GERMANY TRADING CARD GAME (TCG) MARKET FORECAST 2025-2032

Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and MTG boosters are sold out in  hobby shops and also in bookshops, supermarkets, and drugstores, retail channels where German-language products dominate shelf space. English and Japanese editions remain largely restricted to specialty retailers or online imports. Digital access to TCGs complements this market.

Cardmarket, Europe’s largest peer-to-peer TCG marketplace, is headquartered in Berlin and now supports nearly 500,000 registered users and around 100 million active listings as of 2025. While German-language cards often sell for 20–50% less than English versions, this gap narrows significantly for PSA 9/10 grades due to a low amount of  graded card supply, adding another layer of collector interest. Together, these factors establish Germany as a deeply accessible and structurally mature TCG market within Europe.

The Germany trading card game (TCG) market segmentation includes product type, TCG theme, and retail channel. The TCG theme segment is further classified into fantasy, sci-fi, TV, film & comic IPs, and video game-based.

The sci-fi segment in Germany’s trading card game (TCG) market is gaining momentum, driven by growing consumer interest in science fiction franchises and futuristic themes. Popular titles such as Star Wars: Unlimited and Warhammer 40,000 have contributed to this segment’s rise, offering players immersive gameplay rooted in advanced technology, space exploration, and intergalactic battles.

German consumers, particularly younger demographics and long-time sci-fi fans, are drawn to the detailed artwork, lore-driven mechanics, and strategic depth these games offer. The segment benefits from cross-media exposure through films, TV series, and video games, helping drive product awareness and fan engagement across both physical and digital TCG formats.

Leading companies operating in the Germany trading card game (TCG) market are Bandai Namco Holdings Inc, Bushiroad Inc, Kayou Inc, Konami Group Corporation, The Pokémon Company, Ravensburger AG, etc.

The Pokémon Company is a privately held Japanese joint-venture that oversees every aspect of the Pokémon entertainment franchise. Its operations are organised around three core lines of business: Video Games & Apps, Trading Card Game (TCG), and Licensing & Merchandising, which includes anime, films, consumer products, events, and the Pokémon Center retail chain. While it publishes and manages Pokémon software, cards and content within Japan, international brand management is handled by its wholly-owned subsidiary The Pokémon Company International (TPCi). The company’s ownership is split evenly among the original rights-holders Nintendo Co Ltd, Game Freak Inc, and Creatures Inc, which each hold roughly one-third of the equity.