Are Pokéman Cards Worth Buying For Investment's Sake?

Lots of Pokémon cards are worth tons of money, but are these collectibles a good investment? Actually, it turns out that they might just be, if you have some time on your hands. Unlike other toys and action figures from childhood that are a few decades old, Pokémon is a fairly recent addition to the collectibles market. The Pokémon Trading Card Game was launched in Japan. were launched in Japan back in 1996, making the brand only about 30 years old, based on The Pokémon Company's timeline, making them fairly "young" compared to other collectibles that have been around for twice as long, if not longer.

Collectors like Clive Henry highlighted on Card Collector that Pokémon cards are absolutely worth investing in if you plan on selling them in the next 20 years or so, letting them gradually appreciate value over time. Those seeking to add a few Pokémon cards to their portfolio should be looking for vintage cards in Japanese and English released between 1996 and 2003, particularly highly graded cards or limited releases, including sealed booster boxes and packs, as well as 1st edition and holographic cards.

For example of a highly sought after card is the Shining Arceus #57. Specifically the PSA 10 version is worth $197.50 on Price Charts compared to the ungraded card worth only $18.38 as of July, 2025. Demand for Shining cards will likely drive up the price over time, especially because Arceus is one of the core Pokémon figures.

Not all Pokémon cards are going to be worth putting your time and money into when it comes to investments. Some, like a certain 2019 Pokémon card with unexpected value, should be thoroughly researched for current worth, as well as what condition, before purchasing. Mostly, collectors and investors should be on the look out for about 25 Pokémon first edition cards that are the most valuable, according to Old Sports Cards.

This includes the Holographic Blastoise #2 with an estimated value of about $20,000, the Holographic Chansey #3 worth close to $40,000, and the Holographic Charizard #4 at a whopping $205,000. Take note, though, that all three of these cards must be PSA 10 Gem Mint versions for their prices to be this high. You might be worried that you do not have sufficient funds to make a purchase of a Pokémon card now, but waiting is only going to push you further out of the market since these collectibles are projected to go up over time. Buying Pokémon cards now as an investment will pay off down the line, at which point you can sell these collectibles and cash in their value for your retirement or other big financial endeavor. You might not have to "catch 'em all" but adding a few specific Pokémon cards to your investment deck can pay off big down the road.