Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
Gameplay & Story	Release Date	Pre-Register & Pre-Order	Review

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is a digital card game developed by DeNA Co., Ltd., the creators behind Pokémon Masters EX. Read on to learn everything we know, our first impressions, and more.

Everything We Know About Pokémon TCG Pocket

Pokémon TCG Pocket Plot

Pokémon TCG Pocket currently doesn’t have a story mode, as it’s more of a socially focused experience centered around card collecting, trading, and battling. The game brings the physical Pokémon Trading Card Game to life on mobile devices, letting you connect and compete with other players online!

Unlike many past Pokémon titles, there’s no friendly Professor to guide you at the beginning of your journey—no Professor Oak from the Kanto games, or even Professor Willow from Pokémon GO.

Pokémon TCG Pocket Gameplay

Pokémon TCG Pocket will be the mobile game app equivalent of the original, physical Pokémon Trading Card Game that consists of two players facing each other using their Pokémon cards with all sorts of strategies! The game will allow players to open up booster card packs to collect numerous Pokémon cards they can use to trade, battle, or immerse themselves in, all through the handy-dandy mobile game app!

The game will have dozens of new features to seamlessly integrate and simulate the real-life TCG! One is that trading is easily available to be performed online or nearby, allowing players to amass their collections or rares, legendaries, or just the lovable commons. Speaking of collections, there will be virtual binders and display cases reminiscent of the physical that hardcore Pokémon card gamers will appreciate.

Moving onto the gameplay proper, some of the rules from dueling will have various changes made. Players will be limited to 20-card decks; only 1 active Pokémon will be allowed while bench Pokémon have been set to 3; a new Energy zone to replace the need for energy cards; 3 points will be needed to win a game; and lastly, games will have 5-minute time limits.

Pokémon TCG Pocket Release Date

Pokémon TCG Pocket was released worldwide on October 30, 2024, following a soft launch in New Zealand on September 26, 2024.

Digital Storefronts
Google Play			App Store
Price		Free-to-Play

Pokémon TCG Pocket Review (First Impressions)

It's Super Effective!

If there’s one thing I absolutely Absol-lutely love about this game, it’s that—thank Arceus in heaven—Pokémon TCG Pocket keeps things casual and streamlined! It’s as easy to pick up as catching a Caterpie, accessible for trainers of all levels, and generously rewarding—perfect for free-to-play players and newcomers alike! Even young Bug Catcher Mike, Youngster Al, Birdkeeper Aaron, and Hiker Charly could get in on the fun.

Yes, there’s an option to pay, but it’s entirely OPTIONAL (unlike most mobile games). The game showers you with daily rewards and objectives that keep you coming back for more! Not only is this gameplay model super effective, but it’s also super addictive.

Affordable and Addicting Card Collecting

I've always wanted to get into card collecting, but it can be quite an intimidating and expensive hobby. Pokémon TCG Pocket does a fantastic job of recreating that experience without costing a dime or feeling overwhelmed. The game takes a more casual and accessible approach, focusing heavily on card collecting rather than just battling.

Right from the start, you dive into opening booster packs, choosing between Mewtwo, Pikachu, or Charizard Genetic Apex packs—each providing unique Pokémon and Trainer cards with five cards per pack. This setup makes collecting and the randomness more manageable, making it easier to get the cards you need.

You can open two packs daily for free, and missions reward you with Pack Hourglasses, which let you skip an hour of waiting to open the next pack. The generosity in the card collection is impressive, with each booster pack containing exclusive cards. So, for example, certain Pokémon can only be obtained from the Charizard booster pack.

What makes the experience so exciting is the thrill of pulling rare cards, with “Crown” and “Promo” cards being the most coveted. There's even a Pack Points system, similar to gacha games, where every booster pack earns points, which you can eventually use to pick out a specific card. It’s addicting to open packs, hoping for the rare cards you want!

