Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket (Japanese: Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket), abbreviated as Pokémon TCG Pocket (Japanese: ポケポケ Poképocke), is a free-to-play digital adaptation of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It was released for iOS, iPadOS, and Android worldwide on October 30, 2024, with a soft launch in New Zealand prior to the global release on September 26, 2024. The app supports Japanese, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, and Traditional Chinese.
| Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket | |
|---|---|
 Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket logo | |
Basic info
| |
| Platform: | iOS, iPadOS, Android |
| Category: | Card game |
| Players: | 1 |
| Connectivity: | N/A |
| Developer: | Creatures, Inc., DeNA Co., Ltd. |
| Publisher: | The Pokémon Company |
| Part of: | Generation IX spin-off |
Ratings
| |
| CERO: | N/A |
| ESRB: | E |
| ACB: | G |
| OFLC: | N/A |
| PEGI: | 3 |
| GRAC: | ALL |
| GSRR: | N/A |
Release dates
| |
| Japan: | October 30, 2024 |
| North America: | October 30, 2024 |
| Australia: | October 30, 2024 |
| Europe: | October 30, 2024 |
| South Korea: | October 30, 2024 |
| Hong Kong: | October 30, 2024 |
| Taiwan: | October 30, 2024 |
Websites
| |
| Japanese: | Official website |
| English: | Official website Pokémon.com |
The game was announced worldwide on Pokémon Day 2024 (February 27) at 14:00 UTC in an edition of Pokémon Presents. A limited demo was available to attendees at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships.[1]
Gameplay
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket features app-exclusive expansions from which players can collect digital Pokémon cards, which may feature either new artwork or illustrations previously used in the physical Pokémon Trading Card Game. Two booster packs can be opened for free each day, with more available by using items obtained in-game, or by purchasing a premium pass using real-world currency. Players can participate in battles using a simplified version of the traditional card game's rules.
Pokémon TCG Pocket includes Pokémon ex, which are a variation of Pokémon ex as seen in the Scarlet & Violet Series of the card game, but with a stylized gold 
graphic instead of the silver 
graphic seen in the physical game. Due to the absence of Prize cards in the game, players who Knock Out a Pokémon ex receive two points instead of taking two Prize cards.
Pokémon TCG Pocket uses the typing structure that has been used since the beginning of the Sword & Shield Series, which categorizes Fairy-type Pokémon as Psychic-type cards, Poison-type Pokémon as Darkness-type cards, and Dragon-type Pokémon as Dragon-type cards; all other Pokémon types retain the types they have been represented by since the TCG's inception.
Differences from the TCG
To achieve simpler rules and a faster game pace, this game abandons certain Pokémon TCG concepts and introduces new ones:
- Decks are made of 20 cards. No more than two cards with the same name can be included in a deck.
- Energy cards are replaced by an Energy Zone, which generates one Energy each turn to attach to a Pokémon.
- At the start of a battle, each player draws five cards. The player that goes first cannot manually attach Energy, but can use Supporter cards, including those that attach Energy.
- The player who goes first may use an attack, but only if they are able to attach enough Energy to the attacking Pokémon.
- Each players' starting hand will always contain at last one Basic Pokémon, meaning mulligans will never be taken.
- Each player may only have up to 10 cards in their hand, whereas the physical game has no limit.
- Prize cards are replaced by points; players win battles by obtaining three points.
- Players unable to draw a card at the start of their turn do not lose the battle, as they would in the physical game.
- Unlike in the physical game—which has no turn limits—versus battles have a maximum of 50 turns, and solo battles have a maximum of 30 turns.
- In addition to their Active Pokémon, each player can have up to three Benched Pokémon, instead of five in the physical game.
- Pokémon cards have no Resistance and have a Weakness modifier of +20 instead of ×2.
- Effects of cards are generally simpler. No Pokémon, except Pokémon ex, has two attacks, though some Pokémon have an Ability and one attack.
- Effects of cards can affect a random Pokémon in play that is decided by the CPU.
Card design
Card rarity is indicated either by between one and four 
symbols (roughly equivalent to the TCG's common, uncommon, rare, and double rare rarities) or between one and three 
symbols. Cards with a rarity are rarer than cards with a rarity and generally equate to secret cards in the TCG: cards with one are usually illustration rare cards; cards with two symbols are the equivalent of ultra rare and special illustration rare cards; and cards with three symbols are immersive cards, which players can touch to experience the world inside the card's illustration. The rarest cards have a 
rarity and are equivalent to hyper rare cards in the TCG. Promo cards do not have any rarity.
Card numbers are not featured on the cards themselves, although each expansion has its own card list, confirming each card's number as well as the total number or regular and secret cards within the expansion. Some cards use new artwork, while others reuse artwork from the physical game, such as from Base Set Pikachu and Sun & Moon Psyduck; however, the digital cards do not necessarily reflect their physical counterparts.
Cards feature a layout inspired by several eras of the Pokémon Trading Card Game:
- Most elements of the layout closest resemble the one used in the Sun & Moon Series.
