View source for Pokémon Trading Card Game (video game)

{{Short description|1998 video game}}
{{About|the 1998 video game|the defunct online game|Pokémon TCG Online|the mobile game released in 2024|Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Pokémon Trading Card Game
| image = Pokémon Trading Card Game Coverart.png
| caption = North American box art
| developer = [[Hudson Soft]]<br>[[Creatures (company)|Creatures]]
| publisher = [[Nintendo]]
| director = Kōji Arai
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* [[Tsunekazu Ishihara]]
* Shinichi Nakamoto
* Takehiro Izushi
}}
| programmer = {{Plainlist|
* Masahiro Tobita
* Satoshi Mikami
* Masaki Tsumori
}}
| composer = Ichirō Shimakura
| series = ''[[Pokémon (video game series)|Pokémon]]'', ''[[Pokémon Trading Card Game]]''
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|December 18, 1998<ref name="Official">{{Cite web |title=ポケモンカードGB |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/acxj/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623004241/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/acxj/index.html |archive-date=2010-06-23 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |language=ja}}</ref>|AU|April 7, 2000|NA|April 10, 2000<ref name="IGN2" />|EU|December 15, 2001<ref>https://www.pokemon.com/uk/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-trading-card-game</ref>}}
| genre = [[Digital collectible card game]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[Game Boy Color]]
}}

'''''Pokémon Trading Card Game''''', known in Japan as {{nihongo foot|'''''Pokémon Card GB''''',|ポケモンカードGB|Pokemon Kādo Jī Bī|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1998 [[Digital collectible card game|digital collectible card]] [[video game]] developed by [[Hudson Soft]] and [[Creatures (company)|Creatures]] and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[Game Boy Color]]. It is an adaptation of the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game|card game of the same name]]. It was initially released in Japan in December 1998 and internationally in 2000. The game includes the [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game sets|first three sets]] of the trading card game, as well as exclusive cards not available elsewhere.

A second Game Boy Color game, ''Pokémon Card GB2: Great Rocket-Dan Sanjo! (Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team Great Rocket!)'', was released in Japan in 2001, having a centered storyline. Although this sequel was not released in North America or Europe, several enthusiasts have released unofficial English translations.

==Gameplay==
{{See also|Pokémon Trading Card Game#Gameplay{{!}}''Pokémon Trading Card Game'' § Gameplay}}
[[File:Pokémon Trading Card Game (video game) gameplay.png|left|thumb|The player uses a [[Goldeen]] card against the opponent's [[Machop]] card, and is viewing the menu.]]
''Pokémon Trading Card Game'' is a video game simulation of the original tabletop [[collectible card game]] with [[role-playing game|role-playing]] elements similar to the main ''[[Pokémon (video game series)|Pokémon]]'' RPG-series. Players control a young boy and must travel around the game world interacting with non-player characters and challenging them to card battles using 60-card decks.<ref name="IGN" /> During gameplay, the player must defeat eight Club Masters, each with a different deck representing one of the game's elemental card types. Finally, the player faces four Grand Masters, and defeating them earns the player the right to inherit four powerful Legendary Cards. A total of 226 cards exist within the game, which include cards from the [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game sets|first three sets]] of the real-life game, as well as exclusive cards not available outside of the game.<ref name="GSpot" /> The player is given the opportunity to choose one of three starter decks at the start of their journey, each containing Pokémon cards revolving around the three possible starting creatures from [[Pokémon Red and Blue|''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'']]. As players defeat opponents, they are rewarded with [[booster pack]]s containing a random assortment of additional cards they may use in their deck, with up to four separate decks able to be saved at a time.

Up to two players may interact with each other using the Game Boy's [[infrared]] and/or Link Cable to battle or trade cards.<ref name="Site1">{{Cite web |script-title=ja:ギフトセンター |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/acxj/page05.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621044848/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/acxj/page05.html |archive-date=2010-06-21 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |language=ja}}</ref> As players trade with one another, they are given access to a special feature called "Card Pop!", which allows them to obtain cards that would otherwise be inaccessible in the main game.<ref name="Site2">{{Cite web |script-title=ja:「カードポン！」でカードが増える！友達が増える！！ |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/acxj/page06.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621044911/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/acxj/page06.html |archive-date=2010-06-21 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |language=ja}}</ref> This feature is not accessible in the 3DS version.

