One Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket player's idea for a new expansion would revive the classic cards from the first edition of the tabletop Pokemon Trading Card Game, and it's getting a lot of support from the community. While Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket has just wrapped up its one-year anniversary event, the physical card game it's based on has been around since the mid-1990s, and honoring that legacy is something a lot of fans seem to be supporting.
Since its launch on October 30, 2024, Pokemon TCG Pocket has breathed new life into the classic trading card game, offering shorter matches, smaller decks, no need for energy cards, and at least two free packs a day for fans who log in regularly. The joint development venture between Creatures Inc. And DeNa has had a wildly successful run so far. The game has been downloaded more than 150 million times by players around the world, and Pokemon TCG Pocket had a record-setting launch year in terms of revenue, generating an estimated $1.3 billion and knocking Pokemon GO out of its former number-one spot among mobile games in the Pokemon franchise.
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Pokemon TCG Pocket Fan Proposes 30th Anniversary Edition Expansion
Now, one fan is hoping to add an extra dose of nostalgia to the mobile card battler. Reddit user Ok-Pie-3581 has shared an idea to bring in some of the classic Pokemon Trading Card Game cards from the game's first edition in an expansion that would see the original package art Pokemon revived in digital form. This idea would see the Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green versions of Charmander, Blastoise, and Venusaur each sporting their own pack filled with cards from the original Pokemon TCG set that was first released in Japan in 1996 before making it to the Western market in 1998.
The kicker behind this idea is that the original Pokemon Trading Card Game is turning 30 on February 27, 2026, and the wild success of its mobile version could be used to celebrate the three-decade-long legacy of the tabletop version that serves as its basis. Pokemon TCG Pocket's own first anniversary event was a pretty big deal for the game, featuring special missions, reward cards from all previously-released booster packs, and special Promo cards that let players collect monsters and Trainer cards they may have missed the first time around.
A few players have argued that offering up the exact same cards as the ones that were introduced during the physical card game's original run would be a mistake, as the mobile version is experiencing a significantly different power creep that is already making some of the most powerful cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket's first months seem obsolete in the competitive scene less than 14 months later. With the recent introduction of Mega Evolution to Pokemon TCG Pocket adding in cards that can potentially dole out hundreds of damage by a player's second turn while also sporting over 200 HP, the most powerful cards from Pokemon TCG's first run are a lot slower and weaker by comparison, with Charizard having only 120 HP and needing four energy to launch its only attack, which also consumes two of that energy. Another fan suggested that the classic cards' power could be adjusted to compete in Pokemon TCG Pocket, but the originator of the idea likes the thought of keeping them the way they are and letting them be digital collectors' pieces.
While there's been no word from the game's developers that a 30th anniversary event will be hitting the mobile game in February, it could still be a possibility. The most recent roadmap for Pokemon TCG Pocket shows that a Wonder Pick event for Drifblim and Eevee is set to kick off on December 7, with the launch of the next booster pack to follow on December 17. There isn't really any clear indication of what's coming in the new year, but if DeNa and Creatures Inc. Have any plans to celebrate Pokemon TCG's milestone anniversary in the game, they don't have much time left to announce it.
- Released
- October 30, 2024
- Developer(s)
- DeNA, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- The Pokemon Company
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes
WHERE TO PLAY
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket lets you easily collect Pokémon cards. Creatures Inc. Has created exciting new visual effects for cards that are only possible digitally.
Pokémon cards, played with by people in 89 countries, are now closer to you than ever!
Enjoy Pokémon cards anytime, anywhere, on your mobile device!
■ You can open packs every day to get cards!
Collect cards every day! You can open two booster packs every day at no cost to collect Pokémon cards featuring heartwarming illustrations from the past as well as all-new cards exclusive to this game.
■ New Pokémon cards!
Immersive cards, a brand-new kind of card, make their debut here! With new illustrations that have a 3D feel, immersive cards will make you feel like you’ve leapt into the world of the card’s illustration!
■ Trade cards with friends!
You can trade certain cards with friends. Use the trade feature to collect even more cards!
■ Show off your collection!
You can use binders or display boards to showcase your cards and share them with the world!
■ Casual battles—alone or with friends!
You can enjoy casual battles during quick breaks in your day! Ranked matches are now available for players who'd like to battle even more.
