Pokémon TCG vs Yu-Gi-Oh!:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Yu-Gi-Oh! had more branded searches than Pokémon TCG among trading card games worldwide. Yu-Gi-Oh! had about 823,000 branded searches, while Pokémon TCG had 450,000. Yu-Gi-Oh! made up 39.5% 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, Yu-Gi-Oh! appeared in all five answers and Pokémon TCG in four. Pokémon TCG was mentioned before Yu-Gi-Oh! in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Yu-Gi-Oh!, about 83% more searches than Pokémon TCG
Who does AI mention more?
Yu-Gi-Oh!, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Pokémon TCG, named ahead of Yu-Gi-Oh! in 4 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, Yu-Gi-Oh! 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 Yu-Gi-Oh! in four 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 Pokémon TCG or Yu-Gi-Oh! more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Pokémon TCG and Yu-Gi-Oh! 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 Yu-Gi-Oh!, 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 Pokémon TCG and Yu-Gi-Oh! comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Yu-Gi-Oh! was ahead of Pokémon TCG in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- 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.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Yu-Gi-Oh!’s share of searches among trading card games worldwide moved from 36.9% to 39.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 823K.
How did search popularity change for trading card games worldwide in September 2026?
2 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%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pokémon TCG’s and Yu-Gi-Oh!’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.
Pokémon TCG
1 branded search term
- pokemon tcg
Yu-Gi-Oh!
1 branded search term
- yu gi oh
Other head-to-heads among trading card games
- Yu-Gi-Oh! vs Magic: The Gathering: compare popularity
- Yu-Gi-Oh! vs One Piece Card Game: compare popularity
- Yu-Gi-Oh! vs Disney Lorcana: compare popularity
- Magic: The Gathering vs Pokémon TCG: 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.