How to Create Your Own Trading Card Game Online like Pokémon?

Interested in how to create your own trading card game online like Pokémon? In this article, I will explain exactly how you can do this.

In this article

1. What are online trading card games?
2. Top online trading card games like Pokémon
3. Features of online trading card games
4. How to create your own trading card game online?
5. Frequently Asked Questions on Creating Gaming Apps

As of Q4 2023, the number of Pokémon GO downloads worldwide totaled 8.5 million.

While still considered a niche market, Pokémon GO has 27 million users in the U.S. alone. According to this Statista report, 49% of gamers in the United States aged 35-54 currently play Pokémon GO. Its card game trading network is also huge.

The market for online card games is growing rapidly. The market for these existing games has reached an impressive value of $4.6 billion. 

If you want to cash in by creating your own trading card game online, then you have come to the right place.

What are online trading card games?

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Before we start on how to create your own card game, let's briefly cover online trading games. These are games played on computers, tablets, and smartphones. These games are quite similar to physical trading card games. Players either play against other players or against a computer.

Many online trading card games are simply digital versions of physical trading card games. However, there are numerous original digital games, too.

Top online trading card games like Pokémon

Let‘s review a few popular online trading card games to give you a better idea of what is working:

Pokémon trading card game online

“Pokémon Trading Card Game” (Pokémon TCG) online is a highly popular game. It‘s the digital version of the Pokémon trading card game. It‘s just as interesting and as popular as the card game. Players of this game can play it on Windows, OSX, iPad, and Android.

Originally launched in 2011, the game continues to appeal to its players. There are various modes of gameplay that suit everyone, from new players to experts. Players can win prizes like tradable packs of digital cards.

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

A highly popular online trading card game, “Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft” has millions of players. It is another interesting game; moreover, there is a range of cards, games, characters, etc. There are frequent expansions in the range of cards, something which keeps players hooked. It‘s available on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

GWENT/ strategy card game

GWENT uses complex game mechanisms that clearly work well for its players. The aim of the game is equally interesting as its card play. There are loads of different types of new cards to play with. There are tournaments and live events where players can participate.

HEX: Shards of Fate/ online trading card game

“HEX: Shard of Fate” digital trading card game is quite different from the others in its category. Players can customize quite a few aspects. They can customize classes, and they have a variety of race and class combinations to choose from.

It has a great design, including its app user interface. There are various events, and players can use its handy calendar to make sure they never miss any. The minimum order of per booster pack is far cheaper than most of its rivals. 

There are lots of other games, but these are a few examples of the best ones. 

Features of online trading card games

To compete with the existing games, a new online trading card game should offer the following features:

• A wide range of characters, cards, game scenarios, and settings;
• Backdrop options that attract and retain players‘ attention;
• Live events, tournaments, and event calendars;
• Streaming capabilities;
• Easy-to-use player onboarding;
• Interesting prize options in tournaments;
• A captivating overall presentation, including high-quality graphics;
• Availability on multiple platforms, e.g., Windows, macOS, Android, iOS;
• A regular pipeline of new characters, cards, games, and tournaments keeps players interested.

How to create your own trading card game online?

I will now explain the steps to create an online trading card game for trading digital cards. Creating your own game will take considerable planning, time, effort, and skills. 

Note, I will not cover using an online card maker to create your own trading cards via card templates, etc. Using a card maker almost guarantees you will only get average results that will look like any other game trading cards. Your own card game needs to stand out and be built to high-quality standards if it is to succeed. 

The following steps will ensure you end up with the best trading card game as well as only the best custom TCG cards (you will need a great designer if you plan to create your own cards):

Step #1: Plan the project to create the best trading card game online

A project to create a game online should be agile-based for the following reasons:

• Such a game is a ’System of Engagement‘ (SoE), which is different from ’Systems of Record‘ (SoRs) like enterprise accounting or CRM systems.
• Iterative development is the appropriate approach for SoEs, and Agile software development supports iterative development. Read more about Waterfall vs Agile: which methodology is right for your project?

