Pokémon Trading Card Game is played at the European International Championships at London’s ExCel. CREDIT: John Keeble/Getty Images

Pokémon fans react as new mobile game ‘Pocket’ launches: “This is my life now”

The new card game has been described as a cross between ‘Marvel Snap’ and ‘Pokémon Go’

by · NME

New Pokémon mobile trading card game Pocket has launched across the world and fans are already praising its addictive gameplay.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket was first announced back in September and, after a soft launch in New Zealand, is now available to play worldwide.

Designed to introduce the Pokémon card game to the more “casual” fan, Pocket is a card collector that also allows you to build decks and battle other players using a simplified version of the official rules.

In Pocket, players are able to open a limited number of virtual booster packs a day to retrieve the randomly generated card inside, with the goal to collect ‘em all.  As well as featuring hundreds of Pokémon, the cards feature a mix of classic and new illustrations alongside 3D and immersive variants.

The free game also includes a paid battle pass that allows you to open more packs a day, while completing missions will also increase the amount of cards you can collect. A future update will allow you to trade with other players.

The game launched earlier today (October 30) and the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket subreddit already has tens of thousands of players trading battling tips and showing off rare cards.

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Fans have also taken to social media to praise the game. “From the perspective of someone that plays the Pokémon TCG competitively & judges tournaments, TCG Pocket is a fresh breath of air that is so laid back and is impossible for me to take too seriousl… Oh my god, I’m taking it too seriously and it is my life now,” wrote one player.

“Pokémon TCGP is an expert masterclass in game design and monetization. It’s like Marvel Snap and Pokémon TCG had a baby, with a little Pokémon GO thrown in. Instant hit, no doubt,” said another.

Early previews of the game described it as “a fantastic game for Pokémon card collectors and a horrifyingly deep dark pit to throw all your money into” and “Marvel Snap but cute”.

Speaking to IGN, The Pokémon Company’s executive corporate officer Keita Hirobe explained that the point of TCG Pocket is to “focus on the fun of opening packs and collecting cards” as well as gently introducing players to the official card game.

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