==Development==

''Pokémon Trading Card Game'' was co-developed by [[Hudson Soft]] and [[Creatures (company)|Creatures]]. Creatures' official website describes their work on the game as "planning and game design, card design".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Creatures |title=Company >> History >> 1998 |url=http://www.creatures.co.jp/html/outline/1998/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925221007/http://www.creatures.co.jp/html/outline/1998/ |archive-date=2008-09-25 |website=creatures.co.jp}}</ref> [[Tsunekazu Ishihara]], founder of Creatures and designer of the card game,<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7S_b5BxaB0 |title=#Pokemon20: The Pokémon Company's Tsunekazu Ishihara |date=2016-02-02 |publisher=The Official Pokémon YouTube Channel |access-date=2018-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911160911/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7S_b5BxaB0 |archive-date=2018-09-11 |url-status=live |format=[[YouTube]] video}}</ref> is credited as one of the game's producers. Hudson is not credited anywhere on the game's package,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokémon Trading Card Game front cover |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/pokmon-trading-card-game/cover-art/gameCoverId,8286/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318195436/https://www.mobygames.com/game/pokmon-trading-card-game/cover-art/gameCoverId,8286/ |archive-date=2018-03-18 |website=[[MobyGames]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokémon Trading Card Game back cover |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/pokmon-trading-card-game/cover-art/gameCoverId,8289/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318195446/https://www.mobygames.com/game/pokmon-trading-card-game/cover-art/gameCoverId,8289/ |archive-date=2018-03-18 |website=MobyGames}}</ref> cartridge,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokémon Trading Card Game cartridge |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/pokmon-trading-card-game/cover-art/gameCoverId,182003/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318195502/https://www.mobygames.com/game/pokmon-trading-card-game/cover-art/gameCoverId,182003/ |archive-date=2018-03-18 |website=MobyGames}}</ref> or title screen,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokémon Trading Card Game title screen |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/gameboy-color/pokmon-trading-card-game/screenshots/gameShotId,24795/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318195935/https://www.mobygames.com/game/gameboy-color/pokmon-trading-card-game/screenshots/gameShotId,24795/ |archive-date=2018-03-18 |website=MobyGames}}</ref> however the ending credits list them as the game's developer.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5YLbHifHRI&t=8h1m38s |title=うんこちゃん『ポケモンカードGB』Part2【2013/11/09】 |date=2017-12-15 |publisher=うんこちゃん昔の録画保管庫 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/L5YLbHifHRI |archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live |format=[[YouTube]] video}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Although ''Pokémon Trading Card Game'' features most cards from the first three sets of the collectible card game, two real-life cards are absent from the [[Game Boy Color]] version: [[Electrode (Pokémon)|Electrode]] from the [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game sets#Base|base set]], and [[Ditto (Pokémon)|Ditto]] from [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game sets#Fossil|Fossil]]. The cards were excluded as it was difficult to translate their tabletop effects to the video game engine, but they are replaced by game-exclusive cards of the same Pokémon (the Electrode card was later made available in Japan via an online card shop).

The game features cameos from President and CEO of [[The Pokémon Company]] Tsunekazu Ishihara as "Mr. Ishihara", and musician Tomoaki Imakuni under his stage name [[Imakuni?]].<ref name="Imakuni">{{Cite web |script-title=ja:おどれ！ 1997～1998 [イベント・テレビなど] |url=http://www.imakuni.com/profile/data_event9798.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226012718/http://www.imakuni.com/profile/data_event9798.html |archive-date=2013-02-26 |access-date=2010-10-22 |publisher=Imakuni? |language=ja}}</ref>

