What began as a childhood hobby of opening packs of Pokémon or Yu-Gi-Oh! cards have turned into a high-value global market. That’s right, there has been a trading card game boom over the last few years. Card games, like Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon TCG, have transformed from childhood hobbies into a billion-dollar global market.
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In 2024, thanks to online trading, esports, celebrity influence, and digital adaptations, the trading card game reached a $7.8 billion market. And it’s only going to rise.
The hobby started as a humble pastime enjoyed by children, but as of late, the nostalgia of opening packs and completing collections has encouraged the older generations to get back into trading card games. Now, the hobby has become investments, careers, and more.
But where did it all begin? The boom is thanks to a 10-year-old who traded a sandwich for a shiny Charizard card in 1999, which eventually sold for over $400,000 decades later. This reshaped the collectible hobby from casual enjoyment to high-stakes investments.
So what’s the point of trading card games, and why are they so popular? Trading card games involve collecting various cards and sets, with each one holding various values depending on the game. The games were originally for pure gameplay; however, thanks to recent releases of limited-edition cards and cultural significance, trading cards are now also just for collecting.
The popularity growth behind the trading card game boom is based on several factors, including the expansion of online trading platforms, the rise of esports and livestreamed tournaments, limited-edition card releases, and the celebrity and influencer influence.
While 2024 saw a rise in the trading card game community, research expects that the annual market growth is around 7.4%, leading to an $11.8 billion market by 2030.
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Another huge factor is the recent convenience within the trading card game community. While trading card games were predominantly physical cards, many franchises have turned to electronic collections. For instance, the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket launched in 2024 and already has over 100 million downloads, generating more than $500 million by early 2025.
What makes the game so popular is that it’s stuck to the core TCG mechanics, while offering accessibility and various features tailored for mobile users, thus broadening the audience who have always been interested in the hobby.
Another franchise, Magic: The Gathering, has recently raised its annual revenue forecast after a 23% increase in game sales. Along with that, Fanatics, a major US sports merchandise conglomerate leading sports card collectibles, forecasts its collectible revenue to nearly double from $.16 billion in 2024 to almost $3 billion in 2026.
It’s undeniable that the trading card game boom is primarily thanks to game giants, and the demand is rising rapidly. The trading card market is a mixture of nostalgia, competitive gaming, cultural engagement, and investment opportunities. And thanks to the convenience of digital collectible games, there won’t be a decrease in popularity.
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