right choice Trading card game Because it can be a complicated decision. Not only do you have to consider which one looks the coolest to you, but also how much it will cost, who is playing locally, and so on. Luckily, the genre is more diverse than ever, and you can take many different routes.
Whether you just want to crack packs and see cute cards, want something more anime-themed, or join the first floor of a new game and discover it with everyone else, in 2023 Here are the best TCGs to check out. .
flesh and blood
The best new TCG
TCG for adults
Launched in 2019, this New Zealand TCG is developed and published by newcomers Legend Story Studios and offers a more mature take on the fantasy genre than MTG and others. Combine this with high value chase cards and a lively face-to-face play scene, and Flesh and Blood is a force to be reckoned with in his TCG field.
- A mature and solid fantasy world.
- Complex and strategic gameplay.
- Supports both constructed and restricted play.
- Finding a store that sells them can be difficult.
- A unique ban system can confuse new players.
- There are some balance issues here and there.
Launched in 2019, Flesh and Blood is one of the biggest contenders to the Magic: The Gathering throne thanks to its focus on collectibility, deep strategic gameplay, and richness It quickly emerged as a fantasy TCG that should be defeated. Individual events and tournaments.
Employing a darker and more mature tone than most TCGs, Flesh and Blood is violent, brutal, and often gruesome, but still full of amazing world-building and stunning art you’d expect from a TCG. I’m here. On top of that, an extremely fun and complex game, Flesh and Blood has become a game to watch in just a few short years.
digimon card game
Best TCG for Beginners
The second TCG to appear in Bandai Namco’s Digimon series, the Digimon Card Game may be a newer addition than most of the TCGs here, but it already has a dedicated player base and enough decks to build. It has gained more than a few extensions. Whether you’re a longtime Digimon fan, just curious about the monsters offered here, or just new to the Digimon series such as Tai, Agumon, Taiga, and Angoramon, there’s plenty to enjoy without being overwhelmed.
- Easy to learn and has a smaller card pool than other games.
- Includes all your favorite Digimon.
- Lower cost than famous games such as MTG and Pokemon.
- It’s so niche that it can be hard to find a local scene.
- New cards tend to be powerful (prone to “power creep”).
- It’s a difficult product for people who don’t already like Digimon.
Since its release in 2020, the “Digimon Card Game” has quietly built up a reputation in the TCG genre. A vibrant and exciting game full of stunning art, it’s very beginner-friendly and a great way to get involved in the community.
There are many starter decks to get you started. Alternatively, you can pick up a few booster packs and start building your own decks easily. It’s also a great low-cost option that will get you in the right collection in no time.
It’s a great starting point for new TCG players, but it’s still relatively niche, so you may have to dig a little deeper to find your local scene. Luckily, more and more local game stores are hosting events for this game, so you’re sure to find someone to play with.
Yu-Gi-Oh!
best anime TCG
It’s duel time!
“Yu-Gi-Oh” started as a manga completely unrelated to the Duel Monsters we know today. It has been very successful as an anime and his TCG series. With multiple expansions per year and tons of specials, Yu-Gi-Oh’s big draw is its gorgeous cartoon art. From deserts and cute animals to demons and robots, choose your favorite archetype and master its strategy for endless learning and mastery.
- Cheaper than other TCGs.
- A fast, highly tactical game.
- Top notch anime art.
- Cards can be difficult to parse.
- Lots of combos and lots of turn 1 wins.
- Smaller cards require special sleeves to protect the cards.
Yu-Gi-Oh! He is a TCG powerhouse and has spent over 25 years building wild and wonderful characters, aesthetics and archetypes. After all, no other game lets you build decks that combine cute cartoon animals, delicious desserts, and Egyptian god dragons.
Yu-Gi-Oh’s design feels a bit outdated now and the card frames desperately need a visual overhaul, but it’s still by far the best if you want great anime art and a high skill cap is the TCG of Challenge yourself with fast-paced, combo-focused gameplay.
It’s also much cheaper than other TCGs, and booster packs, boxes, and even the decks themselves cost less than similar games like Pokemon or Magic: The Gathering.
Pokémon TCG
best for collectors
Collect them all!
Based on Nintendo’s megahit, the Pokémon TCG has been running for over 25 years and features thousands of Pokémon, Trainers, Energy and Item cards. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of Pokémon is how easy it is to collect, including older cards. Extremely popular (such as Charizard from the famous Shadowless core set), every expansion adds new alt art and secret rare cards to hunt down.
- Suitable for all ages.
- gorgeous art.
- Tons of promos, rare cards, and alternate collectible art.
- This game is more random than other TCGs.
- Using an old card can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- High demand can make it difficult to find.
The great thing about TCG is that it’s both a game and a collector’s item. Many people are more into finding and showing off rare cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game than playing the game, and Pokémon is happy to do just that.
In addition to regular cards, every Pokémon expansion is rich in secret rares with glorious full art, special holofoils, and more to make cracking booster packs feel more exciting. If that wasn’t enough, Pokémon regularly releases special merchandise such as his 2021 Celebration and his 2023 Crown Zenith. This gives you the chance to get exclusive promo cards you won’t find anywhere else.
However, if you want to participate in a big collection, be prepared to drop a lot of cash. The rarest cards only come up for auction on rare occasions and still often fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, whether you want to crack packs or aim for the best, Pokemon is a great way to get into the trading part of the trading card game.
Magic: The Gathering
Best overall
30 years old and still going strong.
Created by Richard Garfield in 1993, Magic: The Gathering is widely considered the world’s first trading card game. With hundreds of sets, tens of thousands of cards, and dozens of different rulesets (known as “formats”), it’s a tactically dense game full of discovery and creativity.
- Tens of thousands of cards.
- Almost endless strategies.
- great art.
- Learning can be scary.
- Keeping up with continuous releases is hard.
- It can get expensive.
The progenitor of all trading card games, Magic: The Gathering popularized the concept of trading cards and has continued to thrive in the more than 30 years since. Set in a bustling multiverse with worlds inspired by everything from gothic horror to cyberpunk, each release brings gorgeously illustrated cards that take you to new and exciting places. increase.
But Magic is more than just a beautiful picture, it’s a deep and complex strategy game with an almost unlimited number of decks you can build. Above all, Magic isn’t really he one game. Between formats like Standard, Pioneer, Modern, and the ever-popular Commander, you can always find new ways to change the way you play the game and bring it to life.
MTG has such a long history that it can be intimidating for newcomers to get started, but if you can make it through, you’ll find one of the most rewarding TCGs. Don’t expect it to be cheap, as Magic releases a new set every few months and chasing new cards turns itself into a serious hobby.