As 2025 unfolds, it seems that the Pokémon trading card game (TCG) has evolved from a nostalgic pastime into a juggernaut of collecting and grading enthusiasm. Forget about once-dominant sports cards; Pokémon has captured the crown, and frankly, it’s showing no mercy. According to the latest revelations from GemRate, Pokémon cards now constitute 97 of the top 100 most-graded cards at PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), indicating a seismic shift in what collectors are valuing the most.
Peering deeper into the dazzling realm of graded collectibles, Pokémon and non-sports cards have surged to constitute a whopping 59% of all graded submissions among the leading four grading giants during the first half of the year. Translating into hard figures, a staggering 7.2 million TCG and non-sports cards have been graded between January and June. This marks a mind-boggling 70% leap compared to the previous year. Compare this with the performance of sports card submissions, which seem to have taken an unfortunate tumble, dropping by 9% to settle at 5.1 million, and you have a clear victor in this graded showdown.
Highlighting the feverish grading trend, the Japanese Iono’s Wattrel Battle Partners Promo No. 232 shines as the most graded card, with more than 45,600 diligent submissions. Yet, while niche cards dance in the limelight, none can dethrone the ever-adored Pikachu as the emblem of Pokémon collecting. More than 345,000 Pikachu cards found themselves in the hallowed halls of PSA’s grading process this year, a testament to the character’s irrefutable appeal. Leading this parade of Pikas is the standout “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat,” born from a prestigious collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum. With nearly 84,000 graded copies, it not only eschews its quaint museum borders but also claims the title of PSA’s most submitted Pokémon card ever—a cultural artifact, if you will. Despite the high numbers, obtaining a mint PSA 10 holds extraordinary cachet. Recent sales of these pristine versions soared past $900, underscoring their allure and scarcity amidst rampant grading.
Meanwhile, the sports cards sector appears, alas, subdued by comparison. Only a trio managed to secure a spot in PSA’s creditable top 100 roster—these being mostly rookie cards from the realms of emerging Panini Prizm and Donruss sets. Each card gathered between 8,800 and 10,500 submissions, figures commendable in their own right but dwarfed by the comprehensive Pokémon phenomena.
June figures reinforce this prevailing trend. TCG and non-sports cards comprised 63% of total submissions, with PSG alone flexing its muscle, grading 911,000 in the category. This runs laps around the sports cards’ collective 743,000 across the top grading companies—a landslide victory if there ever was one.
Amidst this competitive landscape, CGC Cards epitomizes the Pokémon wave. The company impressively graded 2.18 million cards so far in 2025, nearly mirroring its entire previous year’s output. Of these, over 1.8 million were TCG or non-sports. It’s clear that CGC knows where the wind is blowing and it’s paying off.
Conversely, Beckett, once a towering figure in grading annals, witnesses its influence diminish, tumbling to the fourth rank among its contemporaries. Among the 366,000 cards it has handled in 2025, approximately 214,000 belong to the Pokémon or TCG variety, hinting at how concentration on this genre might salvage some stature.
PSA owes its ever-escalating submissions partly to a shrewd partnership with GameStop. Since joining forces in October, this alliance has navigated over a million grading submissions into its vault—a narrative in itself explaining much of the fervor.
On the market’s frontlines, Pokémon’s magnetic pull triggers widespread rapture. Shelves are barren, long queues proliferate outside stores, and we’re seeing those oft-dreaded limited purchase restrictions. Demand hasn’t merely knocked on the door; it’s busted the hinges and sauntered right in. As new Pokémon releases vanish like magic spells upon arrival, the franchise’s grip on collectors’ hearts and wallets seems to tighten further still.
So, should you find a little Pikachu peeking from a booster pack and shimmering in your hand this year, you’ll know the stakes have never been higher—or the demand more electric.