- White outlines on Energy symbols were used in the Sword & Shield Series.
- Trainer cards' subtype placement in the top-left corner of the cards was first seen in the Scarlet & Violet Series.
- Silver card borders, which have first been featured in the ADV Era in Japan, and later adopted in international sets in the Scarlet & Violet Series.
- Double Rare prints of Pokémon ex use a frame reminiscent of Pokémon-EX, meaning only a part of the Pokémon is shown, the rest is hidden behind the opaque card background. The golden color of the icon is also inspired by the
icon. The diagonal sides of the Rule Box are inspired by Pokémon-GX.
Expansions
- Main article: List of Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket expansions
Events
- Main article: List of events in Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket features a number of different types of events, each with various missions or tasks to complete, items to collect or purchase, and rewards featuring cards or items. Events usually begin at 06:00 UTC on the specified start date and conclude at 05:59 UTC on the specified end date.
Wonder pick events
- Main article: Wonder pick event
Wonder pick events allow players to obtain cards and items, including special promotional cards, using the game's Wonder Pick feature. They also offer a variety of themed accessories, such as card sleeves and coins, from the in-game shop. Wonder pick events usually come in two parts, with each adding new items to the shop and missions for players to complete.
Drop events
- Main article: Drop event
Drop events allow players to collect special promotional card packs by partaking in limited-time solo battles, known as event battles. Drop events usually last around two weeks.
Emblem events
- Main article: Emblem event
Emblem events task players with partaking in versus battles against other players in order to complete missions and obtain rewards such as emblems, which can be displayed on a player's profile. Conditions of obtaining emblems vary by event; while most regular emblem events count the total number of wins during the event period, some (called SP Emblem Events) differ, such as by counting consecutive wins instead.
Mass Outbreak events
- Main article: Mass Outbreak event
Mass Outbreak events allow players to obtain specific cards and items through the Wonder Pick feature, and usually focus on a specific Pokémon or type. Special flairs are also usually made available for certain Pokémon cards, and can only be obtained during the event itself, though can be used any time after. Mass Outbreak events also provide missions for players to complete.
Premium Pass and Poké gold
Pokémon TCG Pocket includes in-game purchases, with both a Premium Pass (Japanese: プレミアムパス Premium Pass) and a virtual currency called Poké gold (Japanese: ポケゴールド Poké gold).
| English | Japanese | Cost | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | CAD | MXN | BRL | EUR | GBP | AUD | NZD | JPY | KRW | HKD | TWD | THB | ||
| Premium Pass | プレミアムパス Premium Pass |
$9.99 | $13.99 | $199 | R$49.90 | €9.99 | £7.99 | $14.99 | $19.99 | ¥980 | ₩9,900 | $78 | $300 | ฿399 |
| Release Poké gold (paid) x50 | リリース記念 お得なポケゴールド(有償)×50 Release Commemoration Value Poké gold (paid) ×50 |
$9.99 | $13.99 | $199 | R$49.90 | €9.99 | £7.99 | $14.99 | $19.99 | ¥1,400 | ₩13,000 | $78 | $300 | ฿399 |
| Release Poké gold (paid) x15 | リリース記念 お得なポケゴールド(有償)×15 Release Commemoration Value Poké gold (paid) ×15 |
$2.99 | $3.99 | $69 | R$14.90 | €2.99 | £2.39 | $4.49 | $4.99 | ¥420 | ₩3,900 | $24 | $90 | ฿99 |
| Release Poké gold (paid) x5 | リリース記念 お得なポケゴールド(有償)×5 Release Commemoration Value Poké gold (paid) ×5 |
$0.99 | $1.39 | $19 | R$4.90 | €0.99 | £0.79 | $1.49 | $1.99 | ¥140 | ₩1,300 | $8 | $30 | ฿29 |
| Poké gold (paid) ×500 | ポケゴールド(有償)×500 Poké gold (paid) ×500 |
$99.99 | $139.99 | $1,999 | R$499.90 | €99.99 | £79.99 | $159.99 | $199.99 | ¥14,000 | ₩130,000 | $788 | $3,000 | ฿3,990 |
| Poké gold (paid) + Accessories | 周辺グッズ「サーナイト」つきポケゴールド Poké gold + Gardevoir Accessories |
$22.99 | $31.99 | $499 | R$119.90 | €22.99 | £18.49 | $35.99 | $39.99 | ¥3,200 | ₩29,900 | $178 | $690 | ฿799 |
| Poké gold (paid) ×200 | ポケゴールド(有償)×200 Poké gold (paid) ×200 |
$39.99 | $54.99 | $899 | R$199.90 | €39.99 | £31.99 | $62.99 | $69.99 | ¥5,600 | ₩52,000 | $318 | $1,200 | ฿1,490 |
| Poké gold (paid) ×100 | ポケゴールド(有償)×100 Poké gold (paid) ×100 |
$19.99 | $27.99 | $399 | R$99.90 | €19.99 | £15.99 | $30.99 | $39.99 | ¥2,800 | ₩26,000 | $158 | $600 | ฿699 |
| Poké gold (paid) ×50 | ポケゴールド(有償)×50 Poké gold (paid) ×50 |
$9.99 | $13.99 | $199 | R$49.90 | €9.99 | £7.99 | $14.99 | $19.99 | ¥1,400 | ₩13,000 | $78 | $300 | ฿399 |
| Poké gold (paid) ×25 | ポケゴールド(有償)×25 Poké gold (paid) ×25 |
$4.99 | $6.99 | $99 | R$24.90 | €4.99 | £3.99 | $7.99 | $9.99 | ¥700 | ₩6,500 | $38 | $150 | ฿199 |
Reception
