Pokémon TCG Pocket is Pure Nostalgia

How Pokémon is dominating the trading card game genre.

Some readers may be old enough to recall the hysteria that occurred when Pokémon first swept the nation. Children stormed their local stores searching for booster packs before heading home to watch the newly discovered anime. Soon, the trading game fell to the wayside as children focused their attention on the Pokémon games which were being released on the newly invented handheld Gameboy devices.

Pokémon has been with us since the late 1900s, although its popularity has waned and risen in that time it remains one of the most iconic titles in all of pop culture. The past decade revealed an unexpected uptick in the popularity of the trading card version of the game. Soon huge expos were held for players to buy and swap their favorite cards.

Never one to let interest pass without capitalizing on it, Pokémon has released a brand new mobile TCG game titled Pokémon TCG Pocket. This new game allows players to experience the thrills and disappointments of a trading card game directly from their phone screen. While it will never be able to replicate the smell of a freshly opened booster, it does provide a unique experience in the mobile trading card genre.

Pokémon TCG Pocket follows a fairly simple gameplay loop. Players are granted a couple of free packs per day, allowing them to slowly build their collection without immediately needing to fork over their cash. Collecting certain sets will unluck new rental decks or award collection bonuses. They can then use these cards to complete some AI battles or engage in pvp.

Did You Know? You can open two booster packs every day at no cost!

That’s about all the game entails at the moment. While that may seem quaint for a modern mobile game, it is actually quite refreshing. Many mobile games run on an attention economy. The primary focus being to keep you playing as long as possible with the hopes of getting you to spend money. Pokémon TCG Pocket doesn’t seem to be too concerned about this aspect.

While spending money will help you build your collection a bit faster, it doesn’t seem to be necessary or even encouraged. Pokémon TCG Pocket features a premium pass which allows you to open one extra pack per day, but the game allows you to try this for two weeks before asking you to spend any money. Pokémon TCG Pocket allows you to play as casually or sweaty as you want without judgment.

Unlike other TCG like Magic the Gathering, you are unlikely to spend time hunting for overpowered or broken cards in this game. Sure, some cards are better than others, but most decks are viable in the PVP meta. The true chase in Pokémon TCG Pocket is the card art. As with all good games, the true challenge isn't in beating your opponent but doing so in the most fashionable way possible.

All in all, Pokémon TCG Pocket is a stellar causal mobile game for both new players and TCG veterans. The only question is whether the hype surrounding its release will last. At the moment there isn't much to keep the player's attention outside of the card collecting element. While this works well in the traditional sense, it may not keep players occupied in the currently flooded TCG arena.

Either way, this release reminds us of what made Pokémon so iconic in the first place. Its simple rules and brilliant card art make for an enjoyable experience that people of any age group can enjoy. Hopefully, this will lead to us seeing some much needed innovation in the Pokémon franchise as a whole.