By Ryan O’Callaghan

In the fall of 1998, Pokémania hit the United States. Nowhere was it more felt than on the school bus. Rides to school were all Pokémon all the time. We were glued to our GameBoys. Link cables crisscrossed in the aisles as we traded and battled until we made it to school. But it was only the tip of the iceberg. 

In January of 1999, my neighbor got on the bus and showed off a small stack of cards. Jealousy took over the entire bus. We pushed and shoved to see. Then, I made a bold move. In true Pokémon spirit, I offered up a trade. I walked into school that morning without my Fruit By The Foot, but I had acquired my first Pokémon card, Ponyta. I was hooked.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is finally coming to mobile in the all new Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket. Pokémon TCG Pocket focuses on bringing the main aspects of the cards that everyone loves: collecting and battling. Though trading is not available at launch, the feature is being considered for future updates.

Gotta Catch ‘Em All

I was skeptical about the quality of the collection angle of Pocket, but the entire process is done with immense love and care from every angle. 

Players are given 2 free packs each day, each with 5 cards ranging from lowest (diamond) to highest (3 star). The contents of the pack will vary and are not tied to one specific run of the previously released sets. Card selections were carefully curated to excite and entice fans from new to old. In my first pack opening, I encountered a Slowpoke from the original Fossil run alongside a full-art Marowak EX. As I opened more packs I found Pokémon from more recent generations like Elektross and Froakie. I was also reunited with my beloved Ponyta.

The process of opening a pack itself is full of pomp-and-circumstance. When packs are available, players can choose from one of three themed packs: Pikachu, Charizard, and Mewtwo. During my time with the app, I focused on collecting via the Mewtwo set. Upon selecting your pack type, you are given a carousel of packs to choose from. It builds the tension of selecting the right pack like you would from a blister box at your local card shop. 

Now comes the excitement. You swipe your finger across the top of the pack to cut it open. The designers took full advantage of modern cell phone technology with the haptics and sound features to make this experience enthralling. It cuts and crinkles with pure satisfaction like you’re holding the real pack in your hand. Then, a stack of 5 cards is revealed. You can move the stack around and peek at what’s to come. 

Each swipe reveals a new Pokémon to add to your library. Classic cards make an appearance and are full of depth and dimension – holograms shimmer as you move them. Digital Expression Cards add a unique level of depth and flair to some favorites sporting 3D elements, like the flames surrounding Charizard in its EX card. 

If you’re lucky you’ll get your hands on the new ultra rares known as Immersive Cards, which are exclusive to Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket. Immersive cards bring players into the art, showing the world beyond the 2.5×3.5 frame. I was lucky to pull an immersive Mewtwo during my time with the app. The main art features an enraged and panicked Mewtwo crashing through the window of a large building. But as we dive into the card, we see the interior of a gloomy facility flanked by rows of giant test tubes. In the center we find one broken and shattered, as well as a quick cameo from an old friend…

During my preview, I had the luxury of accessing a large quantity of packs, as if I had purchased $200 dollars of in-game currency. So what does that mean to the average free-to-play user? Free packs are capped to 2 per day. After your first opening, a 12 hour countdown commences. However, you can speed up the process with Pack Hourglasses. The hourglasses only reduce the time by 1 hour, so you’ll need lots if you aren’t patient. The Pack Hourglasses can be earned in a variety of ways through missions and leveling up.

Wonder Pick is another way for players to access cards. This feature allows players to select one card at random from a pack opened by another player. Under the Wonder Pick section, you can see all five cards of a pack opened by different players. You swipe through opened packs to pinpoint a card you want. After selecting the opened pack, you’ll get one at random. In the limited amount of time that I used this feature, I got quite a few rare cards. Like the main pack feature, access to Wonder Picks runs on a timer called Wonder Stamina. You can also acquire Wonder Hourglasses to reduce the wait time.

Let’s Battle!

For Pocket, the developers have modified the TCG to ensure quicker battles.

Energy Cards have been removed from the game altogether. In their place is a new functionality; once per turn, the player will earn an energy which can be placed on any Pokémon, so there is no need to rely on the draw. The change has also resulted in smaller decks to make up for the elimination of energies. In my battles, I used a Sandlash themed deck with a variety of normal, fighting, rock, and ground type Pokémon. Each turn, I was given an additional fighting type energy, which is compatible with all of the Pokémon in that deck. It’s unclear how this feature would operate in a deck with Pokémon who rely on different energy types.

Though many favorite classic cards are returning for Pokémon TCG Pocket, attacks have been altered in some cases to maintain balance in this modified, speedier format.

Other changes include a simplified win condition and a reduced bench size. Gone are Prize Cards. Getting a KO earns a point, and 3 points wins you the game. Your bench is now reduced to 3 Pokémon, so placing the right card at the right time can be tough to determine. In one round, I drew a Pokémon that could have ensured the win, but my bench had filled too quickly and I couldn’t play it.

All-in-all, the changes to the battle system maintain the heart of the physical TCG. However, players will need to shift strategies to adapt to the new changes.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has the potential to make a huge splash once it goes live on October 30, 2024. Whether you’re a nostalgic collector or a skilled battler, there’s something there for you. But time will tell how the free-to-play functionality affects player retention. If you’re interested in deck building for battling, it will take some time to get enough cards to design to your liking. Early adopters may feel inclined to turn to in-game currency to expand their collections. For the more casual players, like myself, 2 packs a day is a welcome daily activity. Plus by the end of one month, players will have the ability to have accessed at least 300 cards at no cost.