Pokémon Day: The History and Future of Pocket Monsters

When Pokémon fever hit, I was around seventeen. I’m still pretty childish today, but even back then, I wasn't exactly the target audience. However, I got my hands on the Pokémon Trading Card Game pretty quickly. By then, I was already hanging around Magic and collecting Doomtroopers. I still remember splitting one of the first available Pokémon TCG sets with a friend. We didn't play for long. I eventually gave the cards away, which I regret quite a bit twenty-five years later.

In the meantime, Pokémon conquered the world, and today it's hard to find an area or object that doesn't feature one of those hundreds of cute creatures. The brand keeps attracting new fans. And it’s definitely not just little kids. Pokémon are so famous they even have their own official holiday – Pokémon Day.

Pokémon Day is celebrated annually on February 27th to commemorate the day in 1996 when the first Pokémon Red and Green games were released in Japan. This date gradually became the official holiday for all pocket monster lovers. When the Pokémon Company celebrated its 20th anniversary on this date in 2016 with a series of special events and news, it became clear that the February celebration would become a tradition.

Since then, you can look forward to an annual influx of updates, announcements of new projects, and expansions of the game world, whether it concerns the main series, mobile apps, or trading cards. In addition to gaming news, Pokémon Day usually brings various fan tournaments, special merchandise, and exclusive discounts or bonuses – not just in official stores, but also at other retailers around the world.

According to the latest rumors, Pokémon Day 2025 might finally see the official announcement of the long-awaited sequel in the style of Legends: Arceus, currently codenamed "Pokémon Legends: Z". Players are hoping for the same great freedom of movement and adventurous spirit that is characteristic of the Legends series. Another draw is the possible arrival of classic Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch Online, which would be a huge joy for anyone who grew up on the original Game Boy titles.

Furthermore, there is a lot of talk about expansions for Scarlet and Violet, which should bring new areas and story arcs. It is not impossible that the Pokémon Company will use Pokémon Day 2025 to reveal more precise dates or first looks at upcoming projects. Whatever happens, it looks like the February celebration of Pokémon history will be really rich in news this time, which could expand the whole world of pocket monsters even further.

How did it all start?

The original idea for Pokémon was born in the head of Satoshi Tajiri, who grew up in the suburbs of Tokyo. He was a passionate insect collector – he loved exploring nature and catching all sorts of beetles, butterflies, and caterpillars, often in places that were gradually being turned into urban developments. When he became interested in video games as a teenager, he thought of creating a title that would imitate this joy of discovering and catching creatures in the real world. His initial concept even counted on the name "Capsule Monsters" because he imagined the insects safely stored in capsules that could be carried and opened. The name Pokémon eventually came from the Japanese "Poketto Monsutā" or "Pocket Monsters". It is a shortened and Anglicized version of the original name that quickly caught on around the world.

Tajiri also saw great potential in the Game Boy Link Cable, which allowed two Game Boy consoles to be connected. He believed that if creatures could be traded between players using the cable, it would create a completely new experience and a much more connected gaming community. He gradually involved the artist and his long-time collaborator Ken Sugimori, who designed the first iconic forms of Pokémon, and the team was later joined by other developers. Although Nintendo was initially cautious about Tajiri's idea, legendary game creator Shigeru Miyamoto saw something in it that could appeal not only to children but also to an older audience, so they dove into development full-throttle.

The whole process took several years and was reportedly on the financial edge, yet in 1996, the legends Pokémon Red and Green for Game Boy were born. Players were immediately captivated by the idea of traveling through a world full of original creatures, collecting them, training them, and battling other trainers. On top of that, there was the ability to trade Pokémon between friends, an element that had inspired Tajiri from the very first moment. The success in Japan was huge, global expansion followed, and a project that was originally meant to materialize the nostalgia for catching bugs became one of the biggest phenomena in gaming history.

