Buying guide for best collectible card games
Two players sitting across a table from one another, laying down cards with creatures, spells, and heroes from decks of cards they’ve collected: this is what many collectible card games look like, though they come in many forms.
Some collectible card games include tens of thousands of cards released over decades, while others have released far fewer cards. Though almost all the games focus on head-to-head fighting, there are countless themes and universes to explore. Some collectible card games have active competitive communities while others are more casual.
Getting into any collectible card game can be intimidating, but every game has a good entry point for beginners. If you’re interested in playing, a buying guide and recommendations can point out the features to look for so you get the most enjoyment for your money.
How to buy the best collectible card games
Do you want to unleash an army of magical creatures at your opponent, or build a fleet of battle-ready spaceships, or lead a group of heroes and adventurers? Though there are only a handful of popular collectible card games at any given time (largely due to the investment of time and money for anyone to play competitively), there are dozens of games to choose from with a range of themes.
Games also vary in their gameplay, with some focusing on damaging your opponent while others have more thematic goals like building magical keys.
Types of popular collectible card games
The terms in the world of collectible card games can get confusing, as can the different genres of games. Here’s a brief explanation.
Collectible and trading card games: What’s the difference? The terms are often used interchangeably. The only real difference is whether or not you can trade cards with other people. It’s common to see “collectible card game” shortened to CCG. Both come in packs of random cards, so every purchase is a surprise.
Living Card Games: The key difference between Living Card Games, or LCG (a term coined and trademarked by Fantasy Flight Games), and collectible card games is that packs come with a fixed set of cards. You know exactly what you’re getting. This makes it much easier for new players to get started by purchasing a starter set and a few recommended packs.
Digital collectible card games: These use the same concept as their analog counterpart, but your cards are entirely digital. You still open packs and get common and rare cards. Digital games also have the advantage of using effects that wouldn’t be possible with a physical game, and they do all of the math for you so you can focus on gameplay.
Themes
Though the gameplay is usually the focus, also consider the theme of a game and pick one that intrigues you. After all, the illustrations usually take up a third or more of each card.
Casting spells and summoning magical creatures are common and can be found in games like Magic: The Gathering and KeyForge. These themes often appeal to fans of fantasy novels and movies or role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons.
Aside from fantasy and magic, most other games are based on unique IPs and franchises, such as the World of Warcraft and Pokémon card games.
Play experience
Do you want a two-player head-to-head experience, or are you more interested in team modes and multiplayer modes? While almost every collectible card game supports two players, they differ in their alternative modes. And of course, every game has different mechanisms, card types, and effects. Researching each game can help you find the one you’ll enjoy the most.
DID YOU KNOW?
The 20-sided die players often use to track life points is called a spindown die. It has the numbers 20 through 1 descending through adjacent faces so you can easily reduce or increase points.
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Features to look for in collectible card games
Once you’ve narrowed your search to a few games, you should consider other factors like how well-supported the game is and whether you can find competitions in your area.
Popularity and availability
A big part of the fun is playing against other people and seeing how they’ve built their decks, as well as purchasing new sets as they’re released.
Not all games have a frequent and robust release schedule, so if opening a pack to see what cards you’ve received is one of your favorite parts of collectible card games, consider more popular games like Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon.
In addition, popular games are more likely to have tournaments in your area if you’re interested in competitive play or just want to find a local community.
If you want a new game to dig into with your friends, there are plenty of less popular and even out of print games available that may be less expensive.
Pros and cons of digital play
Though most people associate tabletop games and physical cards with collectible card games, many of the biggest games are digital. Playing a card game on a screen is a different experience, but it’s worth considering.
Pros
- Free: Most digital collectible card games are free to play. You don’t have to spend anything if you don’t care about getting new cards.
- Immersive: Sound effects and animations make for a more immersive experience.
- Easy to play: The program does all of the calculations for you.
- More strategic: Effects and statuses that would be impossible in real life are common and make for a deeper strategic experience.
- Easy to store: You don’t have to worry about the condition of cards or how you will store and organize them.
- Portable: You can play many games on your phone or laptop, taking the experience almost anywhere.
- Support: The game can provide tips and help you construct efficient decks.
Cons
- Less personal: Without a face-to-face element, it’s a less personal experience than analog games.
- Less tactile: The lack of a physical element can make opening packs less satisfying.
- Loss of cards: Cards you have purchased can be removed from the standard rotation, preventing you from using them. Oftentimes, there are alternate modes that allow older cards.
Collectible card games don’t have to be expensive. There’s plenty of fun to be had in a starter set for two players, or you can opt for a Living Card Game, which tends to have a lower cost per card.
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How much do collectible card games cost?
If you ask an experienced Magic: The Gathering player, they might tell you “thousands.” How much you spend depends on the number of cards you want and whether or not you want to keep up with competitive play and the current rotation of cards. Different games also cost different amounts per pack, making some games more of an investment.
Inexpensive
The smallest unit of collectible card game products is the booster pack, which contains 10 to 15 cards and costs from $4 to $15. These rarely contain enough cards to start playing, but they’re an inexpensive way to buy new releases.
Mid-range
Starter packs and other packs with enough cards for one or two players to play cost $18 to $60. These include from 60 to 200 cards or more, making them a good value option for those who are just starting or who want a large number of new cards.
Expensive
Boxes of booster sets or decks as well as rare or out-of-print cards cost $60 and up. Some Living Card Game sets fall in this range, but the sheer number of cards included can make them worth the price.
DID YOU KNOW?
A rare Magic: The Gathering card that was signed by the designer and artist sold for over $500,000 on eBay. Other cards have sold for well over $10,000, making rare Magic cards an investment and a prized item for superfans.
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Tips
- Start small. Unless you’ve played a game before and really want to dive in, starter packs are the best option for beginners.
- Sleeve your cards. Sleeves protect your cards from wear and are often required for competitive play.
- Learn to mash shuffle. This means splitting your deck and holding one half in your lower hand, then gently pushing the corner of the other half into it. Push the halves together, then shuffle again a few more times. This is the most common method because it randomizes effectively and is unlikely to damage the cards.
- Experiment. You’re going to lose half of the time, on average. And when you’re just starting out, you will lose often to more experienced players. Don’t focus on victory. Instead, experiment with different combos and decks.
- Have fun! This is the reason people play collectible card games, whether they find the fun in opening the booster packs, building decks, or competing. Find the fun for you, and make note of when you’re feeling frustrated or burned out. It’s okay to take a breather or even a break from a game.
FAQ
Q. What is a “rotation”?
A. When a publisher only allows cards released during a certain period in tournament and competitive play, this is called a rotation since they’re rotating out older cards. If you only play with friends, this might not affect you since no one can stop you from choosing which cards to allow. It also levels the playing field slightly for those who are just getting started since older cards can be hard to come by.
Q. I am not a numbers person. How much math will I have to do?
A. Numbers might be a big part of collectible card games, but they also contribute to card variety and meaningful combos. Most of the time all you’ll be doing is adding and subtracting small numbers to calculate damage dealt and taken.
Q. What do I need to play besides a deck?
A. That depends on the game. Many games require a life counter or a few tokens, but some games don’t, and the starter sets include everything needed to play.
Q. Are there any collectible card games that aren’t about fighting?
A. Almost all collectible card games have an element of fighting. However, some like Android: Netrunner have victory conditions that aren’t about dealing damage or killing enemy units.
