The promo cards in Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket can be useful in some respects, but they may induce FOMO among players in the long run.
Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket is the latest Pokemon spin-off for mobile phones, and it was released internationally on October 30, 2024. So far, the game has gotten off to a fantastic start in terms of player engagement. Just one week after its debut, Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket was downloaded more than 30 million times on Android and iOS, and it earned roughly $3 million in a single day. Reception to the game has largely been positive, as well. On the Google Play Store, it currently has a 4.5/5 rating, while on the App Store, it has a score of 4.8/5. Popular mobile games typically do not get user scores this high, so the fact that Pokemon TCG Pocket was able to receive such broad acclaim is a testament to its quality.
That being said, the game is far from perfect. The title is aimed at younger audiences, but Pokemon TCG Pocket is filled with microtransactions and in-game currencies. Although the game is still an adaptation of the PTCG at its core, it almost feels like a gacha game at times due to the excessive monetization methods it employs. Pokemon TCG Pocket is also guilty of utilizing FOMO-inducing mechanics. Some of the Promo Cards in the game, for instance, are only available during certain events for a limited period of time.