Use a robust project management tool. JIRA is a good choice; however, you can find more examples of the 10 best Agile project management tools in our article here.

Step #2: Build a team to create a game online

You will require the following roles in your project team:

• Business analysts (BAs);
• Game designers/developers;
• iOS developers;
• Android developers;
• Web developers;
• Testers;
• A project manager (PM).

I am using the role descriptor ’Game designer/developer' at a rather high level. To clarify, the role may include several different skills.

For e.g., game developers may need proficiency in graphics programming, ’Artificial Intelligence' (AI), game-play programming, etc. The role will also include people with graphics skills like 3D character design, animation skills, etc.

Step #3: Get a ’Platform as a Service‘ (PaaS) provision for the web version of the game

The high-quality online trading card game that you are developing will likely be used by a variety of players. Some will play it on their smartphones, while others will play using their desktop computers. The desktop players will need to seamlessly interact with smart device users and vice versa.

You have noticed that I have not budgeted for backend developers or infrastructure architects. The reason for this is that I recommend you use a ’Platform as a Service' (PaaS) provider. PaaS providers address the following, leaving you to concentrate on your app development:

• Cloud infrastructure;
• Networking;
• Storage;
• Middleware;
• Operating system (OS);
• Runtime environments;
• The database and other 3^rd party API integration;
• Scaling and monitoring services.

AWS Elastic Beanstalk is a reputed PaaS provider with great cloud capabilities, however, you can find other examples of top PaaS providers here.

Step #4: Get a ’Mobile Backend as a Service‘ (MBaaS) provision for the mobile version

I recommend you use a ’Mobile Backend as a Service‘ (MBaaS) provider for the mobile backend. This is why I have not included any mobile backend developer or infrastructure architect in the project team.

MBaaS providers handle the following, enabling you to expedite the development:

• Cloud infrastructure, including server and networking;
• Persistent storage;
• Database;
• Security;
• User management;
• Integration with 3^rd party APIs;
• Push notifications;
• Scaling your app.

You can use Google Firebase, however, you can check out more examples of how to choose the best Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS) here.

Step #5: Use effective tools for designing your game

I have recommended you induct game designers and developers into your team, however, using market-leading tools will really help streamline development.

Let‘s review a few options:

Option #1: Unity CCG kit

Unity CCG kit is a multiplayer digital card game creation tool. It was created by Unity. It has the following advantages:

• You can build a digital trading card game with this intuitive tool.
• The game can be used for multiple platforms like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
• There are also courses available to help you learn how to build your own card game with it. For example., check out Learn To Code Trading Card Game Battle System With Unity 3D.

Option #2: Dulst platform

With Dulst, you can create an online trading card game. Check out their advantages, which are as follows:

• The tool enables designers and developers to create game cards easily.
• There are features that support multiplayer games.
• You can also use the built-in features to build a fan community and retain them.
• The company has a flexible pricing plan.
• There is a comprehensive set of documents and learning resources. The documentation covers game customization, developing a game, managing card art, creating the game board, building basic effects, etc.

Option #3: Flowfab Game Creator

With “Flowfab Game Creator”, you can create a game using your web browser. They offer the following advantages:

• You can create apps for Windows, iOS, and Android.
• Flowfab runs in the browser, so you don't need to download any tool.
• There is a flow-based visual logic builder.

You can access various learning resources, including video tutorials, user guides, examples, ’getting started‘ guides, etc. There is a range of pricing plans, which you can view here.

Option #4: GameMaker from YoYo Games

“GameMaker from YoYo Games” is another option with which you can build your online trading card game. The following are its‘ features:

• It‘s an easy tool to use since there is a drag-and-drop development environment.
• You can use the same game on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Other platforms like fireTV, Android TV, etc., are also supported.
• There are editors for objects and scripts.
• You have access to an extensive library of events and actions.
• The tool also lets you control how objects are ordered, use inheritance, etc.

The “GameMaker Language” (GML) they use in the background is modeled on C. 