Beyond packs, there's a feature called Wonder Picks, similar to Wonder Trade from the main series games. You get to select from another player’s booster pack, though the pick will be random. Higher-rarity cards cost more Wonder Stamina (which recharges over time), but you can speed it up with a Pack Hourglass.

Plus, if you Wonder Pick from a player in a different language, you can receive cards in that language, making the TCG experience feel truly global.

This collecting side of the game is enhanced by quality-of-life features, like converting duplicates into Shinedust, which you can use to unlock Flairs—visual effects that make cards look even cooler in battles and in their binders. You can also customize your decks further with collectible card sleeves, adding a personal touch to your setup.

The game does a wonderful job of easing you in with a detailed tutorial, making the experience genuinely addicting without ever feeling pressured to spend money.

This card-focused approach means you don’t have to chase the best Pokémon builds and can simply enjoy collecting for fun. I’m excited to see what new events and packs they release and look forward to a future trading feature. This has real potential as a casual bonding game!

Fast and Fun Poke Battles

Pokémon battles in Pokémon TCG Pocket feel more streamlined and faster-paced, comparable to how Duel Links simplified its gameplay while retaining its fun. The original Pokémon TCG was already fairly accessible, so this version maintains that approachability for all players.

As someone who enjoys the card collection aspect more, I appreciate that the game removes the traditional energy system and replaces it with Energy Zones. With this new system, there’s no need to rely on drawing Energy cards. Instead, an Energy Zone generates Energy once per turn, supporting up to three types in a deck.

While innovative, the Energy Zone system isn’t perfect; it randomly alternates between Energy types, which can lead to inconsistent matches when using multi-type decks. There were instances where I lost matches simply due to not receiving the needed Energy type. Still, the Energy Zone performs well overall, and I hope to see further improvements to enhance its reliability.

Decks are capped at around 20 cards instead of the usual 60, making it easier to build a deck and jump right into matches. With only Trainer and Pokémon cards, and only needing 4 Pokémon in the field, the game flows much quicker, with minimal setup required.

Resistances have been removed, and victory is achieved by earning just 3 points: knocking out a regular Pokémon gives 1 point, while an EX Pokémon awards 2 points. This streamlined approach adds a high-octane feel to each match, keeping the action constant and exciting.

If you're new to deck-building or unsure of what suits you best, don't worry—the game allows you to rent decks, which you can unlock by completing missions. These missions not only unlock decks but also guide you through strategies and effective card usage. Players can also practice against a computer in solo mode via 'Step-Up Battles,' earning rewards for each victory, which is a great way to improve your skills.

The CPU battles offer a range of challenges, even allowing you to face iconic Kanto gym leaders like Erika. The difficulty varies, providing options from straightforward matches to more challenging encounters.

For those not as experienced with card games (myself included), this accessible approach makes it easy to jump in and start leveling up. Matchmaking often pairs you with players of similar skill, ensuring balanced and enjoyable battles even against stronger trainers.

With around 286 Pokémon currently available and more to come, it’s a solid start, and I find myself coming back often to build my collection and take on new challenges.

Future of Pocket TCG

This is just the beginning, and the developers have promised more features that are bound to make the game even more popular. For instance, the much-anticipated trading feature would bring a more authentic Pokémon experience, allowing players to trade with friends and people nearby. If this feature rolls out, it could foster a community similar to Pokémon GO, where players meet, play, trade, and make new friends.

Additionally, the planned ranked mode for battles will appeal to competitive players, giving them even more reasons to dive in and refine their skills. I’m excited to see where this game goes, and with the right updates, it could very well achieve the same impact as Pokémon GO or even rekindle the excitement of the Pokémon series when it first launched.

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Pokémon TCG Pocket Product Information

Title	Pokémon TRADING CARD GAME POCKET
Release Date	October 30, 2024
Developer	Pokémon Company, Creatures Inc., DeNA
Publisher	Pokémon Company
Supported Platforms	Mobile(iOS, Android)
Genre	Card, Simulation
Number of Players	1-2
ESRB Rating	IARC 3+
Official Website	Pokémon TCG Pocket Official Website