Since its launch in late October, Pokémon TCG Pocket has taken the mobile gaming world by storm. With over 30 million downloads in just a little over a month, this game has already generated an impressive $120 million and continues to captivate players. Its remarkable popularity has even earned The Pokémon Company a nomination for Best Mobile Game at The Game Awards 2024.
While the game’s success is undeniable, Pokémon TCG Pocket hasn’t dodged the hiccups. Whenever a beloved classic shifts to a new platform, tweaks are inevitable, and this mobile iteration is no different. It’s made several changes to the well-loved card game rules, and one particular tweak has stirred up quite the chatter among fans, hinting at potential challenges down the line.
### Unpacking Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Hot-Button Deck Limit
#### Stringent Deck Restrictions in Pokémon TCG Pocket
There’s one major gripe players can’t stop talking about: the deck limit. Pokémon TCG Pocket restricts players to crafting a maximum of 15 decks, with no option to expand your collection. Want to experiment with a new deck? Be prepared to scrap one of your existing configurations to make room.
But that’s not all. There’s also a cap on the number of cards allowed in each deck. Unlike the traditional Pokémon Trading Card Game that permits decks of up to 60 cards, Pokémon TCG Pocket caps it at just 20. This adjustment aims to make the game more casual and quick, encouraging simpler strategies while still engaging players.
#### Creativity Stifled: The Tight Deck Limits in Pokémon TCG
Players have expressed their discontent with the game’s limitations, calling them “pointless” and lamenting the constraints they place on gameplay. The limited space for deck building means players might max out their options sooner than they’d like, especially given the smaller deck size. With a current roster of 250 cards, it should be feasible for dedicated players to utilize each unique card, but as DeNA keeps adding to the roster, that space is bound to get cramped.
Moreover, having to share a card across multiple decks can be frustrating. Even if a player possesses every card in Pokémon TCG Pocket, they can’t fully explore all possibilities due to the deck constraints. Since building decks is a quick process in this game, reaching that 15-deck cap can happen sooner than anticipated. It also skews game balance, as players might have to dismantle their best decks just to create new ones for playing with newcomers.
The biggest concern, however, is what these restrictions might mean for the game’s future monetization tactics. There are whispers that DeNA could use these deck limits as leverage, offering additional deck slots for a price. Such a move, charging for what players arguably should already have, risks alienating a dedicated fanbase.
The rationale behind these restrictions remains unclear. As more content becomes available, imposing a 15-deck cap feels like an unnecessary burden, complicating the experience for players across all skill levels. Ideally, DeNA will find a way to loosen these limits without resorting to monetization, keeping player satisfaction at the forefront.
