In a world where nostalgia meets strategy, Pokémon cards have truly made a name for themselves in 2025, solidifying their place not only in our hearts but also in the world of grading submissions. As per the latest findings from GemRate, the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) may just have eclipsed sports cards as the reigning champion, with a staggering 97 of the top 100 most-graded cards belonging to this beloved franchise.
The trading card game landscape has seen a monumental shift, with non-sports cards and TCGs capturing 59% of all graded submissions across the four leading authenticators in the first half of the year. This is not just a ripple in a small pond but a tidal wave, with 7.2 million TCG and non-sports cards graded from January to June alone. This figure represents a jaw-dropping 70% increase compared to the previous year.
Sports cards, meanwhile, have seen a less encouraging trend, with submissions totaling 5.1 million—a 9% decline over the same timeframe. It seems the appeal of sports legends depicted on cardboard is momentarily overshadowed by the colorful, fantastical creatures of Pokémon.
A superstar leading this cardboard revolution is the Japanese Iono’s Wattrel Battle Partners Promo No. 232 card, which takes the crown for top individual submission with over 45,600 copies submitted. However, it is the evergreen Pikachu that continues to be the emblematic face of this frenzy. In a testament to its everlasting appeal, more than 345,000 Pikachu cards have been graded this year alone.
One standout among the Pikachu cards is the collaborative effort with the Van Gogh Museum, titled “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat,” which has not only charmed collectors and art lovers alike but has also become the franchise’s most submitted card to PSA, with nearly 84,000 graded copies. Despite its ubiquity, collectors are willing to shell out big bucks, with PSA 10 examples fetching over $900.
Amidst this Pokémon revolution, sports cards have seen fewer luminaries make PSA’s top 100. Only three managed to break through: the 2024 Panini Prizm Jayden Daniels rookie card, the 2024 Panini Instant Caitlin Clark WNBA ROY card, and another Jayden Daniels card from Donruss. Each garnered between 8,800 and 10,500 submissions, impressive yet overshadowed by their pocket monster contemporaries.
Breaking down June data, it’s evident this trend is no passing phase. During this month, TCG and non-sports submissions made up 63% of the total, with PSA grading a staggering 911,000 cards in these categories alone. This figure eclipses the total sports card grading from all four major companies, which collectively reached 743,000.
Among the grading companies, CGC Cards has ridden this high tide commendably. The company has graded 2.18 million cards in 2025, almost meeting its total output for the prior year. With over 1.8 million of these being TCG or non-sports, CGC has leveraged the Pokémon frenzy superbly.
Not all grading companies have seen similar success. Beckett, once a titan in the industry, now finds itself in the fourth position. Of the 366,000 cards they have graded in 2025, approximately 214,000 were Pokémon or TCG-related.
Interestingly, PSA’s resurgence can be significantly attributed to savvy partnerships and strategic collaborations. One notable alliance is with retail giant GameStop, which alone has fueled over 1 million grading submissions. This collaboration is one of many cherries atop the already deliciously successful cake that is Pokémon’s push towards dominating the TCG landscape.
On the retail frontline, the repercussions of this Pokémon ascendancy are manifold. The demand has led to widespread product sellouts. Shelves that once brimmed with booster packs and themed decks now lie barren, with long lines and purchase limitations becoming commonplace. It’s clear that the hunger for Pokémon is far from being sated.
Driving this trend is a mix of nostalgia, strategic gameplay, and brilliant marketing. New releases are eagerly snatched up, sometimes faster than they can be stocked, reaffirming that Pokémon’s magnetic draw on collectors and enthusiasts is not only powerful but evergreen.
As we chart the movements within this vibrant hobby, it becomes apparent that Pokémon isn’t just a game; it’s a cultural force, a beacon of childhood whimsy and competitive strategy rolled into one undeniable phenomenon. While sports cards will surely find their footing once again—history shows us these trends are cyclical—there’s no denying that, for now, Pokémon sits dominantly at the apex of the TCG heap.
