A mobile juggernaut

Pokemon TCG Pocket has become one of the most lucrative mobile games in the world. Since launching October 30, 2024, the digital card-collecting app has generated roughly $1.6 billion in revenue as of spring 2026, a staggering figure for a game barely 18 months old. It passed the $1 billion mark in around 200 days, reaching that milestone faster than even Pokemon GO managed.

The app distills the Pokemon Trading Card Game into a slick mobile experience built around opening packs, collecting striking digital cards, and light battling, and its monetization has proven extraordinarily effective.

The numbers and the cadence

The game's performance and release rhythm tell the story:

It generated roughly $894 million in its first six months, an exceptional opening stretch.
On Pokemon Day in February 2026, it hit a six-month daily-spending high of about $4.7 million, driven by a new expansion and a Pokemon Presents stream.
2026 expansions have arrived roughly monthly, including Paldean Wonders, Mega Shine, Pulsing Aura, Paradox Drive, Ruler of Skies, and the Mega Diancie ex-led Everyday Wonders in late June.
Year-two revenue has softened compared with the explosive launch period, a natural cooling after the initial frenzy.

Sustaining the momentum

The relentless expansion schedule is the engine behind Pocket's success. By releasing new sets on a rapid cadence, the app keeps collectors chasing fresh cards and returning daily to open packs. The tie-in with major franchise moments, like the Pokemon Day spending spike, shows how effectively the game capitalizes on the broader Pokemon calendar.

The softening year-two revenue is worth watching but not alarming. A drop from a record-shattering launch is expected, and even the reduced figures represent enormous earnings that most mobile games never approach. The challenge for the developers is sustaining engagement as the novelty fades, which is where features beyond pack-opening become important.

Trading has been a particular point of tension. The app's trading system launched with heavy restrictions that frustrated players, and reports point to ongoing efforts to loosen those limits, though the exact details and timing of the latest changes are worth confirming. A more flexible trading experience could meaningfully boost long-term engagement by letting collectors complete sets through community exchange rather than pure spending.

Pokemon TCG Pocket has already secured its place as a mobile phenomenon, proving that the appeal of collecting Pokemon cards translates powerfully to a digital, free-to-play format. Whether it can maintain its momentum into a third year will depend on keeping collectors engaged with fresh content and better social features, but on the strength of its first 18 months, it stands as one of the great mobile gaming success stories.