I’ve developed quite the tumultuous love-hate relationship with Pokemon TCG Pocket. Yet, if I’m honest, it’s hands-down my favorite mobile game release of the year. This game brilliantly captures the essence of the physical trading card game and transforms it into an engaging virtual world of collecting. But, there’s a twist—I find that it’s reawakened a side of me I thought had long disappeared since my early twenties. I have become a version of myself that harbors an intense annoyance for strangers worldwide.
Pokemon TCG Pocket often finds me wide awake at 2 AM, a habit that’s far less appealing at my age than it once was. I go to bed frustrated, only for the ghost of that frustration to linger in the morning. Enjoying my coffee on a serene day, my mind ruminates over Mewtwo EX decks—and how their users just ride on their coattails. But let’s be clear, this isn’t indicative of a bad game. On the contrary, only a truly outstanding game can evoke such strong emotions.
A while back, we discussed the need for some form of competitive ranked matches in the game to truly test your skills against fellow trainers across the globe. While the game hasn’t delivered exactly what we envisioned, it did introduce features that got the competitive spirit flowing. Initially, there was a basic PvP mode with rewards for victories. Not long after, a mode surfaced that demanded back-to-back wins, and boy, did that one have me hooked.
This mode perfectly showcases the peaks and valleys of the game’s meta, driving the community to create the ultimate decks before new cards arrive to shake things up. It’s a tribute to the game’s early champions—like the relentless Charizard EX deck, the conniving Mewtwo EX deck, and the wicked Starmie/Articuno EX with Misty deck. We’ve recently seen a new basic PvP event launched alongside the Mythical Island pack, giving rise to these incredible challenges plus the latest headache, the Deck of the Month: Celebi EX.
The developers truly deserve the accolades they’re receiving. While the Pokemon brand and card game’s popularity certainly help, they’ve crafted an experience that entices both novice and veteran players, with tailored events to keep entrenched strategists engaged. This, I believe, is why so many people remain eager to crack open card packs. It’s undeniably addictive.
With fresh cards looming on the horizon, I’m quite taken with this game. I signed up for the premium pass free trial when it debuted (a brilliant strategy, by the way), and I don’t foresee canceling my subscription anytime soon. For me, it’s money well spent. How else will I gather the cards needed to triumph over top-tier decks while plotting my next move in the darkness of the early morning?
