Can the Palworld TCG Compete with Pokemon?
Palworld is getting an official trading card game! Launching on July 30, 2026, Palworld’s creators, Pocketpair, will be partnering with the legendary Bushiroad TCG company to bring Palworld’s creature to cardboard in a fully fleshed out trading card game in an attempt to stand out in a busting TCG space dominated by mega IPs …well…Pokemon.
The official blurb for the upcoming TCG and trailer video were both shared by IGN, with the blurb reading:
“Palworld steps into the Card Game arena this summer!
From Bushiroad, the team behind Cardfight!! Vanguard and Shadowverse Evolve. Palworld Official Card game is a 2-player competitive card battle game! Fight alongside your Pals to gain victory!
Palworld Official Card Game will go on sale July 30th, 2026.”
While the trailer looks very solid, it doesn’t hint much at what the TCG will actually be like to play, instead more heavily leaning into the Palworld fandom to grant a feeling of anticipation for the game.
Perhaps the TCG will incorporate elements of survival and base building rather than just Pal-on-Pal battle to help differentiate itself within the crowded TCG space? While we won’t know for sure until more details are released, we do know that new TCGs based around popular games like this can do very, very well – as evidenced by recent TCGs also based on games like NIKKE and League of Legends.
But what exactly is Palworld and why is news of it stepping into the TCG industry to further disrupt Pokemon’s status in the gaming space such a big deal?
New Palworld TCG adds fuel to the Pokemon vs Palworld feud
It’s interesting to see Palworld expand from its online game into the TCG realm given its ongoing legal battle against Pokemon. Palworld initially gained momentum partly thanks to its uncanny resemblance to Pokemon (open world with cute creatures to capture) coupled with its more mature elements. Indeed, beyond the monster catching mechanic that closely resembles Pokemon, Palworld is largely a different game with far darker themes of apocalypse, survival, exploitation, and – of course – the “Pokemon with guns” element that helped it to go viral.
However the Pokemon Company International wasn’t overly pleased with this riffing of its massively popular IP, and sued Pocketpair at the end of 2024. While the legal battle remains on going, it seems that the courtroom isn’t the only arena that the two will duke it out in: once the official Palworld Card Game launches in the summer of 2026, the two will have to battle for market share in the increasingly competitive TCG realm.
How popular is Palworld?
While most have heard about Pokemon by now, Palworld has a more niche (in comparison) audience while remaining massively popular within the video game space. Despite still being in early access, the indie game boasts a massive player base with a combined 32 million players across all of the gaming platforms its available on.
With its full Version 1.0 release slated for 2026, you can bet its massive hype will surely draw attention the the upcoming TCG coming out the very same year.
However, launching a massively successful online game is one thing – translating that into TCG success is another. Given its early runaway success in one realm, could Palworld actually challenge the TCG category king?
Can a Palworld TCG compete with the Pokemon TCG?
Despite how massive the Pokemon TCG is – still #1 in the TCG industry overall via the latest market data – shifts in the TCG industry show that even a game as massive as Pokemon can face competition from brand new titles.
Indeed, the broader TCG audience that was once decidedly dominated by established brands and player bases has shown an incredible interest and willingness to dive deep into brand new TCGs. The Disney Lorcana TCG that released in 2023 is partly to contribute this to, setting off a trend that has become commonplace for TCGs: new titles can gain hype and do very, very well.
TCGs based on more niche IPs like League of Legends, for example, dominate TCGPlayer sales charts in their debut quarter. Massively inflated prices draw in potential collectors and investors looking to make a quick buck or snag some value, leading to frequent products shortages that seem to only further demand for brand new TCGs.
Meanwhile, ardent TCG fans and competitors are eager to be part of “the next big thing,” often accompanied by increased cash prizes and greater recognition.
It’s a cycle that has essentially been on repeat since the pandemic made TCGs hyper popular. And into this world, Palworld could admittedly do quite well – at least at first.
However, there are a few things that could work against Palworld’s attempt at the TCG market when compared to the 10,000 pound gorilla in the room that is Pokemon.
Bushiroad may not be the strongest partner for Pocketpair
Despite Bushiroad having a fairly successful TCG in the form of Weiss Schwarz, on a global scale it’s not nearly the most dominant TCG manufacturer. Several other Japanese TCG developers easily beat it out, including The Pokemon Company and Bandai when it comes to TCG dominance.
Within the TCG world, Bushiroad is seen as something of a niche publisher. Indeed, many of its TCGs hit the market with little fanfare, like the Godzilla TCG that launched in July, 2025 to little noise in the TCG community.
That being said, Bushiroad still remains an established TCG publisher despite its more niche status within the industry, meaning Palworld could have done worse. And who knows? Maybe the excitement and grass-roots vibe that helped launch Palworld to such great success early on might be enough to ignite excitement for the game when backed by the steady hand of an established publisher?
Palworld may be the underdog in this story, but that hasn’t stopped Pocketpair from succeeding so far. While Pokemon has the huge edge in nostalgia and mass appeal, Palworld’s dedicated player base could help make this new card game big – especially amongst players and competitors looking to go beyond the Palpagos Islands and venture forth into the challenges that await in the exciting world of TCGs.
