The world of Trading Card Games (TCGs) is an absolutely massive one and it can be difficult to know the heavy hitters in the scene. We've compiled this quick guide as a jumping off point for anyone interested in learning more about the wide variety of TCGs out there!
Pokemon is arguably the biggest TCG in the world, which hit the world by storm in the early 2000s and has experienced a massive resurgence in the last few years also. If you're a fan of the video games, anime, manga or even the Pokemon GO mobile game, then the TCG has something for you. The community is heavily dominated by collector's who don't even play the game and despite that the tournament scene is highly competitive. This is a a great indicator of Pokémon's popularity as a franchise, as the TCG itself can be considered a less complicated game than others on this list. At the time of writing, Pokemon TCG is entering the Scarlet & Violet era, so it is a perfect time to dive into the hobby and start collecting and playing!
Pokemon is a welcoming TCG for all ages, from nostalgic fans of the show to nerdy kids who need a place to hang out after school! With events worldwide, there's a multitude of experiences to be had on your doorstep! Furthermore, the culture surrounding Pokemon is something to boast about - from collectors to trainers, you'll see people from all backgrounds enjoying their love for these fictional pocket monsters. So you'll easily find a place for yourself in the Pokemon TCG scene!
Magic the Gathering was the very first TCG ever and was a totally unique experience when it debuted over 30 years ago in 1992! Not only is it the oldest card game, but has also cemented many core principles in the TCG scene and hasn't diminished in popularity since its introduction. From its humble beginning as the brainchild of creator Richard Garfield, MTG now boasts over twenty thousand cards making it the most complex game in history. The game now has tons of official (and unofficial) formats and is known for its great following across hobby stores worldwide and epic tournaments.
Magic the Gathering is the perfect game for those interested in a challenge but find the complexities of other TCGs difficult to comprehend. With ready-to-play pre-constructed decks complete with the latest cards available at any point, beginners can pick up MTG and get involved right away! If you're ever stuck, or need guidance, the MTG community is always willing to help out which we think is probably one of the best elements to come from the creation of this exciting TCG.
The Yu-Gi-Oh TCG debuted a few years after the manga released and quickly became just as popular as Pokemon and Magic the Gathering! The game has spawned several successful anime series and is set to celebrate its 25th Anniversary this year. With smaller deck sizes than Pokemon or MTG, Yugioh is considered a faster game with more emphasis on combo play. There's a multitude of archetypes and combos to keep gameplay interesting, you can be as creative as possible with the choice of cards that go in your deck, especially with deckbuilder sets like Amazing Defenders that are a great way to keep your deck up to date!
This truly is a card game with collectors and players in mind. With captivating and complex cards for those who feel competitive is more beneficial, to structure decks for duelists who want to pick up and play as they go, you'll find no two games are the same. The rarity system in Yu-Gi-Oh! is what keeps those who like to show off their cards going, nothing is more exciting than pulling a high rarity of that card you were after (I mean who doesn't want a Ghost Rare Blue-Eyes White Dragon?) There's a lot to offer TCG lovers!
Compared to the first three games we have looked at, the Cardfight!! Vanguard TCG is a relative newcomer to the TCG scene. It debuted back in 2010 and is based upon the anime. Despite being a new game, CFV has attained a significant following! The balancing of power in this game is a win-win for all players, as when a new rule is released all the featured clans will benefit from it. Cardfight!! Vanguard has open arms when it comes to deck individuality, meaning you don't need the meta deck to win the game. With unique cards and mechanics, there's a clan for everyone in CFV.
Not only that, but this is the perfect game for newcomers to the TCG scene. There aren't too many cards to get your head around, and while it requires good game sense to play it's relatively easy to learn. You'll get tons of variety in gameplay, and some truly stunning artwork featured on the cards.
Weiss Schwarz is a TCG that takes a different approach in that each set is based upon a different intellectual property, usually a popular anime series. They have included Attack on Titan, RWBY, Adventure Time, Love Live and more! If you're a watcher of anime, then Weiss Schwarz have likely released a set that follows one that you're a fan of. With an abundance of ready-to-play decks, starter kits and booster boxes, you can relive epic moments from your favourite anime series in a head-to-head tournament with your friends!
Each booster box also comes with the chance to pull special cards, from signed cards from voice actors to unique rare cards with hot stamped symbols, the collectability of this card game skyrockets with each pack you open! Furthermore, you can get the chance of grabbing yourself a free Weiss Schwarz playmat! (Please note: Weiss Schwarz playmats are subject to terms and conditions).
Produced by Bandai, the Dragon Ball Super TCG is based upon the super-popular anime series Dragon Ball and it's sequel series! The game features epic art and foiling and beautifully captures the character of the show, with epic battles and crazy transformations all part of the mehcanics! This game has been on the rise in recent years, and you can delve into the story of Dragon Ball whilst using your favourite characters to challenge your opponents to a battle of the ages.
Much like MTG, Dragon Ball Super uses colours to signify what each deck mechanic will do. Red cards are more aggressive, and Green focuses on the destruction of your opponents hands. Not only that, but Dragon Ball Super has some pretty wicked rarities which give the cards significant value, especially those Secret Rares. If you're a fan of Dragon Ball, then this is the card game for you.
The relatively new Digimon Card Game is produced by the same company that makes Dragon Ball Super and brings the Digimon franchise to the tabletop. Digimon often competed with Pokemon in the late nineties and early 2000s and this new card game is looking to revive that rivalry. Simple, tactical and fun - Digimon does a great job at capturing the action of the classic franchise and is super easy to learn for any newcomers.
Cards are divided into Digimon, Digieggs, Tamers and Options. This gives you an extensive arsenal to Digivolve your way to victory, with a free-form mechnaic that allows you to tailor your deck to your advantage. With abilities that can be passed up the Digivolution chain, there's no reason you shouldn't be playing this charming card game!
Another game from Bandai, One Piece is similarly based upon a fan-favourite anime series. Although the game is only in its infancy, it has already amassed a following from fans of the series and look to be just as popular in the future as its contemporaries. Built around a Leader Card, which have varying abilities and life points, One Piece has a truly special feature. The life points of your Leader represent your life points. So you could start the game with less life points than your opponent, but with significantly better abilities which give you the upper hand.
Much like many other TCGs, One Piece has ready-to-play decks themed around colours and characters from the manga. But that doesn't mean you can't build your own deck around your favourite characters. To top it off, the artwork is something worth raving about. Higher rarities get special treatment, and we've already seen some examples of this with cards featuring Sabo, Roronoa Zoro and Trafalgar Law. No matter what your motivation is when it comes to TCGs, One Piece is a game you should be paying attention to.
The enigmatic Flesh & Blood takes a very different approach to TCGs than the other games listed here. The game has been developed entirely in New Zealand and has took the TCG world by storm since its release a couple of years ago! The game puts you in the shoes a powerful fighter and requires you to perform manoeuvres and equip yourself with fearsome arms and armour to get the advantage over your opponent! The company is even taking steps to be more eco-friendly with the introduction of paper packaging.
This game is all about attacking. This means instead of orientating your deck around building power, you're already there so you can concentrate on combining moves to take your opponent down swiftly. Using attachments like armour and weapons to bolster your damage, the simplicity of this TCG is that you can construct a powerful deck and play outright without having to think too hard about what goes into your playstyle. The balance of attacking and defending means you can waste your opponents cards by forcing them to protect themselves, which in our opinion is a fresh strategy in the world of tabletop gaming.
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