Magic: The Gathering vs Pokémon TCG:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Magic: The Gathering had more branded searches than Pokémon TCG among trading card games worldwide. Magic: The Gathering had about 673,000 branded searches, while Pokémon TCG had 450,000. Magic: The Gathering made up 32.3% of all trading card game searches we track, and Pokémon TCG accounted for 21.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about trading card games, Magic: The Gathering appeared in all five answers and Pokémon TCG in four. Pokémon TCG was mentioned before Magic: The Gathering in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Magic: The Gathering, about 50% more searches than Pokémon TCG
Who does AI mention more?
Magic: The Gathering, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Pokémon TCG, named ahead of Magic: The Gathering in 3 of 5 answers
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Top trading card games in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Magic: The Gathering appeared in all five answers. Pokémon TCG was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Pokémon TCG was listed before Magic: The Gathering in three out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which trading card game should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best trading card game brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best trading card game for a collector?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“trading card games”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“collectible card game”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Magic: The Gathering or Pokémon TCG more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon TCG by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five trading card games we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon TCG. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Yu-Gi-Oh! | Magic: The Gathering | Pokémon TCG | One Piece Card Game | Disney Lorcana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 36.9% | 30.2% | 24.7% | 6.1% | 2.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 39.3% | 32.1% | 21.5% | 5.2% | 1.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 41% | 33.5% | 18.3% | 5.5% | 1.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 39.2% | 32.1% | 17.5% | 9.6% | 1.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 38.3% | 31.3% | 20.9% | 7.7% | 1.9% |
| Mar 2026 | 39.4% | 26.3% | 26.3% | 6.5% | 1.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 36.6% | 29.9% | 24.4% | 7.3% | 1.8% |
| May 2026 | 39.7% | 26.5% | 26.5% | 5.3% | 2% |
| Jun 2026 | 36.5% | 29.8% | 24.4% | 6% | 3.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 34.7% | 34.7% | 19% | 7% | 4.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 30.8% | 37.7% | 20.6% | 7.6% | 3.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.5% | 32.3% | 21.6% | 4.3% | 2.4% |
How has the Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon TCG comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Magic: The Gathering was ahead of Pokémon TCG in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Magic: The Gathering’s share of searches among trading card games worldwide moved from 30.2% to 32.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 673K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pokémon TCG’s share of searches among trading card games worldwide moved from 24.7% to 21.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 550K to 450K.
How did search popularity change for trading card games worldwide in September 2026?
3 changes
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.
In September 2026, Pokémon TCG gained share of searches among trading card games worldwide, from 20.6% to 21.6%.
In September 2026, Magic: The Gathering lost share of searches among trading card games worldwide, from 37.7% to 32.3%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Magic: The Gathering’s and Pokémon TCG’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Magic: The Gathering
1 branded search term
- magic the gathering
Pokémon TCG
1 branded search term
- pokemon tcg
Other head-to-heads among trading card games
- Yu-Gi-Oh! vs Magic: The Gathering: compare popularity
- Yu-Gi-Oh! vs Pokémon TCG: compare popularity
- Yu-Gi-Oh! vs One Piece Card Game: compare popularity
- Yu-Gi-Oh! vs Disney Lorcana: compare popularity
- Magic: The Gathering vs One Piece Card Game: compare popularity
- Magic: The Gathering vs Disney Lorcana: compare popularity
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.