Pokémon TCG starter deck than anything else. Aside from its fun gameplay, there is plenty of excellent card art for those who prefer collecting to battling.

Because evaluating art is such a subjective process, it’s hard to say which Pokémon TCG Pocket art is the overall best. That said, some cards stand out in one regard: nostalgia. Whether these cards emulate the style of original Pokémon cards, or feature reused artwork from the first TCG release, these Pokémon TCG Pocket cards are the best for reliving the original Pokémon craze from the 90s.

10 Magikarp Is Pokémon's Original Sleeper Pick

Magikarp’s Evolution Was One Of The Game’s Earliest Surprises

Magikarp helped players understand the power of evolution better than any other original Pokémon. It’s hard to describe the shock and joy of finding out that this seemingly useless fish turns into a powerful water dragon. By being one of Pokémon’s original sleeper picks, Magikarp already has some built-in nostalgia surrounding it. The nostalgia factor is only enhanced by the actual artwork on the Genetic Apex #77 version from Pokémon TCG Pocket, illustrated by Sekio.

The original batch of Pokémon cards favored a watercolor look with spotty coloring, as opposed to the hardline digital art look of more recent Pokémon cards. The type of coloring used is on full display with this version of Magikarp from Pokémon TCG Pocket. Early Pokémon cards also tended to have simpler backgrounds, which this card’s art also captures. Ironically, this version is actually a simpler scene than the original Magikarp card, so side-by-side, some players may even be convinced that this was the earlier version.

9 Diglett Has Always Been A Bit Of A Mystery

Players Are Still Debating What Diglett’s Body Looks Like

Yes, Diglett is part of the original 151 Pokémon, but that isn’t the only reason it takes fans back to the early days of the game. What makes Diglett a truly nostalgic Pokémon is that people today are still asking the same question about it that they were back in 1996: what does Diglett’s body look like beneath the surface? It’s one of Pokémon’s great mysteries that goes all the way back to the first editions of the game, and the Genetic Apex #139 Diglett, illustrated by Masako Yamashita, is doing nothing to help solve that mystery.

While there are some differences in the composition and style, this version of Diglett is very close to the version from the First Edition of the Pokémon TCG. This card’s visual similarity to the original, along with the ongoing debate around the Pokémon itself, make this one of Pokémon TCG Pocket’s most nostalgic cards. Hopefully, Pokémon never solves this mystery, so new players can continue creating their own versions of Diglett’s underground body.

8 Abra's Art Is The Perfect Blend Of Old And New

The Pokémon Pocket Card Pays Homage To The Original

The artwork on the Genetic Apex #115 version of Abra, illustrated by Aya Kusube, from Pokémon TCG Pocket, is very similar to this Pokémon’s first appearance in the card game. Both depict Abra asleep, resting on a tree in a field. They are also both done in similar watercolor styles, though the newer Abra art that’s seen in Pokémon TCG Pocket also includes elements like hash lines for shading. The Pocket version of Abra is also a little more consistent with the Pokémon’s established model than the somewhat lumpier version from the original.

Though the newer art on this Abra card does have some differences that set it apart from older pieces of Pokémon art, there was still a clear effort made to pay homage to the style of the original cards. This Abra wouldn’t feel too out of place coming out of an original Pokémon booster pack. That, combined with the fact that it is such a similar scene to the original Abra, means this card still manages to stir up fond memories for older players.

7 Lapras' Simple Design Is Very Old School

Lapras Features A Simple Scene In A Familar Style

While some of the older Pokémon card art did feature more complex scenes, many of them just showed the Pokémon itself in the center of the frame in front of a simple background. That was the case for the original Lapras card, and a similar technique can be seen on the Genetic Apex #79 version of Lapras from Pokémon TCG Pocket. However, the Pocket version uses its setting to create a spin on the style.

The original Lapras card simply showed Lapras in front of a lake, and the images felt very separate. It wasn’t so much a distinct scene that Lapras was in as much as it was a character model of Lapras on top of a landscape of a lake. The Lapras card featured in Pokémon TCG Pocket, illustrated by Sekio, uses a similar composition style but sets the scene underwater. It now makes sense that Lapras could be floating in the middle of the frame, while still immersing players in a fully realized scene.

6 Pinsir Strikes A Similar Pose To Its First Card

The Pokémon Pocket Art Looks Like An Updated Version Of The First Generation Card

The artwork on the Genetic Apex #26 version of Pinsir in Pokémon TCG Pocket was originally illustrated by artist Eri Yamaki for the Team Up expansion of the Pokémon TCG in 2019. However, despite being such a recent piece of art, one could be forgiven for mistaking it for an older version of a Pinsir card.

The original Pinsir card, illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno, shows Pinsir in a similar pose: leaning forward, ready to use the massive pincers that give it its name. The composition on both cards is also similar, showing Pinsir from a low angle to make it seem more intimidating. In a way, Yamaki’s artwork almost feels like an updated version of Himeno’s, but in a way that still preserves the old-school feel by using a similar style of shading to the older Pokémon cards.

Pinsir itself is also a somewhat nostalgic Pokémon. It’s not the first, or probably even the 20th of the original 151 Pokémon that comes to mind, but it’s one that players will be excited to be reminded exists. That makes this card a treat for older players.

