Hello Gamers, the time has come to talk about something I thought I'd never say: I quit Pokémon TCG Pocket. Yes, that game I talked so enthusiastically about a few posts ago, where I showed you my Fire decks, my Charizard strategies, and all those combinations that excited me so much at first. But hey, things changed, and today I want to tell you exactly why this game and I had to go our separate ways.
It's Not a Bad Game, But It's Not for Me
First of all, let me be clear: Pokémon TCG Pocket is not a bad game. In fact, it's quite well done. The mechanics are solid, the cards are well-designed, and if you're a fan of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, you'll probably really enjoy it. The problem isn't the game itself; the problem is me and my relationship with mobile games in general.
You see, I grew up with Game Boy, with Pokémon Stadium, with those games that captivated you for hours in front of the console or the screen. Those games had something special, a depth, an experience that felt complete. And when I started TCG Pocket, I thought I could replicate that feeling, but the truth is, it wasn't.
The accelerated monotony that consumes you
The biggest problem I encountered was the brutal monotony of the game. And when I say monotony, I don't mean that it's boring from the start. No, the game is initially entertaining, even exciting. You open your first packs, build your first decks, experiment with combinations. But then, there comes a point where you realize that every day is exactly the same.
You log into the app, open your daily packs, complete the same repetitive missions, play the same battles over and over again. It's like an infinite loop that becomes increasingly tiresome. There's none of that sense of adventure, exploration, or discovery that the classic Pokémon games had. Here, it all comes down to: enter, open, play, close. And so it goes, day after day.
The Mobile Format: It's Just Not My Thing
This brings me to another important point: mobile games just aren't my thing. And I think this factor heavily influenced my decision to quit. Mobile games have this "accessible anytime" quality, but for me, it became a kind of daily chore. Like having to fulfill an obligation: "Oh, I have to get into TCG Pocket to do my daily chores." And when a game becomes an obligation instead of a joy, that's when you know something isn't working.
The Combinations Are Great, But They're Not Enough
Of course, the game allows you to make very interesting combinations. My Fire decks with Charizard, the strategies with Flameon to accelerate Energy Charge, the perfect counters against other types—all of that is well-designed and fun to experiment with. But you know what? It wasn't enough to keep me hooked.
Because at the end of the day, you can have the best deck in the world, but if the gameplay experience feels empty, repetitive, and soulless, then it's simply not worth it. And that's exactly what happened to me. There came a point where I no longer cared if I had two Charizard Xs or if I completed my Fire card collection. I just completely lost interest.
You Have to Be a Big Fan to Dedicate the Time
And here's the most important takeaway: I think to truly enjoy Pokémon TCG Pocket and keep playing it day after day, you have to be an extreme fan of the trading card game. You have to be one of those people who live and breathe the TCG, who know every card, every strategy, every meta of the game. Because if you're not that kind of player, the experience gets monotonous very quickly.
I thought my love for Pokémon would be enough, but it turns out what I love about Pokémon is the adventure, the exploration, the catching of creatures in the world, the training of them, and the evolution of them in epic battles. TCG Pocket offers something completely different, and while it's well done, it's simply not for me.
Total Disinterest Came Faster Than I Expected
What surprised me most was how quickly I lost interest in the game. I went from being excited to open packs and build decks to simply not opening the app for days. And when that happens, when you don't even remember you have the game installed, it's a sign that it's definitely not for you.
I didn't stick around to play, and that's something you have to accept. Not every game is for everyone. And it's okay to acknowledge when something just doesn't resonate with you, even if you initially thought it would be different.
Goodbye TCG Pocket, hello to what I really enjoy
So there you have it, gamers. Pokémon TCG Pocket and I are saying our goodbyes. Not with bad feelings, simply acknowledging that we weren't meant for each other. The game will continue to be enjoyed by thousands of people who love the collectible card format, and that's perfectly fine.
For my part, I'll stick with the games I'm truly passionate about. Those console games, PC games, those that truly capture you and make you lose track of time. Because at the end of the day, video games should be fun, not a daily chore on your phone.
If you're playing TCG Pocket and enjoying it, I'm happy for you. But if you feel like me, if you feel the monotony has caught up with you, it's okay to let it go. Life's too short to play things you're not passionate about.
See you in the next post, gamers, where I'll talk about games that really have me hooked.