Debuting in October 1996, the Pokémon Trading Card Game is based on the world introduced in the Pokémon video game series. Players can collect cards featuring their favorite Pokémon characters, build powerful decks, and face off against opponents in strategic battles.

Spin-off media for the Pokémon Trading Card Game include the video game adaptation of the same name for Game Boy Color, the Pokémon: Play It! series for PC, Pokémon TCG Online, and Pokémon Card Game: How to Play DS. As of March 2024, the game has produced over 64.8 billion cards worldwide. [ 2 ]

The Pokémon Trading Card Game Online was a prominent video game adaptation of the Pokémon TCG. It was released on March 24, 2011, as Pokémon Trainer Challenge for Microsoft Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. [ 132 ] The game initially offered three starting decks but significantly expanded its card collection shortly after release.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game was originally published in Japan in October 1996 by Media Factory. While other series of collectible Pokémon cards existed in the past (such as the Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Cards released in September 1996), this was the first card game based on the Pokémon series.