==Release==
The game was revealed in November 1998<ref name="GSpot1"/><ref>{{cite magazine|title=SFC&GB発売カレンダー|magazine=The 64Dream|publisher=Mycom|date=1998-11-19|page=8}}</ref> and released in Japan on December 18, under the title {{nihongo|''Pokémon Card GB''|ポケモンカードGB|Pokemon Kādo Jī Bī}} one month before the tabletop version debuted in English.<ref name="GSpot1">{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Chris |date=November 19, 1998 |title=Nintendo Trades Pokemon Cards |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2465592.html |access-date=October 20, 2014 |publisher=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> In September 1999, [[Nintendo of America]] announced that they would be releasing an English version in North America with the proposed title of simply ''Pokémon Card''.<ref name="IGN1">{{Cite web |date=1999-09-10 |title=Pokémon Card Game Coming to the US |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/070/070276p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024143100/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/11/pokamon-card-game-coming-to-the-us |archive-date=2012-10-24 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=IGN}}</ref> Though initially planned for release the following winter, the game, now known under its finalized title of ''Pokémon Trading Card Game'', was pushed back to April 2000, which [[IGN]] attributed to the company wanting to focus their efforts on the upcoming ''[[Pokémon Stadium]]'' for the [[Nintendo 64]].<ref name="IGN2">{{Cite web |date=1999-12-02 |title=Pokémon Card Delayed |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/072/072672p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024143014/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/03/pokamon-card-delayed |archive-date=2012-10-24 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=IGN}}</ref> The following February, the game made an appearance at the 2000 [[American International Toy Fair|Toy Fair]] in [[New York City]] as part of Nintendo's "Pokémon 2000" interactive line-up along with [[Pokémon Gold and Silver|''Pokémon Gold'' and ''Silver'']].<ref name="IGN3">{{Cite web |date=2000-02-09 |title=Pokemon 2000 at the Toy Fair |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/075/075010p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819144028/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/075/075010p1.html |archive-date=2012-08-19 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=IGN}}</ref> An exclusive tabletop version promotional card from [[Wizards of the Coast]] featuring [[Meowth]] was included with the game.

===Re-releases===
The game was released on the [[Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console]] in Europe on July 10, 2014,<ref>{{Cite web |last=NintenDaan |date=July 7, 2014 |title=This week's European downloads - July 10 (Pokemon TCG and more) |url=http://www.gonintendo.com/s/232601-this-week-s-european-downloads-july-10-pokemon-tcg-and-more |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714034301/http://www.gonintendo.com/s/232601-this-week-s-european-downloads-july-10-pokemon-tcg-and-more |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |access-date=July 7, 2014 |publisher=GoNintendo}}</ref> Australia on July 11, 2014,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vuckovic |first=Daniel |date=July 7, 2014 |title=Nintendo Download Update (11/7) Pokemon Trading Card Game |url=http://www.vooks.net/nintendo-download-update-117-pokemon-trading-card-game/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714212426/http://www.vooks.net/nintendo-download-update-117-pokemon-trading-card-game/ |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |access-date=July 7, 2014 |publisher=Vooks}}</ref> North America on November 13, 2014,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Evan |date=October 20, 2014 |title=Pokemon Puzzle Challenge, Pokemon Trading Card Game Coming to 3DS Virtual Console |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/20/pokemon-puzzle-challenge-pokemon-trading-card-game-coming-to-3ds-virtual-console |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020213705/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/20/pokemon-puzzle-challenge-pokemon-trading-card-game-coming-to-3ds-virtual-console |archive-date=October 20, 2014 |access-date=October 21, 2014 |publisher=IGN}}</ref> and Japan on December 24, 2014. It was rereleased as part of the [[Nintendo Classics]] service on August 8, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plant |first=Logan |date=2023-02-08 |title=Nintendo Switch Online Adding Game Boy and Game Boy Advance Games |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-online-game-boy-games |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
|GR = 81.25%<ref name="GR">{{Cite web |title=Pokemon Trading Card Game for Game Boy Color |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/250612-pokemon-trading-card-game/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014171749/http://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/250612-pokemon-trading-card-game/index.html |archive-date=2012-10-14 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=[[GameRankings]]}}</ref>
|Allgame=4.5/5<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Ottoson|first=Joe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114211328/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=21248&tab=review|archive-date=2014-11-14|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=21248&tab=review|title=Pokémon Trading Card Game - Review|website=[[AllGame]]|access-date=2025-09-25}}</ref>
|EGM = 8.5/10<br/>4.5/10<br/>9/10<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Cyril|author2=Chris|author3=Jim|date=June 2000 |url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-gaming-monthly-issue-131-june-2000/page/n169/mode/2up|title=Pokémon Trading Card Game|work=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|p=170|volume=13|number=6|via=[[Internet Archive]]|access-date=2025-09-25}}</ref>
|GSpot = 7.6/10<ref name="GSpot">{{Cite web |last=Bartholow |first=Peter |date=2000-04-10 |title=Pokemon Trading Card Game Review for Game Boy Color |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gbc/strategy/pokemontradingcard/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724052636/http://www.gamespot.com/gbc/strategy/pokemontradingcard/index.html |archive-date=2010-07-24 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref>
|Hyper = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kyn|first=Anna|date=October 2000|url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-084/page/80/mode/2up|title=Pokemon Trading Card Game|work=[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]]|issue=84|p=81|via=[[Internet Archive]]|access-date=2025-09-25}}</ref>
|IGN = 9/10<ref name="IGN">{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=2000-04-10 |title=Pokémon Trading Card Game - Game Boy Color Review |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/161/161879p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016233856/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/11/pokemon-trading-card-game |archive-date=2012-10-16 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=IGN}}</ref>
|NP = 8.2/10<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 2000 |title=Pokemon Trading Card Game Review |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |issue=130}}</ref>
|ONM = 92%<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Pokémon Trading Care Game |url=https://archive.org/details/game-boy-official-magazine-2/page/n1/mode/2up |magazine=[[EMAP|Game Boy Official Magazine]] |issue=2 |pages=2–5 |access-date=July 21, 2021}}</ref>
|PG = A<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/pocket-gamer-issue-01-2000/page/44/mode/2up|title=Pokémon Trading Card Game|work=[[Pocket Gamer]]|issue=1|year=2000|p=44|via=[[Internet Archive]]|access-date=2025-09-25}}</ref>
}}