The success was so massive that an animated series started a year later, which quickly became one of the most iconic parts of the entire universe. Shortly after, the trading card market took off, and the gradual expansion of regions in subsequent game generations only solidified the position of Pokémon as one of the most successful brands in the gaming industry. With the development of the series, the release of new game versions every few years also became standard, with each generation bringing dozens of new creatures and new gameplay elements.

Over the years, a whole series of legendary titles and spin-offs have been created, reaching all major gaming platforms from Nintendo. The original small Japanese game became a global phenomenon involving development studios Game Freak, Creatures, and Nintendo, with The Pokémon Company overseeing the brand since 2000. This collaboration has long since crossed the boundaries of games – we’ve been able to go to the cinema for animated films, cards are traded between classmates, and you can also buy merch with your favorite creatures.

According to publicly available financial reports for the fiscal year ending in February 2022, The Pokémon Company reached a turnover of approximately 204 billion yen (which at the time corresponded to about 1.6 billion US dollars). This amount can, of course, change year-on-year depending on game sales, licensing agreements, and other factors, but overall, Pokémon has long been ranked among the most profitable brands in the gaming and entertainment industry.

All of this makes Pokémon one of the most prominent and longest-running series that is constantly evolving and always has some new surprise up its sleeve.

Pokémon in the Czech Republic

The Game Boy started selling here in 1999, but the real madness didn't start until 2000, when TV Nova began airing the original anime series. Its success naturally helped launch the card game as well. Gradually, an official tournament scene started, where seasoned players compete alongside newcomers, and specialty stores offer an ever-widening range from TCG to figures and various accessories. Today, you'll find a fairly strong community of enthusiasts here who organize local events and meet online to share their passion together. Even parents who remember the first generation are now often introducing their children to the Pokémon world, so the popularity of this brand in the Czech Republic won't be fading anytime soon.

Cards

The Pokémon TCG trading card game first appeared in Japan in October 1996, and its success was soon followed by an international release, which further expanded the already huge popularity of pocket monsters. In Japan, it was initially published by Media Factory, while Wizards of the Coast handled distribution overseas, which attracted millions of players eager not only to collect cards but also to strategically build their own decks and compete against each other.

Over time, new mechanics and expansions were incorporated into the game, so the TCG kept evolving alongside the main video game series. In 2003, it moved under the wing of The Pokémon Company International, which unified the development of cards and games into one complex universe. Since then, Pokémon TCG has enjoyed a growing global community of players and collectors who are constantly diving into more tournaments, improving their decks, and looking for rare cards that would take their game collection to the next level.

According to the latest information from TCGplayer, which tracks the development of Pokémon TCG in real depth, the number of unique Pokémon cards has already exceeded the 200,000 mark. This count includes various language mutations, regional differences, and special promo editions, so if you are still expanding your collection, there is always something to discover.

The latest Pokémon TCG expansion: Prismatic Evolutions (February 2025) brings not only beautiful design and an interesting combination of new cards (including powerful Pokémon ex or Radiant Pokémon) but also quite tough "pull rates", so unpacking that rarest card takes more boosters than usual. According to the official TCG website, you'll find a fresh wave of Trainer cards and plenty of new combos that will expand your deck's strategic options. Even if the chance for super-rare pieces seems low, that very feeling of excitement when opening packs and waiting for a potential treasure is one of the reasons why Prismatic Evolutions is so appealing to both collectors and competitive players.

If you grew up on the original Game Boy, Pokémon probably brought you more than one unforgettable experience. And even if you haven't been a kid for a long time, Pokémon Day is a great opportunity to return to that first wonder at a world full of unexpected discoveries and friendship. A lot of years have passed since the first Red and Green, but the brand is still evolving, expanding into new areas, and pushing the boundaries of what you can even imagine under the term "pocket monsters". If this journey appeals to you, don't be afraid to jump in – whether it's into cards, new games, or just discovering that inexhaustible dose of joy that Pokémon brings to the world.

author Karel Krajča