# Pokémon TCG Online — user reviews > 50 indexed App Store user reviews of Pokémon TCG Online by THE POKEMON COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC., rated 4.57/5 from 24,166 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pokemon-tcg-online/id841098932/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pokemon-tcg-online/id841098932.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 18,979 · 4★ 2,351 · 3★ 754 · 2★ 390 · 1★ 1,298 ## What do users think of Pokémon TCG Online? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Smooth gameplay - 👍 Free-to-play model - 🎨 Appealing Pokémon artwork - 🕹️ Convenient mobile experience - 🧠 Challenges players strategically **Cons** - 🔁 Unbalanced decks and meta - 🐛 Occasional technical issues - 🧠 Steep learning curve for new players - 🤖 Matchmaking could be improved - 🔍 Difficulty finding owned cards **Commonly reported bugs** - Server data not loading properly - Incorrect card ownership detection - Inconsistent coin flip outcomes **Most requested features** - Ability to watch tournament matches - Earn rewards for wins even when opponent quits - Improved 3D animations for attacks - Deck building tools and checklists - Integrated QR code scanning ## Newest reviews (11 of 50) ### 4/5 — UI and avatars need a MASSIVE overhaul! *2022-09-15, version 2.92.0* I absolutely love this game. Being able to play Pokémon online is very convenient when I have no one in real life to play with, however I am not giving 5 stars because this game looks like an old flash game on a kids math learning website. We need a fresh overhaul of the menus, UI, and most importantly the AVATARS. Please, please, update the design of the avatars to be more similar to the mainline games, or even the ones in Pokémon GO are better than these. If you want 2D, fine, but there are some really amazing 2D artists out there who would love to design some really cool avatars for this game. At least update the resolution of the avatars if nothing else. I think a lot of other players would agree with me. Other than that, the game is fine and I like being able to use my in real life codes to get cards in the game. ### 4/5 — Really fun with room to improve *2022-08-19, version 2.91.0* As a collector of Pokémon cards in general, and not having a ton of friends that play, this is a really fun way to get into it. For beginners, this is super useful to learn the mechanics and get a lot of games in with the trainer challenges. Important note that if you want to import the prebuilt decks you’ll want to look up what is compatible currently. I noticed the newer V battle decks are NOT able to be used in some formats for the app, although you can import them to your collection. Believe Vivid Voltage might be one of the last decks that can be used for the trainer challenges, double check on your own. Also, you can buy decks within the game when you earn credits/coin, and this can be a fun way to trial a deck before you purchase it physically. ### 4/5 — Good game *2022-02-07, version 2.86.0* I like that I can have both a real collection and an online collection. I also like that I can get any booster pack or get any premade decks. I also like that we can earn rewards by battling others. The only thing I don’t like is that the battle can be decided by the game itself. It is very easy to tell if the battle is shifted to one side. I can’t tell u how many times I’ve lost a battle because the game bends it. A lot of times, if a coin lands heads, then it benefits the coin flipper. And a lot of times, it will usually land heads for the opponent, and tails for me. I don’t think it’s a fair battle if it wasn’t meant to be a fair battle from the beginning. But other than that, good game. ### 4/5 — Amazing game but *2021-08-15, version 2.81.0* So i downloaded this game like 5 to 10 minutes ago and it was going good but then after the tutorial i went to the thing where you pick out what card you want in your deck and it showed I had cards but it was just showing a solid cooler so I closed the app and then reloaded the game and then it showed I have 0 card so then I went to shop and bought a card pack when to open it and it showed me that I did not have anything so if anyone can tell me any possible why this is happening that will be amazing thanks ### 4/5 — Very free-to-play friendly, but a lack of support from the devs *2021-07-13, version 2.80.0* The game is very much free-to-play- with enough effort, anyone can build a good deck. However, in recent years this game has been lacking in support from the devs. There have been very few updates to the UI and in-game features besides the addition of new sets. It’s disappointing because if the game was taken care of properly and monetized, I think it could attract a much larger player base and serve as a gateway to playing (and most importantly for TCPi, spending money on) the physical game. ### 4/5 — It is really fun, but imbalanced. *2021-05-12, version 2.79.0* I used to have to have this game, and I made myself a hella cool deck. However, I forgot