Remember when Pokémon cards were everywhere in the late '90s? This Game Boy Color version actually lets you play the full TCG without needing to beg your parents for booster packs. You start with a basic deck—mostly Rattatas and energy cards—but after a few matches against NPCs, you’re already hunting for better pulls. The pixel art for the cards is weirdly charming, and the music has that classic GBC chiptune energy.

It’s way simpler than the modern TCG meta, but that’s part of the appeal. No crazy combos or rule bloat—just slap down a Charizard and watch it melt faces. The AI isn’t brilliant, but some of the later gym leader fights will actually make you sweat if you’re not careful with your deck build. I lost three times to the Psychic club before I realized I needed more Dark types.

Honestly, it holds up better than you’d expect for a card game adaptation from 1998. Just don’t expect online play—this is pure nostalgia in cartridge form.