How Did "Pokémon TCG Pocket" Manage to Surpass $83 Million Within 25 Days?

This November, which mobile game is the hottest in the global market?

It's not the usual chart-topping "Honor of Kings," nor is it the rapidly rising and widely discussed "Royal Match" or "Monopoly." Instead, it's the Pokémon trading card mobile game "Pokémon TCG Pocket," launched by The Pokémon Company in collaboration with DeNA.

The latest Pokémon card mobile game, "Pokémon TCG Pocket," was officially released on Android and iOS platforms on October 30.

Upon its release, the game quickly reached the top of the App Store game charts in most countries worldwide and has remained at the top in several countries for consecutive days.

Global Chart Overview of Pokémon TCG Pocket?

According to FoxData, from its release until November 24, the game has generated a total revenue of over $83 million. This includes 83 million. This includes $68,095,653 from the App Store and $15,737,058 from Google Play, consistently ranking first in daily global revenue for several consecutive days.

Global Revenue of Pokémon TCG Pocket on App Store

Global Revenue of Pokémon TCG Pocket on Google Play

It's clear that iOS players from economically strong, developed regions have significantly supported the revenue of "Pokémon TCG Pocket." The App Store's revenue is 4.3 times that of Google Play, with the primary spenders coming from Japan, contributing nearly $68.09 million, which accounts for 52.37% of the total revenue. The United States ranks second, with spending reaching $35 million, accounting for 18.89% of the total revenue. The remaining revenue is shared among various European countries and other developed regions such as Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

The performance so far has been enough to make 'Pokemon TCG Pocket' considered a phenomenal mobile game.

Why is 'Pokemon TCG Pocket' so popular?

Next, let's find the answer together in this blog post.

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IP Influence

Hailed as the "world's number one IP," Pokémon has demonstrated formidable prowess in the realm of transmedia entertainment. Beyond the official releases of the "main series" games, Pokémon has achieved top-tier success in mobile gaming and trading card games. "Pokémon TCG Pocket" is a mobile game based on PTCG, the physical Pokémon Trading Card Game. PTCG is currently available in 93 countries and regions worldwide. With the established fan base that PTCG has built, the explosive success of "Pokémon TCG Pocket" in the global market is no surprise. The place with the deepest global influence is Japan, the birthplace of this IP. Over 50% of the game's revenue comes from the Japanese market. For Japanese players, "Pokémon TCG Pocket" is more than just a simple mobile game; it serves as a vessel for reliving childhood memories. The profound affection Japanese players have for the Pokémon series motivates them to invest more in new game content.

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Gameplay

In "Pokémon TCG Pocket," players can build their own decks and devise strategies using the unique traits and skills of different Pokémon. The game includes a wide array of classic Pokémon whose skills and abilities have been cleverly reimagined to fit the new card battle mechanics. For instance, some Pokémon with team synergy abilities can provide buffs to other cards, while others with strong single-target attacks can turn the tide of battle at critical moments. The game features easy-to-understand tutorials, allowing even beginners to quickly grasp the basic operations and jump into real battles. As players gain experience, they can unlock more advanced cards and combinations, gradually enhancing their skill level. This simple yet deep gameplay has helped "Pokémon TCG Pocket" cultivate a loyal following among players of all ages.

Unique Reward System

According to feedback from the player community, the unique reward system of "Pokémon TCG Pocket" is another major factor attracting core fans and mobile game players to dive in.

Without making any purchases, "Pokémon TCG Pocket" offers players two free card packs daily. Specifically, players can receive one free card pack every 12 hours, totaling two per day.

Additionally, purchasing a pass grants an extra daily opportunity to open a pack. This means the game offers nearly 730 free packs to players annually.

With occasional events, the number of free card packs players receive each year could potentially reach into the thousands.

This reward system benefits newcomers, fostering gaming and spending habits among both new and veteran players.

It hints at the game's vast potential, encouraging players to start collecting and cultivating a sense of investment and loyalty.

Diverse Paid Advertising Strategies

Thanks to its strong IP appeal and unique gameplay model, the game already attracts users without the need for developers to heavily invest in advertising for conversion. However, paid advertising still employs diverse materials to engage users who are not very familiar with the Pokémon IP or the game itself.

By monitoring the game's ad creatives through FoxData-Meta Ad Creatives, we found that the game's advertisements mainly showcase the card-drawing process through animations. Additionally, to reach a diverse user base and make the ad content stand out, the paid materials also include KOL (Key Opinion Leader) voiceovers and live-action short videos.

If you're a game developer in the card category, the following advertising creative materials could be highly insightful.

?? Click?here?to check out the Meta Ad Creatives for the game you're interested in.

Card Drawing Creative

The Pokémon officials have also made "card drawing" the main focus of their paid advertising strategy. The majority of the materials consist of animations demonstrating the card-drawing process within the game. These are accompanied by captions like "How rare of a card can you get?" or "Open two free packs daily," guiding players to watch and understand the card-opening process in the game.

KOL Creative

Like many other card games, "Pokémon TCG Pocket" has also invested in live-action KOL (Key Opinion Leader) advertisements. These ads feature several real-life KOLs, showcasing the immersive experience of opening cards. The beauty of the cards and the KOLs' joyful reactions highlight the game's fun and engaging nature, sparking interest among potential players.

TVC Ad Creative

The game employs TVC-style advertisements across platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. These ads feature a young urban woman opening card packs from the game during her commute and at home, highlighting various scenarios where the game can be played anytime, anywhere. Close-ups of her joyful reaction upon drawing a rare card emphasize the excitement.

While showcasing the game's relaxing and stress-relieving fun, the ads also inform viewers that this is a simple game that can be enjoyed at any moment.

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