5 Hitmonchan Uses The First-Ever Artwork

Hitmonchan And Other Pokémon Pocket Cards Use The Orignal '90s Artwork

While many of the cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket use artwork reminiscent of the original Pokémon TCG art style, the Genetic Apex #155 version of Hitmonchan actually uses the original artwork done by Ken Sugimori for the first set of cards. There’s just something so nostalgic about opening a digital pack and pulling a card that looks identical to one of the first Pokémon cards that it was ever possible to open.

The original Hitmonchan art is also a perfect poster child for what old-school Pokémon cards looked like. It has a basic background, Pokémon in the center of the frame, and it has a washed-out look to its colors. Additionally, Hitmonchan’s character design isn’t as clean as it is in Sugimori’s more recent version from Diamond & Pearl - Legends Awakened. Instead, its form is a little looser, maybe even a little lopsided, which a lot of Pokémon were in their infancy. This added a lot of charm to older cards, which tend to feel less like a product and more like art.

4 Eevee Was An Early Runner-Up For Pokemon's Mascot

Eevee's Popularity Has Risen To Rival Pikachu

There’s no denying that Pikachu is firmly established as Pokémon’s mascot. However, several of the other original 151 do give Pikachu a run for its money. One such Pokémon is Eevee, the evolution Pokémon, whose popularity only seems to have grown since the original games.

Eevee is notable for having the largest number of different Pokémon that it can evolve into, known as Eeveelutions. Ash’s rival, Gary Oak, also had an Eevee in the show, setting it up as a sort of rival for Pikachu. Eevee is so popular, there is even an Eevee Day on November 21.

While several versions of Eevee appear in Pokémon TCG Pocket, the one with the most nostalgic art is easily Genetic Apex #208, illustrated by Sekio. Sekio’s use of watercolors and simple scenes always manages to capture the feeling of an earlier Pokémon card, but while this is the most nostalgic art treatment, the full art version by sowsow is probably the cutest.

3 Kadabra's Original Art Is Still Perfect

Kadabra's Original Art Shows Off Its Psychic Powers

Like Hitmonchan, the Genetic Apex #116 version of Kadabra also uses the original artwork from the Pokémon TCG. Also like Hitmonchan, this artwork was done by Ken Sugimori, and it has many of the staples of old Pokémon artwork. While using the original artwork is often great for the nostalgia factor, some players may prefer when Pokémon are depicted in a more fully realized scene, as shown in more modern versions of cards. This context can provide more details about the Pokémon’s personality. However, in the case of Kadabra, the original art does so perfectly.

Kadabra was absent from the Pokémon TCG for over two decades because of a lawsuit from illusionist Uri Geller, who claimed the Pokémon's artwork featuring bent spoons was taking advantage of his image.

Kadabra being presented in a mostly blank void actually does a good job capturing the Pokémon’s psychic powers. The purple glow around Kadabra shows its aura of psychic power, and the tiny red spots look similar to sunspots. This makes it seem like Kadabra is using its powers to disorient its opponent and obscure the world around them. This minimal background ends up being much more illustrative of Kadabra’s powers than a full scene might be.

2 Kangaskhan Uses Artwork That Is Sure To Bring Back Fond Memories

The Artwork Used For Kangaskhan In Pokémon TCG Pocket Is From An Old Promo Card

A lot of the cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket are likely to spark memories of opening old packs of Pokémon cards, but Ken Sugimori’s art for the Genetic Apex #203 version of Kangaskhan will likely remind a select subsection of players of a very fond childhood memory. The artwork for this card was originally featured on a now-valuable promotional Pokémon card that was only available as a prize for some participants at the Parent/Child Mega Battle tournament in 1998. For those players, this art is more than a nostalgic collectible.

Hobbies like the Pokémon TCG are the kind that many parents in the 90s either barely tolerated or maybe showed some mild interest in. Young players lucky enough to have parents that wanted to participate in a tournament with them, and who won a prize card to commemorate the occasion, will probably never forget the experience. Seeing this art isn’t just a reminder of an old hobby, but a callback to a precious memory shared with a loved one.

1 Chunky Pikachu Is A Blast From The Past

It Is Rare To See Artwork Of Pikachu From Before Its Redesign

A lot of the original 151 Pokémon designs haven’t changed all that much over the years, which makes it pretty ironic that one of them that changed the most is also the game’s most recognizable Pokémon. In the original Pokémon games, Red, Green, and Blue, Pikachu had a much rounder design with shorter arms and legs. This chunky version of Pikachu would eventually get reworked into the modern version for the release of the Pokémon anime. However, the original artwork for the Pokémon TCG featured a design that was closer to the video game version.

Mitsuhiro Arita’s original artwork for Pikachu can be seen on Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Genetic Apex #94 version of the card. Seeing this original version of Pikachu both on the card and as one of the player icons is one of the most nostalgic parts of Pocket because this design is rarely seen anymore. It’s a throwback to a time when Pikachu wasn’t the oversaturated mascot for a nearly 30-year-old brand, but just a weird little creature from a fun new game that people latched onto.