''Pokémon Trading Card Game'' sold 607,193 copies in Japan by the end of 1999, becoming the 20th most-bought console game of that year in the region.<ref name="Magicbox2">{{Cite web |title=1999 Top 100 Best Selling Japanese Console Games |url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell1999.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215082832/http://the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell1999.shtml |archive-date=2014-12-15 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=The Magic Box}}</ref> It would go on to sell an additional 1.51 million copies during its first year in North America,<ref name="Magicbox">{{Cite web |title=US Platinum Game Chart |url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070421003854/http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml |archive-date=2007-04-21 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=The Magic Box}}</ref> and received mostly positive reception from critics, earning an 81.25% average score from aggregate review website ''[[GameRankings]]''.<ref name="GR" /> ''[[GameSpot]]'' referred to the game as "a faithful and amusing adaptation of the collectible card game" calling the gameplay "addictive", but found it to be overall less satisfying than the original [[Pokémon (video game series)|''Pokémon'' role-playing games]], stating that its goal of 'collecting all 226 pieces of paper' just doesn't satisfy like 'catching 'em all' can and does."<ref name="GSpot" /> Others, such as ''[[IGN]]'' called the game "a blast to play" and that it offered mostly the same experience as the tabletop version "without the clutter or cost", yet acknowledged that the video game adaptation could not fully replicate the original given the finite number of cards available. Though the website found its main story to be "simple and basic", and gameplay to be largely luck-based, it ultimately declared that "whether you like or hate those darn Pokémon... if Nintendo keeps making Pokémon videogames of this quality, those creatures aren't going away anytime soon."<ref name="IGN" /> ''[[GamesRadar]]'' ranked it the 50th best game available on the Game Boy and/or Game Boy Color. The staff called it an "excellent addition to ''Pokemon''{{'}}s Game Boy catalog."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-04-16 |title=Best Game Boy games of all time |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/best-game-boy-games-all-time/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425120329/http://www.gamesradar.com/best-game-boy-games-all-time/ |archive-date=2013-04-25 |access-date=2013-12-05 |website=[[GamesRadar]]}}</ref>

In a 2009 retrospective of ''Pokémon'' spin-offs, ''IGN'' retained their high praise for the game, stating "It was really kind of ridiculous how awesome this game turned out to be...if there was one spin-off [we] could ask Nintendo to reintroduce, it'd be the TCG game."<ref name="IGN5">{{Cite web |last=DeVries |first=Jack |date=2009-11-19 |title=Pokemon Report: Cheers & Tears Edition |url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/104/1047636p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017232844/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/11/19/pokemon-report-cheers-tears-edition |archive-date=2012-10-17 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=IGN}}</ref>

===Censorship===
The game was banned in [[Saudi Arabia]] because it supposedly promoted [[Zionism]]. According to Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the ''Pokémon'' video game and cards have symbols that are "the star of David, which everyone knows is connected to international Zionism and is Israel's national emblem".<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2001 |title=Saudi Arabia bans Pokemon |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1243307.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806083118/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1243307.stm |archive-date=August 6, 2010 |access-date=October 20, 2014 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation for the World}}</ref>