Option #5: Stencyl

Stencyl offers easy-to-use tools to create online games. You have the following advantages with Stencyl:

• You can create games for iPhone, iPad, and Android, macOS, Windows, etc.
• It‘s an intuitive set of tools; therefore, it‘s easy to learn.
• Their ’drag-and-drop‘ interface lets you develop games without coding.
• There are extensive learning resources, e.g., courses, guides, video tutorials, books, sample games, and a developer center.

Check out their pricing plans here.

Step #6: Use the right programming language and tools for the web app

By now, your game designers/developers have created online trading card game assets. Players using a desktop now need to build a web app. I recommend the following:

• Develop a web app using Java. With sufficient Java developers around, maintenance and enhancement will be easier. Creating and deploying Java applications on AWS Elastic Beanstalk allows you to develop using Java on AWS Elastic Beanstalk PaaS.
• You will need to use a database. Adding a database to your Elastic Beanstalk environment allows you to add a database instance to your web app on AWS Elastic Beanstalk.
• For testing, build management, and deployment, you need to use DevOps tools. Learn how to do that here using DevOps and AWS.

Step #7: Use the appropriate programming language and tools for the mobile app

You should create both an iOS and Android app; therefore, you will need a variety of languages and app development software. I recommend the following:

• For Android, use the modern programming language Kotlin along with the ’Integrated Development Environment‘ (IDE) “Android Studio.” Android Studio will make coding and testing easier for your team. Get started with Kotlin on Android, which will give you all the instructions you need.
• For iOS, you can use the modern programming language Swift with Xcode, i.e., the preferred IDE for iOS development. This will make development and debugging easy. You can get some tips on how to migrate your Objective-C project to Swift here.

However, there's also an option to convert your iOS app to an Android app and vice versa.

Step #8: Use the right guidelines for publishing a mobile app

After you develop and test your mobile apps, you will need to publish them in the various app stores used by the leading operating systems. Check the following guidelines:

• For publishing an Android app on “Google Play Store”, read “Publish your app”.
• Check out “App Store review guidelines” for publishing the iOS app on the “Apple App Store”.

Step #9: Manage your project using the “Scrum technique”

Use the “Scrum” technique to manage this Agile software development project. This involves the following:

• You build a cross-functional “Scrum team” where designers, developers, and testers work together, with your PM as the “Scrum master.”
• "Product owners" provide the requirements as features in a "Product Backlog."
• The team estimates the features and plans them in “Sprints,” i.e., iterations, based on their priority.
• The project team conducts a "Daily stand-up meeting" to discuss the project status during a sprint.
• Project stakeholders approve a sprint in a "Sprint review meeting" after a thorough demonstration of where all features are working as desired.
• There is a “Sprint retrospective” meeting after the sprint to learn the lessons from the just-concluded sprint.

Read more on how to build a Scrum development team.

Here's the summary of steps you need to take to create a trading card game online:

1. Plan the project to create a trading card game online;
2. Build a team to create a game online;
3. Get a ’Platform as a Service‘ (PaaS) provision for the web version of the game;
4. Get a ’Mobile Backend as a Service‘ (MBaaS) provision for the mobile game version;
5. Use effective tools for designing your game;
6. Use the right programming language and tools for the web app;
7. Use the appropriate programming language and tools for the mobile app;
8. Use the right guidelines for publishing a mobile app;
9. Manage your project using the “Scrum technique”.

Planning the next killer online trading card game?

Are you hoping to take the online trading card game market by storm?

While it is important to dream big, don't forget that it will be a large, complex project. Designing attractive digital game assets, developing them for multiple platforms, and managing the end-to-end project required to manage large teams will likely make it a very time-consuming and expensive project.

Consider engaging a professional software development company if you don't have the required in-house skills to do it right. Check out how to find the best software development company before you start your search for such a development partner.

If you are still in search of experienced software developers to create your own trading card game online successfully, send us your project specifications via this form. Our field-expert software developers community at DevTeam.Space is on hand to help you to develop a high-quality, market-competitive software application. Submit the form and one of our account managers will be in touch to answer any questions you might have. 

Frequently Asked Questions on Creating Gaming Apps