my login info and I was unable to recover it so I had to start from scratch. And now that I don’t have all the cards to make a super strong deck yet, I realize that there is no way to match players with the same experience. Sometimes, I will get matched against someone who has clearly been playing on their account for months, and there is just nothing I can do because I have had this account for a week, and only have like 2 strong Pokémon and the starting trainers basically. I would enjoy it much more if there was a matchmaking system where you could be paired up with someone who is equal to you that is based on a standardized system, like in other strategy deck games, such as clash Royale. ### 4/5 — One major improvement needed *2021-04-27, version 2.79.0* I love the app. People complain about the game itself and new decks making the game not fun but that has nothing to do with the app. As far as the app is concerned I love how smooth it is and the improvements to make the game more visual are amazing. The one thing I’d like them to focus on more is the collecting aspect of the app. I’d like there to be better support for keeping track of your cards and what you have and don’t have and be able to make checklists of what you need and search for cards you need on the trading forums. Right now if I wanted to collect a set I’d have to keep referring back to and huge list that just shows everything and it’s not kept organized in a way that lets me check off what I do and don’t have over time. I know I can mark cards for want and search those on the trades but if I’m collecting a whole set I don’t want to search the entire collection at once. ### 4/5 — My favorite app *2020-11-20, version 2.75.0* This is my favorite app. It is very exciting keeps me busy and lots of fun plus my daughter loves it. There are a few minimum things that could be improved that would make this a five star app hands down. But still want to give credit to the developers becauseThey did a wonderful job. One thing that that could be improved would be for tournaments you should be able to watch the tournament if you lose first round or second round that would be so amazing just be a spectator even though the person loss. The next thing would be for the ability to be credited for wins when someone quits the game rather than not be credited at all. Lastly need to improve majorly the battling display for when Pokémon attack it should show the Pokémon in 3D doing attacks instead of minimum attacks effects. Do the same type of 3D attacks like how Pokémon stadium attacks look. But still the best app ever. Thank you POKÉMON. ### 4/5 — New theme decks *2020-11-10, version 2.75.0* I have been playing online since Black and White. I have to admit that the Mach Strike deck and Imperial command deck when released put me off. The old theme decks stand no chance as overall the Pokémon are weaker, do less damage and you get out drawn by the lack of trainers. I recently started playing again and now the deck is Relentless flame but I will admit there are some better theme decks that are just as good. The theme deck game has moved into a quicker pace that relies on who gets to their big monsters faster. It is fun but I am already getting bored after 2 weeks and will probably take another year off after I get enough coins to buy the theme decks I do not have for my inventory. ### 4/5 — Great Game *2020-09-02, version 2.73.0* Unlike the normal Pokemon Trading Card Game, the online version allows players to earn packs and Pokémon instead of buying them. Completing the tutorial awards the player with some decks and a powerful Pokémon that allows them to hit the ground running. An in-game currency that can be earned from playing allows players to purchase packs and decks without spending a cent and a “battle pass like” reward ladder gives you powerful Pokémon, packs and coins for winning games. This removes most of the pay-to-win aspect as physical trading card games that makes them difficult to play. Overall, it is a fun way to pass the time. ### 5/5 — Best way to play without unorganized Pokémon cards *2020-04-17, version 2.70.0* This game is really fun and addicting to me. It’s the best way to play without cards scattered and cluttered in your house. Though one thing I have to say is the new sword and shield packs aregetting too far with these new Pokémon. We should keep it the original way to play normally. Also, I am getting mixed on what this new region is. The way this expansion is going is “Way to Fast” . The new popular cards like the Ex’s, Mega Ex’s, and GX’s are now V’s and V Max’s. The cards are changing really fast and are turning into nothing interesting. If the Pokémon company could listen to me, I would say to slow down and think about other people’s reviews and concerns. Overall you are doing amazing with Pokémon TCG! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — DO NOT BOTHER - Game is predetermined!! *2023-01-20, version 2.95.0* Do not even think for a moment you’re in control of who wins or loses. The game is predetermined — without a doubt. That is very annoying considering there are basement dwelling players that are really into this game and spend a lot of money on it. And those are the ones who think there is minutely any strategy to winning. It’s actually laughable to think about that!!! The AI knows as soon as you hit “play” who will win. And if the player who is not meant to win is somehow ahead, a key card will be given to the other player to make sure they win. I’ve played well over 7,000 games and it is clear to me it is biased. I would download a solitaire game — it is more likely you will win than Pokeman TCG!!! ### 1/5 — no balance no matchmaking *2022-09-28, version 2.92.0* You will have a stage 1 pokemon with a couple energy able to do maybe 30 damage while having around 90 health by turn 2 or so. Your opponent will have 3 pokemon all with horribly ugly and multicolored artwork and 200 to 300 health and with one of them ready to hit you for 100 damage by turn 2. You will be thrown into the deep end right off the bat against players with all the rarest cards while you have nothing. 99% of the cards are useless because everyone uses ex cards which take only a fraction of the effort to set up and have tons more health and damage compared to standard cards. For a card game, having so many interesting cards be utterly useless due to powercreep is a travesty. There were cards that countered ex cards and could bring some semblance of reasonable gameplay back to the game, but now there’s gx cards, V cards, tag team cards, all basically the exact same thing as ex cards but with bigger damage and health numbers for no reason, with even more brightly colored ugly artwork, and since they technically aren’t ex cards, the cards that counter ex cards do nothing at all anymore. It is not a fair or balanced game, plain and simple. ### 1/5 — This game rules are broken *2021-01-12, version 2.76.0* The rules are a piece of garbage, so I can’t attack or use a trainer card first turn but my opponent can in their first turn after me which have caused me to lose matches in my opponents first turn matches that could have survived if at least I could have use a trainer card, because on top that they can use trainer cards, they can also attack there is no balance in this game it should at least let players start with 2 Pokemon instead of just one which will cause you to lost in your opponents first play and to top it all this game is required to be good is 60% meta deck 45% luck and 5% skill no wonder almost no one plays the cards game and just collects the cards instead. ### 1/5 — Fix the Relentless Flames deck *2019-06-17, version 2.64.0* The developers need to balance the decks. Relentless flames is retarded over-powered. Half the people use this deck. If you’re up against it you may as well concede before coin flip to save time and try for someone not using it to actually have fun. If you use it, half your opponents concede before coin flip. You save up tickets to play a tournament, and 5/8 people have this deck. You don’t want to concede in tournaments because you saved up tickets. It’s honestly surprising the developers didn’t catch this at any point, and more surprising yet they haven’t patched or hot fixed it. Most other decks are fairly well balanced. Relentless Flames needs to go, or be properly balanced because it is absolute B.S. it’s not even fun to use this deck because it’s pretty much a guaranteed concede. You don’t need nearly as much luck or skill as other decks. ### 2/5 — Unbalanced *2021-03-11, version 2.77.0* This app is great, as it allows for easy gameplay and deck building etc. The problem is in the game itself. It’s simply unbalanced. The quick release of endless expansions makes for clumsiness and mistakes. Of the thousands of available cards, the same hundred are used. Each subsequent expansion makes more and more cards irrelevant. Whats even worse is the fire decks, easily the most overpowered and unbalanced type in the game. So you either join in and make your own cookie cutter fire deck, or you just concede every time you are matched up with one (which is over 50% of the time i might add). Come on guys, the more imbalance, the more people will find something better to play. ### 3/5 — Good game at times *2021-09-29, version 2.83.0* When my son was growing up Pokémon was the only card game we played, loved it and spent a lot of money. So glad to see this game and it’s free. But am having some issues, several games I have knocked out Pokémon and never received a prize card, gets very frustrating especially when you get defeated by one prize card on a game I should have won. And constantly being told that I’m defeated before game ends, and I have 2 Charizards on my bench and Lugia on my play spot with only 2 prize cards left to win and all of a sudden I’m defeated; no way, this needs fixed. We should get to play to the end. ### 3/5 — “Luck” *2021-06-16, version 2.80.0* The game plays well overall, but i do have a couple issues with it. 1.) It seems that no matter how many energies that are put in the deck, you either draw them all at once or don't see a single one for a majority of the game. This can also be applied to Pokemon and trainer cards, especially Basic Pokemon. 