The files are available in the .dae format, which can be imported to Blender, posed as you like, and then exported as STLs for 3D printing.
- Where to find it? The Models Resource
License: The text of "Pokémon 3D Print/STL Files: The Best 3D Models to Catch ‘Em All" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.