From Base Set to the 30th anniversary: a short history of the Pokémon TCG

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is one of the best-selling card games in the world. Here is how it got there, era by era.

1996–1999: the beginning

The first Pokémon cards were released in Japan in October 1996, a few months after the original video games. The English Base Set followed in January 1999, published by Wizards of the Coast, and turned Pokémon cards into a worldwide phenomenon. Jungle, Fossil and Team Rocket quickly followed.

2003: a new publisher

In 2003, Pokémon took publishing in-house. EX Ruby & Sapphire opened a new chapter with Pokémon-ex, a redesigned card layout and the first sets built around the third generation of games.

2007–2019: one era per generation

Each new generation of games brought its own series: Diamond & Pearl (2007), HeartGold & SoulSilver (2010), Black & White (2011), XY (2014) with its Mega Evolutions, and Sun & Moon (2017) with Pokémon-GX and the first Tag Team cards.

2020–2022: Sword & Shield and the collecting boom

Sword & Shield introduced Pokémon V and VMAX, and arrived as interest in collecting exploded worldwide. Alternate-art cards became the new chase cards, and sealed products became collectibles in their own right.

2023–2025: Scarlet & Violet

Scarlet & Violet brought back Pokémon ex, switched English cards to silver borders and introduced Illustration Rares, giving artists more room than ever. Sets such as 151 and Prismatic Evolutions became instant classics.

2025 and beyond: Mega Evolution and 30 years of Pokémon

The Mega Evolution series began in 2025, bringing Mega Pokémon back to the game. In 2026, Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary, with a dedicated 30th Celebration range of collector products.