Daily Deals: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Tears of the Kingdom, CRKD Nitro Deck, and More
The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, September 29, below:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $49.99
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is officially on sale at an all-time low price. This sequel to 2020's Final Fantasy VII Remake brings Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII outside of Midgar for the very first time, with Sephiroth looming and moving in on his goals. This experience offers well over 100 hours of content, with 36 sidequests and a main story over 40 hours long. If you haven't played Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, now is the time to score one of the best 2024 titles out there at a discount.
Tears of the Kingdom for $44.99
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most impressive games ever made. It features three distinct layers of its map, with Hyrule, the Depths, and the Sky Islands, which opens up the world in ways never thought possible in Breath of the Wild. Right now, you can save on Tears of the Kingdom at Woot, where the game is only $44.99. Don't miss your chance to experience one of the best games of the past decade.
Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package for $35
If you're itching to start a new series, Kingdom Hearts is one of the best out there to jump into. From Tetsuya Nomura, Kingdom Hearts mashes together the worlds of Disney and Square Enix to tell the tale of light and darkness. This All-in-One package contains a total of ten games, with everything up to Kingdom Hearts III included. Now is the perfect time to get caught up before Kingdom Hearts IV, so pick up the All-in-One bundle today and jump into Sora's journey.
CRKD Nitro Deck for $59.99
The CRKD Nitro Deck is the ultimate Nintendo Switch accessory. You simply slide the console into the Nitro Deck, which then offers an ergonomic grip and feel around the system. By far, the best feature of this accessory is the Hall Effect Thumbsticks, which guarantee zero stick drift. This is easily one of the best Nintendo Switch accessories you can buy.
Apple Watch Ultra (Premium Refurbished) for $449
Amazon has the Apple Watch Ultra for $449 today. This is the premium refurbished model, but most often, these watches have zero scratches or signs of use at all. If you're interested in the Ultra line but don't plan to spend $799 for a new watch, this is a fantastic alternative.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R for $29.99
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is an HD-2.5D remake from Square Enix. Taking the HD-2D sprite style found in titles like Octopath Traveler II, this game adds a 3D camera and 3D environments. There are a total of 99 different endings for you to discover, which makes this adventure one that can last for dozens of hours! Explore the world with fantastic quality-of-life updates, new battle mechanics, and more in this gorgeous remake of Star Ocean 2.
Luigi's Mansion 3 for $39.99
Luigi's Mansion 3 is available this weekend at Woot for only $39.99. This is one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch, filled with charm and all sorts of fun puzzles. With October right around the corner, there's never been a better time to pick up the game if you haven't already!
Octopath Traveler II for $29.99
Octopath Traveler II was one of the standout RPGs of 2023. Featuring eight different characters, this HD-2D release depicts an expansive story told from the perspectives of these characters. Each traveler has unique abilities, making for a new and exciting experience with each story. This is one RPG you do not want to miss, especially for this price.
Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Vinyl for $213.95
Finally, this Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Vinyl Box Set is on sale at Amazon for $213.95. This collection includes the soundtrack from each of the five Indiana Jones films on vinyl! A total of 10 LPs are included, making this the ultimate collector's item for any fan of John Williams.
Daily Deals: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Tears of the Kingdom, CRKD Nitro Deck, and More
The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, September 29, below:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $49.99
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is officially on sale at an all-time low price. This sequel to 2020's Final Fantasy VII Remake brings Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII outside of Midgar for the very first time, with Sephiroth looming and moving in on his goals. This experience offers well over 100 hours of content, with 36 sidequests and a main story over 40 hours long. If you haven't played Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, now is the time to score one of the best 2024 titles out there at a discount.
Tears of the Kingdom for $44.99
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most impressive games ever made. It features three distinct layers of its map, with Hyrule, the Depths, and the Sky Islands, which opens up the world in ways never thought possible in Breath of the Wild. Right now, you can save on Tears of the Kingdom at Woot, where the game is only $44.99. Don't miss your chance to experience one of the best games of the past decade.
Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package for $35
If you're itching to start a new series, Kingdom Hearts is one of the best out there to jump into. From Tetsuya Nomura, Kingdom Hearts mashes together the worlds of Disney and Square Enix to tell the tale of light and darkness. This All-in-One package contains a total of ten games, with everything up to Kingdom Hearts III included. Now is the perfect time to get caught up before Kingdom Hearts IV, so pick up the All-in-One bundle today and jump into Sora's journey.
CRKD Nitro Deck for $59.99
The CRKD Nitro Deck is the ultimate Nintendo Switch accessory. You simply slide the console into the Nitro Deck, which then offers an ergonomic grip and feel around the system. By far, the best feature of this accessory is the Hall Effect Thumbsticks, which guarantee zero stick drift. This is easily one of the best Nintendo Switch accessories you can buy.
Apple Watch Ultra (Premium Refurbished) for $449
Amazon has the Apple Watch Ultra for $449 today. This is the premium refurbished model, but most often, these watches have zero scratches or signs of use at all. If you're interested in the Ultra line but don't plan to spend $799 for a new watch, this is a fantastic alternative.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R for $29.99
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is an HD-2.5D remake from Square Enix. Taking the HD-2D sprite style found in titles like Octopath Traveler II, this game adds a 3D camera and 3D environments. There are a total of 99 different endings for you to discover, which makes this adventure one that can last for dozens of hours! Explore the world with fantastic quality-of-life updates, new battle mechanics, and more in this gorgeous remake of Star Ocean 2.
Luigi's Mansion 3 for $39.99
Luigi's Mansion 3 is available this weekend at Woot for only $39.99. This is one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch, filled with charm and all sorts of fun puzzles. With October right around the corner, there's never been a better time to pick up the game if you haven't already!
Octopath Traveler II for $29.99
Octopath Traveler II was one of the standout RPGs of 2023. Featuring eight different characters, this HD-2D release depicts an expansive story told from the perspectives of these characters. Each traveler has unique abilities, making for a new and exciting experience with each story. This is one RPG you do not want to miss, especially for this price.
Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Vinyl for $213.95
Finally, this Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Vinyl Box Set is on sale at Amazon for $213.95. This collection includes the soundtrack from each of the five Indiana Jones films on vinyl! A total of 10 LPs are included, making this the ultimate collector's item for any fan of John Williams.
Daily Deals: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Tears of the Kingdom, CRKD Nitro Deck, and More
The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, September 29, below:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $49.99
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is officially on sale at an all-time low price. This sequel to 2020's Final Fantasy VII Remake brings Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII outside of Midgar for the very first time, with Sephiroth looming and moving in on his goals. This experience offers well over 100 hours of content, with 36 sidequests and a main story over 40 hours long. If you haven't played Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, now is the time to score one of the best 2024 titles out there at a discount.
Tears of the Kingdom for $44.99
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most impressive games ever made. It features three distinct layers of its map, with Hyrule, the Depths, and the Sky Islands, which opens up the world in ways never thought possible in Breath of the Wild. Right now, you can save on Tears of the Kingdom at Woot, where the game is only $44.99. Don't miss your chance to experience one of the best games of the past decade.
Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package for $35
If you're itching to start a new series, Kingdom Hearts is one of the best out there to jump into. From Tetsuya Nomura, Kingdom Hearts mashes together the worlds of Disney and Square Enix to tell the tale of light and darkness. This All-in-One package contains a total of ten games, with everything up to Kingdom Hearts III included. Now is the perfect time to get caught up before Kingdom Hearts IV, so pick up the All-in-One bundle today and jump into Sora's journey.
CRKD Nitro Deck for $59.99
The CRKD Nitro Deck is the ultimate Nintendo Switch accessory. You simply slide the console into the Nitro Deck, which then offers an ergonomic grip and feel around the system. By far, the best feature of this accessory is the Hall Effect Thumbsticks, which guarantee zero stick drift. This is easily one of the best Nintendo Switch accessories you can buy.
Apple Watch Ultra (Premium Refurbished) for $449
Amazon has the Apple Watch Ultra for $449 today. This is the premium refurbished model, but most often, these watches have zero scratches or signs of use at all. If you're interested in the Ultra line but don't plan to spend $799 for a new watch, this is a fantastic alternative.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R for $29.99
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is an HD-2.5D remake from Square Enix. Taking the HD-2D sprite style found in titles like Octopath Traveler II, this game adds a 3D camera and 3D environments. There are a total of 99 different endings for you to discover, which makes this adventure one that can last for dozens of hours! Explore the world with fantastic quality-of-life updates, new battle mechanics, and more in this gorgeous remake of Star Ocean 2.