On October 17, 2024, 13 days to its global launch, over 6 million people worldwide had preregistered the game.[2][3] In its first 48 hours after launch, the game had surpassed 10 million downloads.[4][5] By November 8, 2024, it had surpassed 30 million downloads worldwide.[6][7] On December 12, 2024, The Pokémon Company announced that the app had exceeded 60 million downloads worldwide.[8]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Game Awards 2024 | Best Mobile Game | Nominated | [9][10] |
Staff
- Main article: Staff of Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
Version history
| Version | Release date | Official note | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 | iOS: August 18, 2024 Android: August 18, 2024 |
N/A | - |
| 1.0.2 | iOS: August 26, 2024 Android: September 26, 2024 |
iOS: Bug Fixes Android: N/A |
Soft launch |
| 1.0.3 | iOS: October 15, 2024 Android: October 16, 2024 |
Bug Fixes | - |
| 1.0.5 | iOS: October 23, 2024 Android: October 24, 2024 |
Bug Fixes | Global launch |
| 1.0.6 | iOS: November 3, 2024 Android: November 3, 2024 |
Bug Fixes | The team fixed an issue where the app would not start for some using iOS devices and other minor problems.[11][12][13] |
| 1.0.7 | iOS: November 11, 2024 Android: November 11, 2024 |
Bug Fixes | Fixed a bug where you could open more booster packs for free than the daily ones.[citation needed] |
| 1.0.8 | iOS: November 25, 2024 Android: November 25, 2024 |
Bug Fixes | To help address screen flashing issues for some people.[14] |
| 1.0.9 | iOS: December 2, 2024 Android: December 2, 2024 |
Bug Fixes | Fixed a bug relating to certain models.[15] |
Compatibility
The game can be played on:[16]
Release
Pokémon TCG Pocket was made available for pre-order on the App Store and pre-registration on Google Play beginning August 18, 2024. It has been listed for release in all countries with access to the App Store or Google Play Store except Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cameroon, mainland China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Gibraltar, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Libya, the Maldives, Mali, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nauru, the Netherlands, Russia, San Marino, Senegal, Tonga, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.
| Date | Locations |
|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | New Zealand |
| October 30, 2024 | Albania, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, São Tomé and Principe, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia |
Gallery
Logos
International logo
French logo
German logo
Italian logo
Spanish logo
Brazilian logo
Korean logo
Icons
Icon on iOS and iPadOS
Icon on Android
Trivia
- At the game's launch, an icon for the Fairy type was present in the game files, despite the type being removed from the Pokémon Trading Card Game from the beginning of the Sword & Shield Series; the icon was later removed with the release of the Mythical Island expansion on December 17, 2024.[17]
In other languages
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References
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket about the 2024 Pokémon World Championships limited demo on X (Twitter)
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket about the game's 6 million preregistrations on X (Twitter)
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket about the game's 6 million preregistrations on X (Twitter) (Japanese)
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket about the game's 10 million downloads on X (Twitter)
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket about the game's 10 million downloads on X (Twitter) (Japanese)
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket about the game's 30 million downloads on X (Twitter)
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket about the game's 30 million downloads on X (Twitter) (Japanese)
- ↑ Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket Celebrates 60 Million Downloads Since Launching in October 2024 - The Pokémon Company North America Official Press Site
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket (@PokémonTCGP) on X (Twitter)
- ↑ Best Mobile Game | Nominees | The Game Awards
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket about version 1.0.6 on X (Twitter)
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket about version 1.0.6 on X (Twitter) (Japanese)
- ↑ Bug Information (1.0.6) | Pokémon TCG Pocket (Japanese)
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket about version 1.0.8 on X (Twitter)
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket (JP) about version 1.0.9 on X (Twitter)
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Pocket Gameplay FAQ – Pokémon Support
- ↑ Pokémon: Trading Card Game Pocket - Fairy Energy - tcrf
External links
- Official English X (Twitter) account
- Official Japanese X (Twitter) account
- Pokémon TCG Pocket on the App Store
- Pokémon TCG Pocket on Google Play
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This article is part of both Project Sidegames and Project TCG, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on video games about the TCG. | 
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