Pokémon TCG Pocket's captivating card art has been a major draw for players, but recently, a wave of discoveries has revealed cleverly hidden details linking the cards to the classic Game Boy games.
The investigation began when Reddit user asch_win highlighted the Spearow card, showcasing familiar landmarks. The card depicts Spearow amidst grass, a fence, trees, and two distinctive buildings. Asch_win identified the purple and yellow building as Celadon City's Department Store from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. The fenced-in grassy area to the left strongly resembles Route 16, a known Spearow habitat in the Kanto region.
Image: Spearow card showing Celadon City Department Store and Route 16 references
This seemingly intentional referencing of iconic locations from the original games sparked further investigation. Reddit user jteede uncovered additional connections, including a Diglett card situated near Vermillion City and a Haunter card positioned beside Lavender Town's tower. Asch_win also found location references within several Supporter cards.
Many card illustrations depict Pokémon in fantastical settings unrelated to established Pokémon lore. Some, like a Pikachu variant, mirror real-world collectible cards. However, the hidden Easter eggs are unique to Pokémon TCG Pocket.
The community's weekend-long investigation unearthed more connections. A Gyarados full-art card features the S.S. Anne, while Oddish, Venonat, and Bellsprout cards collectively tell a story set near the seaside Snorlax location from FireRed and LeafGreen.
Since its October release, Pokémon TCG Pocket has received one additional booster expansion, Mythical Island, bringing the total to four. More expansions are anticipated, with additional cards periodically added through Wonder Pick Events and updates. As Creatures Inc. and DeNA continue releasing cards spanning generations, players are encouraged to look for further hidden references.
Meanwhile, the current Wonder Pick event features Charmander and Squirtle, and players can find more information about the ongoing debate surrounding pack choice impact. Link to Wonder Pick Event Link to Pack Choice Debate
