Brandwave

How popular isPokémon TCG?

In September 2026, people searched for Pokémon TCG by name about 450,000 times worldwide, an 18.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 21.6% of all global trading card game searches, placing Pokémon TCG third out of five games. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about trading card games, Pokémon TCG appeared in four of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the five.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Pokémon TCG is the third most searched of 5 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Yu-Gi-Oh!Share of searches 39.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  2. Magic: The GatheringShare of searches 32.3%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. Pokémon TCGShare of searches 21.6%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  4. One Piece Card GameShare of searches 4.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. Disney LorcanaShare of searches 2.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top trading card games in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Pokémon TCG was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Pokémon TCG is the second most recommended of the five.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Magic: The Gathering1st
  2. Pokémon TCG2nd
  3. Yu-Gi-Oh!3rd
  4. One Piece Card Game4th
  5. Disney Lorcana5th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Yu-Gi-Oh!5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Magic: The Gathering5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Disney Lorcana5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Pokémon TCG4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • One Piece Card Game4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about trading card games

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which trading card games compete with Pokémon TCG?

Pokémon TCG against trading card games worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon TCG, One Piece Card Game, Disney Lorcana. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthYu-Gi-Oh!Magic: The GatheringPokémon TCGOne Piece Card GameDisney Lorcana
Oct 202536.9%30.2%24.7%6.1%2.2%
Nov 202539.3%32.1%21.5%5.2%1.9%
Dec 202541%33.5%18.3%5.5%1.6%
Jan 202639.2%32.1%17.5%9.6%1.6%
Feb 202638.3%31.3%20.9%7.7%1.9%
Mar 202639.4%26.3%26.3%6.5%1.6%
Apr 202636.6%29.9%24.4%7.3%1.8%
May 202639.7%26.5%26.5%5.3%2%
Jun 202636.5%29.8%24.4%6%3.3%
Jul 202634.7%34.7%19%7%4.7%
Aug 202630.8%37.7%20.6%7.6%3.4%
Sep 202639.5%32.3%21.6%4.3%2.4%

  1. 1.Yu-Gi-Oh!

    39.5%

    Moved from 2nd to 1st. 823K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +8.7 points.

  2. 2.Magic: The Gathering

    32.3%

    Moved from 1st to 2nd. 673K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -5.4 points.

  3. 3.Pokémon TCG

    21.6%

    Held 3rd. 450K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  4. 4.One Piece Card Game

    4.3%

    Held 4th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, -45.2% vs prior month. Share -3.2 points.

  5. 5.Disney Lorcana

    2.4%

    Held 5th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, -33.1% vs prior month. Share -1 points.

Compare popularity between Pokémon TCG and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Pokémon TCG

4 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Pokémon TCG changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Pokémon TCG worldwide fell from 550K to 450K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pokémon TCG’s share of searches among trading card games worldwide decreased from 24.7% to 21.6%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pokémon TCG’s share of searches among trading card games worldwide peaked at 26.5% in May 2026 and was lowest at 17.5% in January 2026.

How did search popularity change for trading card games worldwide in September 2026?

5 changes

  1. In September 2026, Yu-Gi-Oh! overtook Magic: The Gathering to become the leader among trading card games worldwide, with 39.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Pokémon TCG gained share of searches among trading card games worldwide, from 20.6% to 21.6%.

  3. In September 2026, Magic: The Gathering lost share of searches among trading card games worldwide, from 37.7% to 32.3%.

  4. In September 2026, One Piece Card Game lost share of searches among trading card games worldwide, from 7.6% to 4.3%.

  5. In September 2026, Disney Lorcana lost share of searches among trading card games worldwide, from 3.4% to 2.4%.

How are Pokémon TCG’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pokémon TCG’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • pokemon tcg

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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