==Sequel==
{{Infobox video game
| title       = Pokémon Card GB2: Great Rocket-Dan Sanjō!
| collapsible = yes
| state       = autocollapse
| developer   = [[Hudson Soft]]<br>[[Creatures (company)|Creatures]]
| publisher   = [[The Pokémon Company]]
| director = Koji Arai
| producer = {{ubl|[[Tsunekazu Ishihara]]|Shinichi Nakamoto|Takahiro Harada}}
| designer = Yoshimasa Kitamura
| composer = Ichiro Shimakura
| series      = ''[[Pokémon (video game series)|Pokémon]]''
| released    = {{vgrelease|JP|March 28, 2001<ref>{{Cite web |last=Creatures |title=Company >> History >> 2001 |url=http://www.creatures.co.jp/html/outline/1998/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925221023/http://www.creatures.co.jp/html/outline/2001/ |archive-date=2008-09-25 |website=creatures.co.jp}}</ref>}}
| genre       = [[Collectible card game|Card battle]]
| modes       = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| platforms   = [[Game Boy Color]]
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Pokémon Card GB2: Great Rocket-Dan Sanjō!'''''|ポケモンカードGB2　GR団参上！|Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team Great Rocket!|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}}, released March 28, 2001, is a Japanese-exclusive sequel to the original ''Pokémon Trading Card Game'', also for the Game Boy Color. Like its predecessor, the game was developed by Hudson Soft and Creatures, but unlike its predecessor, it was only published by [[The Pokémon Company]], which also marks the first time a ''Pokémon'' game was ever published by The Pokémon Company. It was first announced in January 2001 by Japanese website WatchImpress.<ref name="IGN4">{{Cite web |date=2001-01-23 |title=A New Pokémon Game In The Cards |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/090/090476p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106022144/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/25/a-new-pokamon-game-in-the-cards |archive-date=2013-01-06 |access-date=2010-10-20 |publisher=IGN}}</ref> It includes new enhancements, such as the ability to choose one of two genders for the player character, a training mode to help new players, a Deck Diagnosis to rate the effectiveness of a player's deck, and a new group of antagonists known as Team Great Rocket.<ref name="IGN4" /> The game features all cards from the original game, along with new cards from the fourth set, [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game sets#Team Rocket|Team Rocket]], as well as cards originally exclusive to Japanese vending machines and the ''Pokémon Trading Card Game Instructional Video Intro Pack'', bringing the total number of cards to 445.

Like the previous title, players must travel across the game world challenging non-player characters to simulated battles using rules adopted from the original tabletop version. All locations from the original are present, along with a new setting known as GR Island which contains its own Battle Masters for players to encounter. By defeating a total of 16 Battle Masters on the old and new islands, players may challenge the game's final boss, King Biruritchi. Though an English release in North America was deemed "likely" by website ''[[IGN]]'' in 2001, the game has not been made available outside Japan.<ref name="IGN4" /> ''Pokémon Card GB2'' earned a 29 out of 40 score from Japanese ''[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]]'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=ポケモンカードGB2 -GR団参上！- [ゲームボーイ] |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12389 |url-status=live |magazine=Famitsu |language=ja |publisher=Enterbrain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024343/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12389 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=September 1, 2014}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Video games|1990s|Japan}}
* [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/acxj/index.html Official website] {{in lang|ja}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010801143954/http://www.pokemoncardgb.com/splash_ie.html Official website] ([[Internet Archive|Archived]])
* [https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Play_It! Pokémon Play It!], a PC game with a similar concept

{{Pokémon Generation 1}}
{{Pokémon}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pokemon Trading Card Game (Video Game)}}
[[Category:1998 video games]]
[[Category:Creatures (company) games]]
[[Category:Digital collectible card games]]
[[Category:Pokémon Trading Card Game]]
[[Category:Game Boy Color games]]
[[Category:Game Boy games]]
[[Category:Hudson Soft games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Classics games]]
[[Category:Video games based on adaptations]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games for Nintendo 3DS]]
[[Category:Pokémon spinoff games|Trading]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games based on games]]
[[Category:Works based on card games]]