As kids, most people loved Pokémon. They were a staple of popular culture at elementary schools across the globe and they went as far as determining a kid’s social status among their peers.

For some, it might seem like those days are behind them, but for other LHS students, these crazy creature cards are making a comeback and people are taking it just as seriously.

As an example of how popular they’ve become, people have been seen “unboxing” card packs, although there are lots of alternative motivations including selling cards.

“People have a gambling addiction,” said sophomore Heath Outcalt. “There’ve been a lot of poker players and a lot of people wanting to make more money and so the idea of Pokémon being able to give you cash was really [embraced] in this school.”

The first Pokémon card was released in October of 1996 and was an instant hit. A lot of people have received their Pokémon cards from the previous generations; it’s becoming a living legacy.

Pokémon has gained popularity. The company has produced over 64.8 billion TCG cards worldwide and 200,000 distinct species of Pokémon. It’s safe to say that Pokémon has always been a big hit.

Whether kids play the game or simply enjoy filling a 25 inch three ring binder with colorful collector cards, Pokémon has made a return and this time it’s not exclusively for fourth graders.