Dani Sanchez buzzes with anticipation when tearing open the silver foil wrapping of a new pack of Pokémon trading cards. “It just feels like Christmas morning,” Dani says. A pack could contain a rare holographic Pokémon or an unlucky draw of common cards. “You never know what you’re going to get,” they add.
For the past 25 years, fans have tried to catch ’em all by playing Pokémon video games. In 1998, Pokémon trading cards were first released in English. The deck-building card game lets players battle each other with their favorite Pokémon or trade individual cards, which feature the colorful creatures. Today, Pokémon cards are more popular than ever.
Dani Sanchez loves Pokémon trading cards. Opening a new pack “feels like Christmas morning,” they say. A pack could contain common cards—or it could contain something rare, like a holographic Pokémon. “You never know what you’re going to get,” Dani adds.
Pokémon video games have attracted fans for the past 25 years. In 1998, the first English-language Pokémon card game was released. Each card features a colorful Pokémon creature. Players can battle each other with their favorite Pokémon or trade individual cards.