Catching ‘Em All, One Pack at a Time – Pokémon TCG Pocket

For the last three months I have spent every morning and every evening buzzing with the excitement and urge to “crack a pack”. Gosh, you might be thinking, maybe I clicked on the wrong article. Trust me you’re in the right place – I am talking about that burst of serotonin you get when opening a Pokemon (or any other card games’) booster pack. As a MTG (Magic the Gathering) girlie myself…I know…nerd alert! It was only a matter of time before I got into Pokémon. The only issue with card games such as these, is the cost to get into it. Not even to mention the constant new releases that are happening regularly. It’s one of those hobbies that you can easily sink all your savings into.

So I was really excited to hear about the free Pokémon TCG Pocket app.

The Pokemon App

What’s the deal with Pokémon TCG Pocket? First off, it’s a pretty lightweight app—takes up less than a gig, so no need to start deleting your other beloved games. Right away, you’ll notice the sleek and modern interface. If you’ve played Pokémon Go or used Pokémon Home, the aesthetic will feel familiar—Pokémon has a solid branding game, and their apps all share that clean, snappy vibe. Everything runs smoothly, with barely any lag or glitches (so far). The app focuses on three main things: collecting, deck building, and battling (and just recently, also the ability to trade cards).

I can’t stop playing! Every time I snag an awesome card, my friend and I immediately start spamming each other with screenshots, hyping up our latest finds like we just won the lottery. There’s just something ridiculously satisfying about opening packs, and the best part? It’s totally free to play! As with every app, there is a subscription option where you can open more packs and earn bigger rewards, but if you are on a budget this app scratches that itch without costing an arm and a leg! Plus, if you’ve always been curious about the Pokémon Trading Card Game, like me, but never knew where to start, this is such a fun and easy way to learn without having to dive headfirst into physical decks. The walk through tutorial the app takes you on to learn how to play is so simple that anyone can pick it up.

The Gameplay

Alright, let’s talk gameplay! (Though weirdly, it takes a bit of time before you can actually battle—you have to go through some pack-opening quests first, which feels like an odd choice.) There are two main ways to play: Solo Mode (PvE) and Versus Mode (PvP).

Solo Mode pits you against bots and challenge decks, and honestly, I’ve been having a blast with it. Some of the challenges are tricky and really make you think about your deck choices.

Then there’s Versus Mode, where you battle real players online. There’s no ranked ladder (yet), just two options—Beginner and Trading Card Game Player. I’ll get into some thoughts on that later, but for now, let’s just say matchmaking could use a little tweaking.

Gameplay itself is a slimmed-down version of the classic Pokémon TCG. Instead of a 60-card deck and six Prize Cards, you get a 20-card deck and only need to knock out three of your opponent’s Pokémon. This makes for fast, punchy battles—great for quick gaming sessions!

Energy mechanics are also simplified. Instead of manually attaching Energy Cards, the game just gives you one per turn. If you’ve got multiple Pokémon types in your deck, you get a random energy from those types. But most decks right now are single-type anyway, so it’s usually not an issue.

The UI is super clean, with customisation options that make everything feel even more polished. It’s all smooth sailing… mostly. (I’ll get into some gripes soon!)

Collecting and Deck Building

Now, let’s talk about the gacha system. If you don’t know what that is, it’s basically a fancy way of saying “loot boxes” or “randomised card packs.” This game is all about opening packs, and there are two main ways to do it: regular five-card packs and Wonder Packs.

Wonder Packs are a fun twist, inspired by Wonder Trading from the main Pokémon games. You pick a card from a pack that other players have opened—but it’s completely random which one you’ll get. You spend energy (which regenerates suuuuuper slowly—one energy every 12 hours) to take a chance on these packs. Sometimes you hit the jackpot, sometimes you get stuck with a dud. High-risk, high-reward vibes.

You also get two free packs every day if you log in regularly. They’re on a 12-hour timer, so if you want both, you’ll need to time it right (or just turn on notifications and let your phone remind you). I find it a fun way to start and end my day. Some people go for runs…I open Pokémon packs.

Pros and Cons

So, is Pokémon TCG Pocket worth your time? Short answer: Yes, but with some caveats.

The good: The game is genuinely fun. It’s a great way to introduce new players to Pokémon TCG, and it runs way smoother than some other digital card games (cough MTG Arena cough). Battles are quick, satisfying, and easy to get into, and collecting cards is addictive in the best way.

The not-so-good: surprise, surprise—the packs all have multiple EX cards, which are tough to get unless you grind hard or open your wallet. Yep, there’s already a bit of a pay-to-win factor creeping in. Last week, a new feature was included – the ability to trade cards. However, it is still early stages and not as polished as players had hoped it would be.

“Since releasing the first iteration of the trading feature a few days ago, we have received a large number of comments. Thank you all for sharing your feedback. The item requirements and restrictions implemented for the trading feature were designed to prevent abuse from bots and other prohibited actions using multiple accounts. Our goal was to balance the game while preserving the fun of collecting cards that are core to the Pokemon TCG pocket experience,” the company said in a press release.

“However, thanks to your feedback, we understand some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy the feature as intended. We are actively investigating ways to improve the feature to address these concerns. Going forward, we also plan to offer multiple ways to obtain trade tokens including through event distributions.”

Fingers crossed there is a new update soon to solve these growing pains.

There’s also monetisation, of course. Pokémon Gold (the premium currency) lets you open extra packs and snag exclusive items. However, as much as I have wanted to crack extra packs, I haven’t needed to subscribe in order to proceed through the game. It is definitely something you can work around if you are on a budget.

TLDR:

For all its quirks, Pokémon TCG Pocket has totally sucked me in. Whether it’s the thrill of opening new packs, the challenge of deck building, or just the joy of sending my friend a screenshot of an especially cool card, I can’t get enough. The game has a ton of potential, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next!

Phoebe Kahn: Phoebe is a producer and content specialist. In 2022 she helped created Australia's fastest-selling board game and is a prominent figure in the Magic: The Gathering Australia community. With a passion for crafting unforgettable experiences, she produces digital content, live shows, and events, including national comedy tours and fan meetups. Collaborating with comedians, Phoebe combines creativity, attention to detail, and her Bachelor of Communication in Media to captivate audiences and bring visions to life.

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