How Pokémon TCG Pocket Rekindled My Passion for Competitive Card Games (and Late-Night Phone Yelling)

I’ve got a bit of a love-hate thing going on with Pokémon TCG Pocket, and let me tell you, it’s intense. Honestly, it’s my top pick for mobile games this year. It brilliantly captures the essence of the physical trading card game and transforms it into this charming virtual collection experience. However, it also taps into a part of me I thought was long gone after hitting 21—the part that seethes with irritation towards random people across the globe.

Pokémon TCG Pocket has a habit of keeping me up into the wee hours, which, at my age, isn’t as exciting as it used to be. I often head to bed feeling annoyed and, in the morning, that annoyance lingers. As I sip my coffee, my mind drifts to Mewtwo EX decks and the undeniable fact that they seem to carry their users. But make no mistake, this isn’t because the game is lacking. Quite the contrary, it only makes me this invested because it’s genuinely fantastic.

Not too long ago, we chatted about how the game desperately needed a competitive ranked match system to really let trainers worldwide test their skills. While it hasn’t given us exactly what we envisioned, it has introduced a feature that certainly stirs up the competitive spirit. Initially, a straightforward PvP mode was launched, rewarding players for racking up wins. More recently, a mode appeared that required consecutive victories, and that’s the one that really hooked me.

This particular mode perfectly showcases the dramatic ups and downs of the game’s meta. It also nudges the community to craft the ideal deck before new cards shake everything up once more. Think of it as a tribute to the game’s 1.0 champions. There’s the greedy Charizard EX deck, the sinister Mewtwo EX deck, and the cunning Starmie/Articuno EX with Misty deck. Just recently, a new basic PvP event was launched alongside the Mythical Island pack, which means all these notorious decks plus the current Deck of the Month—Celebi EX—are back to cause headaches.

The developers truly deserve the buzz and success they’re enjoying. Sure, the Pokémon brand itself is a major draw, but they’ve crafted a game that’s super attractive to players no matter their skill level. They cleverly sprinkle little events to keep more specialized players engaged too. I think that’s really why so many people are still eagerly opening packs—it’s utterly addictive.

With fresh cards on the horizon, I’ve got to admit, this game’s got me hooked. I tried the premium pass free trial when it first rolled out (seriously smart move on their part), and I don’t see myself canceling that subscription any time soon. In my eyes, it’s money well spent. How else am I supposed to equip myself with the cards needed to topple top-tier decks in the dead of night?