Is This the Moment for Pokemon to Bring Back a Beloved Mobile Game?

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Currently, it’s an exhilarating period for Pokemon enthusiasts, though not necessarily for the reasons some might assume. While there are certainly plenty of individual aspects to be thrilled about, such as “Pokemon Legends: Z-A” and forthcoming enhancements for “Pokemon Scarlet” and “Violet” on the Switch 2, it’s worth noting that the franchise’s significant impact in the mobile gaming market is undeniable.

At present, a total of 11 mobile games featuring Pokemon are available for fans to play. Among these, there’s a wide range of choices such as Pokemon Cafe ReMix and Pokemon GO that cater to different aspects of the franchise. Fans who love the vast array of characters in Pokemon will feel right at home with Pokemon Masters EX, while competitive players seeking fresh challenges with the same classic creatures might prefer Pokemon Unite. Pokemon Smile continues to encourage kids to brush their teeth effectively, and the success of Pokemon TCG Pocket suggests that there’s potential for a resurgence of the retired Pokemon Duel.

Pokemon Duel May Thrive in Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Wake

What is Pokemon Duel?

In 2017, a mobile strategy game named Pokemon Duel made its debut and ceased operations in 2019. Players enjoyed this game without charge, utilizing characters obtained via a randomized system to traverse the board, striving to reach their opponent’s side before them. One of its appeals lay in the intricate designs of the digital figures players could acquire, as they surpassed the restrictions that the physical Pokemon Trading Figure Game couldn’t overcome.

The game titled “Duel” was undeniably bold in its objectives, yet this ambition might have been its undoing. Upon release, the game faced an extremely polarized response, with critics pointing out that its pull rates for potent (and power-crept) characters made it feel excessively pay-to-win. The concept of moves being determined by a roulette wheel during battles, initially appealing on paper, fell flat in reality, causing entire matches of “Duel” to seem more dictated by luck than strategy. Furthermore, the game’s obvious connection to the Pokemon Trading Figure Game could have misled potential players into believing they needed the physical toys to play, which further complicated matters. These shortcomings can potentially be addressed in a more contemporary game, especially if a future title takes cues from the success of “Pokemon TCG Pocket“.

A Focus on Collecting May Be What Pokemon Duel Was Missing

The core aspect of Pokemon TCG Pocket lies in its emphasis on card collection, a shift in perspective that proved transformative. While deckbuilding and solo or multiplayer battles are still integral parts, they take a back seat to the thrill of unwrapping packs, acquiring rare cards, and showcasing them. Pokemon TCG Pocket facilitates this by providing players with at least two free packs per day. If the figures were also collectible in a casual manner, similar to how TCG Pocket handles its cards, some of the past issues might not irk players as much. Of course, these problems should still be reevaluated and rectified, but such changes would naturally follow from shifting the focus from battling to collecting.

A relaxed Pokemon game where players collect appealing figures of their preferred Pokemon and can opt to play the board game if desired could be a refreshing change following the success of the mobile game Pokemon TCG Pocket. Shifting the focus of the game towards embracing luck as part of the enjoyment, rather than battling against the app’s power imbalance, would align well with this new approach. However, given the abundance of Pokemon mobile games currently available, it might be best for a figure-collecting game like Duel to wait for a more opportune time when the market is less crowded to make its comeback.

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2025-05-26 19:35