2.) Coin flips are not very “true to chance,” on several occasions i have witnessed times where a coin has landed on heads/tails 7+ times in a row multiple times in a game. Knowing how uncommon it is to get it to happen 5 times in a row, let alone it happening multiple times in a game, it really makes me question how “50/50” the coin flips really are 3.) It would also be nice to be able to earn coins a little bit faster or in larger quantities. I feel like you should also consider adding a “Card Shop” where instead of buying a pack hoping for a card, you can save up your coins and definitely pay more than a pack (for most cards) to get that single card you are looking for. ### 3/5 — Could be Better, Could be Worse *2020-11-08, version 2.74.0* I am a BIG no HUGE Pokémon fan and have been for a long time. I know I can play the game in person but I would like to play it from the comfort of my home. As much as I love the game I have to say it takes forever for it to load my server data, it kicks me out when I play with others, and when it's loading my server data, it stop at 18% or 95%which I find terribly annoying. Also, when I'm playing the game and I want to see my card, it's takes the whole round for it to load the moves and pictures on the card! Yes I love the game, and yes I'm in love with Pokémon but the other Pokémon games I've played haven't been this laggy! I don't know if it's just my internet or just me, but I feel like its kinda sad that I don't get to play... ### 3/5 — Great When It Works *2020-11-03, version 2.74.0* It’s the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online, But on your tablet. The PTCGO is an amazing game on PC and to have it in a more portable from is awesome. Wish there was phone support, but that’s not what I’m here to talk about. I’ve consistently had one major issue: lag spikes. Frequently , my game will suddenly lag spike and make itself completely unplayable. Inputs don’t read, animation run slow, and when it happens on my opponent’s turn it can have the issue of making the animations on their turn so slow that I miss the chance to do anything (due to timeout) by the time it becomes my turn. It’s very aggravating and makes playing in tournaments reliably virtually impossible. Major flaw that in my opinion needs to be fixed. ### 3/5 — Potential but some issues *2020-07-17, version 2.72.0* So it plays well and the fact that it isn’t really a money grabbing, pay to win scheme is nice. HOWEVER I bought several of the theme decks in this game before the app came out and I’ve no way of uploading them which means I have to grind for coins to get them or pay for them again. That’s a drag. Then I can use custom decks in the vs AI trainer challenges which I get this is supposed to be pvp but still, seems like a pointless restriction. Lastly almost as often as not I get daily quests which are impossible for me to complete because I don’t have the cards necessary to build a working deck to complete the challenge (for example, deal X amount of damage to opponents Pokemon with dragon types, but I have all of 4 dragon cards none of which are particularly powerful). Beyond these issues, I can’t complain too much. It’s just annoying enough for me not to give it a 4 star rating but not enough for me to really rate it badly as it does work rather well. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Remember playing with Pokémon cards when you were a kid? Well this is exactly that. *2022-12-01, version 2.93.0* I have loved the TCG since i was a kid even though i stopped collecting for awhile, finding this game almost a year ago reignited that passion and taught me I’ve been playing the game wrong since I was a child. I feel there should be a way to earn more packs in game even if it means paying real currency (if the option exists I’ve over looked it) but thats literally my only complaint. ### 5/5 — SUPER cool 😎 *2022-11-18, version 2.93.0* I love this game so much I love opening the packs and battling with others. I also opened real pets too. I didn’t know who to battle with until this it all changed and worked! Thank you so much for creating the game.I also love Pokémon even if I’m a girl you made this change this wonderful game. I hope more updates come soon! Well I love your games I like everything I love opening pets I love battling others and more! well anyway I love this game and I hope you do too because it’s Pokémon the best cards in the world by great game!!!!!! ### 5/5 — Best way to learn how to play and it’s free! *2022-10-28, version 2.92.0* I am an adult learning about Pokémon for my 6 year old. I created an account and have been learning step by step for free no strings attached. For other adults and kids this is a significant factor in choosing the right apps for fun screen time. Not only is it teaching strategy but some math on the fly too. I also like that the