| 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 our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Pokémon TCG Pocket Review Overview
What is Pokémon TCG Pocket?
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. But thankfully, the game still has a lengthy but fun tutorial to ease new players to the game.
Pokémon TCG Pocket features:
⚫︎ Free-to-Play Mobile Game
⚫︎ Card-Collecting and Trading
⚫︎ Online Card Battles
⚫︎ Daily Missions and Weekly Events
⚫︎ Free Daily Pulls
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Google Play |
 App Store |
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| Price | Free-to-Play | ||||
Pokémon TCG Pocket Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Can be Played Entirely Free Streamlined and Newcomer Friendly Simple, Fast, and Fun Battles |
Very Little to Do At the Moment Very Expensive Microtransactions |
Pokémon TCG Pocket Overall Score - 82/100
Card games often come with a steep learning and financial curve, but Pokémon TCG Pocket is a breath of fresh air—perfect for everyone from Bug Catcher Rick to Office Worker Hugo. You don’t have to be “the very best” or have a wallet full of Pokédollars to enjoy this completely free game. With generous pull rates, accessible gameplay, and short, action-packed battles, Pokémon TCG Pocket keeps things fair and fun for all. The game’s focus on community and the social experience shines through, and with highly anticipated updates like trading on the horizon, it’s set to grow as an engaging, social experience, much like Pokémon GO.
Pokémon TCG Pocket Story - 5/10
Currently, TCG Pocket doesn’t include a story mode, which is understandable for a free-to-play game. Still, it would have been nice to see story-driven events or familiar NPC characters—maybe a Professor or Gym Leaders—like in classic Pokémon games. Adding these elements could really give the game more personality and feel rewarding to fans.
Pokémon TCG Pocket Gameplay - 9/10
Pokémon TCG Pocket has truly made trading card games more streamlined, affordable, and incredibly beginner-friendly. The original Pokémon TCG was already one of the more accessible card games, but this version takes it a step further, opening it up to all kinds of players. Best of all, you don’t need to spend a cent—since the game prioritizes casual card collecting over competitive battling, you can have a rewarding experience just by diving into quick, fun battles and pulling cards. With promised updates like trading and ranked modes on the horizon, I’m excited to see how this game develops, though currently, there’s only so much you can do. And if you plan to drop some PokéDollars, be ready for some hefty spending!
Pokémon TCG Pocket Visuals - 9/10
TCG Pocket nails the minimalist aesthetic, making it clean, simple, and incredibly easy to navigate. Where many card games go all out with flashy visuals and intricate UIs—which can be overwhelming for new players—TCG Pocket takes a more streamlined approach. With a sleek, white interface reminiscent of an iPhone, it lets the cards you collect truly stand out, and wow, the artwork on these cards is stunning! The rare cards, in particular, are beautifully detailed and feel special every time you add one to your collection.
Pokémon TCG Pocket Audio - 8/10
The audio design in TCG Pocket is nothing groundbreaking, but it gets the job done. The music is relaxing and pleasant—perfectly fine for a casual game experience. Although I wish they could’ve used some tracks from the games or even the anime.
Pokémon TCG Pocket Value for Money - 10/10
Now is the perfect time to dive into card games, especially with Pokémon TCG Pocket. It's entirely free and incredibly rewarding for casual players who simply enjoy card collecting and the thrill of pulling new cards. It’s a fantastic game to share with family and friends, and I really hope they add features like trading and more social elements soon—it would definitely make the game even more fun and engaging!
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 |
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| Price | Free-to-Play | ||||
Pokémon TCG Pocket Review | On the Rise to Be the Very Best!
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.
The game features a solid rewarding tutorial that breaks everything down step-by-step, making it easy to follow and perfect for players of all ages. 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.
Not Much to Do As of the Moment
While I really enjoy a lot of TCG Pocket, there’s admittedly not much to do just yet. I wish they’d launched with a big event to keep players engaged—something similar to Pokémon Unite’s monthly events that build excitement, like the release of new Pokémon. It would’ve been a great way to keep people coming back. I understand they may have held off on big events to keep things simple for newcomers, but adding the promised trading feature would’ve been a game-changer. Trading would allow players to build their collections of rares, legendaries, and those beloved commons—online or locally with friends and family.
Very Expensive Microtransactions
I know I mentioned the game is entirely free-to-play, and I stand by that—but if you do decide to spend, be prepared for a hefty price tag. TCG Pocket can get pretty expensive, and one of my biggest frustrations is the overwhelming number of in-game currencies.
Like other mobile games, it’s cluttered with options like PokéGold for general store purchases, Special Shop Tickets for exclusive cosmetics, Premium Shop currency for unique cards and emblems, Pack Hourglasses, and more. This can make spending feel confusing and, honestly, a bit annoying.
To put it into perspective: the premium pass is $14.99 for about 30 packs, and the Erika bundle costs around $31. While I could understand these prices for physical cards, it’s surprising to see such high costs for digital items. Thankfully, paying isn’t necessary to enjoy the game, but I hope they eventually simplify the system and make the prices more reasonable.
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.
Game8 Reviews
Is Pokémon TCG Pocket Worth It?
Start Your Pokemon Journey Now!
Starting your Pokémon Trading Card journey has never been easier! Right from the palm of your hand, you can dive into collecting and catching ‘em all. I’m thrilled it's free-to-play, and I hope they keep up the fair pulls and generous daily and weekly rewards to keep players hooked! If they add features like trading or even innovative ideas like PokéSpots (similar to Pokémon GO), other mobile card games won’t stand a chance.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play |
App Store |
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| Price | Free-to-Play | ||||
Pokémon TCG Pocket FAQ
Can You Play Pokemon TCG Pocket Offline?
As of now, the game can only be played online and requires you to sign up with your email account or Nintendo Online Membership.
Does Pokemon TCG Pocket Have a PC Version?
Unfortunately, the TCG Pocket currently does not have an official PC version.
Game8 Reviews
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Pokémon TCG Pocket Product Information
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| 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 |
No Professor? No guides nor Tutorials? What about players who never touched the TCG before and just want to lern more about it? I only got cards when they were in Happy Meals and their descriptions were all confusing.
No Professor? No guides nor Tutorials? What about players who never touched the TCG before and just want to lern more about it? I only got cards when they were in Happy Meals and their descriptions were all confusing.