Pokémon stuff you buy in the store comes with online codes you redeem for free to help your game. I am still new but I am beginning to understand the fascination with Pokémon and a great way to play a card game I can enjoy with my kiddo. Please don’t ever change the free part it’s much better than many other apps because it is free. ### 5/5 — Novice friendly, continual challenges *2022-09-07, version 2.92.0* There’s a lot of depth to the Pokémon TCG and it is what you make of it. The app is just there to facilitate the gameplay that is already inherent to the cards. But it also makes life a little easier for those new to the game, like I was about a month ago, thanks to a clear tutorial and highlighting on cards that are playable. Anyone complaining about difficulty just needs to understand how to build a deck and play it to get the most out of it. Also, for every hot, “annoying” strategy in the current meta, there’s a strategy to be able to beat it. Playing in the app versus IRL makes no difference. A little patience is required for any strategy game. ### 5/5 — Love this TCG app *2022-05-31, version 2.89.0* I have been collecting cards and playing the Pokémon games all my life and just got into the TCG app game and it’s all I have wanted to do the past 2 week and I have a ps5 and series X. If you enjoy the Pokémon TCG i highly recommend giving this a try. Only thing I would change is when I started I could scan my TCG codes on my iPad but now that’s gone and I have to type all my codes in when I get them. It’s not the end of the world but plz bring that back and this app would be perfect. ### 5/5 — This made me fall in love *2022-03-12, version 2.87.0* I never had the money to buy cards when I was little and always wanted to play. I never had friends who played either so I never thought of it again. 10 years later and my boyfriend showed me his collection. I fell in love but we didn’t play that often because time ya know! 😟 Well, here we are, downloading this game thinking it was going to be cool, but man did it surprise me! It was challenging and so much fun. I love that it has no money involved on the app, even though you can buy packs and get more cards. It’s fun to have to work for the next free packs and if you are good at saving coins, even decks! When doing versus, it seems you need some really good cards to get anywhere but it gives you some easier players here and there. Everyone seems so nice too when you chat. I play every night and won’t stop anytime soon. ### 5/5 — Still Fun After All These Years *2021-05-29, version 2.79.0* Having played since the late 90’s the game is still great. It has changed a lot, but I think it most of these changes have been for the best. I wish they had a deck testing feature where you could use any card, build a deck and test it out against an AI. I also wish there was another way to use the tournament tickets received in game, perhaps trading them, or using them to unlock trade locked cards. ### 5/5 — This game is great, but needs some improvements *2021-04-20, version 2.78.0* I love this game especially since I’ve never played the Pokémon game before (with cards) it makes it way easier to do it instead of using real cards. But I feel like the challenge’s when you first start need to be a bit harder. I beat them all first try but the last one, because I was busy, with the first levels being easy, you technically get all of those really good cards for doing barely anything. Definitely should be harder, since those cards were pretty good for a starter pack. Also since there were ones that had 200 health, and more. But other than that the game is really good! ### 5/5 — Not just for kids! *2020-12-20, version 2.76.0* This free to play game is a blast! It gives you everything you need to learn the game, earn decks and find your style of play. It requires thought and strategy and honestly is fun for all ages. I haven’t once felt manipulated or frustrated by it. The decks you earn are actually useable and fun to learn and unless you want to compete at high levels it’s more than enough for hours and hours of enjoyment. The whole family can enjoy this game and it’s ALMOST too complicated for younger children but the art is quite appealing to them and if you can teach them the game it would definitely give them advantages elsewhere in life if they learned it. Get it and play it is all I can say I don’t think most people would regret trying it. ### 5/5 — Creating new decks is stupid *2020-07-23, version 2.72.0* I really like Pokémon TCG I was very entertained when I played the tutorial but creating decks...I personally hate it I do not like to say ‘hate’ but I hate it, here are my reasons: 1. Whenever I click the show owned button it shows all of the cards that there is not marking or only showing owed. 2.there is many thing in Pokémon TCG but finding packs that I own... such a HUGE problem! I can never find ones that I own!!! Please, fix these Major problems and I will give this game a five star ⭐️ rate. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*