Luigi's Mansion 3 for $39.99
Luigi's Mansion 3 is available this weekend at Woot for only $39.99. This is one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch, filled with charm and all sorts of fun puzzles. With October right around the corner, there's never been a better time to pick up the game if you haven't already!
Octopath Traveler II for $29.99
Octopath Traveler II was one of the standout RPGs of 2023. Featuring eight different characters, this HD-2D release depicts an expansive story told from the perspectives of these characters. Each traveler has unique abilities, making for a new and exciting experience with each story. This is one RPG you do not want to miss, especially for this price.
Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Vinyl for $213.95
Finally, this Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Vinyl Box Set is on sale at Amazon for $213.95. This collection includes the soundtrack from each of the five Indiana Jones films on vinyl! A total of 10 LPs are included, making this the ultimate collector's item for any fan of John Williams.
Daily Deals: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Tears of the Kingdom, CRKD Nitro Deck, and More
The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, September 29, below:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $49.99
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is officially on sale at an all-time low price. This sequel to 2020's Final Fantasy VII Remake brings Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII outside of Midgar for the very first time, with Sephiroth looming and moving in on his goals. This experience offers well over 100 hours of content, with 36 sidequests and a main story over 40 hours long. If you haven't played Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, now is the time to score one of the best 2024 titles out there at a discount.
Tears of the Kingdom for $44.99
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most impressive games ever made. It features three distinct layers of its map, with Hyrule, the Depths, and the Sky Islands, which opens up the world in ways never thought possible in Breath of the Wild. Right now, you can save on Tears of the Kingdom at Woot, where the game is only $44.99. Don't miss your chance to experience one of the best games of the past decade.
Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package for $35
If you're itching to start a new series, Kingdom Hearts is one of the best out there to jump into. From Tetsuya Nomura, Kingdom Hearts mashes together the worlds of Disney and Square Enix to tell the tale of light and darkness. This All-in-One package contains a total of ten games, with everything up to Kingdom Hearts III included. Now is the perfect time to get caught up before Kingdom Hearts IV, so pick up the All-in-One bundle today and jump into Sora's journey.
CRKD Nitro Deck for $59.99
The CRKD Nitro Deck is the ultimate Nintendo Switch accessory. You simply slide the console into the Nitro Deck, which then offers an ergonomic grip and feel around the system. By far, the best feature of this accessory is the Hall Effect Thumbsticks, which guarantee zero stick drift. This is easily one of the best Nintendo Switch accessories you can buy.
Apple Watch Ultra (Premium Refurbished) for $449
Amazon has the Apple Watch Ultra for $449 today. This is the premium refurbished model, but most often, these watches have zero scratches or signs of use at all. If you're interested in the Ultra line but don't plan to spend $799 for a new watch, this is a fantastic alternative.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R for $29.99
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is an HD-2.5D remake from Square Enix. Taking the HD-2D sprite style found in titles like Octopath Traveler II, this game adds a 3D camera and 3D environments. There are a total of 99 different endings for you to discover, which makes this adventure one that can last for dozens of hours! Explore the world with fantastic quality-of-life updates, new battle mechanics, and more in this gorgeous remake of Star Ocean 2.
Luigi's Mansion 3 for $39.99
Luigi's Mansion 3 is available this weekend at Woot for only $39.99. This is one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch, filled with charm and all sorts of fun puzzles. With October right around the corner, there's never been a better time to pick up the game if you haven't already!
Octopath Traveler II for $29.99
Octopath Traveler II was one of the standout RPGs of 2023. Featuring eight different characters, this HD-2D release depicts an expansive story told from the perspectives of these characters. Each traveler has unique abilities, making for a new and exciting experience with each story. This is one RPG you do not want to miss, especially for this price.
Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Vinyl for $213.95
Finally, this Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Vinyl Box Set is on sale at Amazon for $213.95. This collection includes the soundtrack from each of the five Indiana Jones films on vinyl! A total of 10 LPs are included, making this the ultimate collector's item for any fan of John Williams.
Streaming Dominated Fantastic Fest This Year: Here Are Some Favorites & Where You Can Watch at Home
Fantastic Fest just wrapped up its 19th year, and streaming was front and center at the genre festival. From The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3 to the Ariana DeBose-starring House of Spoils, here are the favorites out of this year's streaming offerings.
Daily Deals: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Nintendo Switch OLED, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and More
The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Saturday, September 28, below:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $54.99
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is officially on sale at an all-time low price. This sequel to 2020's Final Fantasy VII Remake brings Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII outside of Midgar for the very first time, with Sephiroth looming and moving in on his goals. This experience offers well over 100 hours of content, with 36 sidequests and a main story over 40 hours long. If you haven't played Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, now is the time to score one of the best 2024 titles out there at a discount.
Nintendo Switch OLED for $299.99
Here's a rare deal that we'd normally only see during Black Friday. Woot! (owned by Amazon) is currently offering a brand new Nintendo Switch OLED gaming console for only $299.99. This is a guaranteed US model (not import) and includes a full one-year Nintendo warranty. Both color variants – white or neon red/blue Joy-Cons – are available. Amazon Prime members get free shipping, otherwise there's a $5 shipping charge.
Tears of the Kingdom for $44.99
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most impressive games ever made. It features three distinct layers of its map, with Hyrule, the Depths, and the Sky Islands, which opens up the world in ways never thought possible in Breath of the Wild. Right now, you can save on Tears of the Kingdom at Woot, where the game is only $44.99. Don't miss your chance to experience one of the best games of the past decade.
Nanoleaf Lines 60 Degrees Smarter Kit
Nanoleaf has its 60 Degrees Smarter Kit on sale this weekend for only $179.99. This package includes small backlit LED light bars, which allow you to create any shape you'd like on your wall. Over 16 million colors are supported, and installation is incredibly easy! This kit includes nine total lines, and you can combine these with any one of Nanoleaf's other kits for even more possibilities.
Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package for $35
If you're itching to start a new series, Kingdom Hearts is one of the best out there to jump into. From Tetsuya Nomura, Kingdom Hearts mashes together the worlds of Disney and Square Enix to tell the tale of light and darkness. This All-in-One package contains a total of ten games, with everything up to Kingdom Hearts III included. Now is the perfect time to get caught up before Kingdom Hearts IV, so pick up the All-in-One bundle today and jump into Sora's journey.
Apple Watch Ultra (Premium Refurbished) for $449
Amazon has the Apple Watch Ultra for $449 today. This is the premium refurbished model, but most often, these watches have zero scratches or signs of use at all. If you're interested in the Ultra line but don't plan to spend $799 for a new watch, this is a fantastic alternative.
Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Vinyl for $213.95
Finally, this Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Vinyl Box Set is on sale at Amazon for $213.95. This collection includes the soundtrack from each of the five Indiana Jones films on vinyl! A total of 10 LPs are included, making this the ultimate collector's item for any fan of John Williams.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Interactive Map is Now Available
IGN's The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom map is here! Our interactive map tracks essential collectibles across Hyrule, including Heart Pieces and Might Crystals. It also shows the locations of main and side quests, so you always know exactly where to go on your adventure.
Note that our Echoes of Wisdom interactive map isn't 100% complete yet, but we're hard at work making sure it's finished as quickly as possible. If the location you're currently exploring isn't fully covered, check back later!
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Interactive Map
Click on the map filters on the left-hand toolbar to filter specific markers, such as treasure or quest locations. You can also mark them as completed to keep track of your progress over time!
The map filters on our Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom interactive map include:
Locations, including Waypoints, Shops, and Dungeons, so you always know where to go next.
Collectibles, including Echoes, Heart Pieces, and Stamps.
Items, such as Clothing, Ingredients, and Rupees.
Quests, including main and side quests.
Other noteable map markers, such as Bosses and animals like Cucco.
Heart Piece Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
While you're using IGN's The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom interactive map to keep on track throughout your adventure around Hyrule, make sure you're grabbing Heart Pieces to help increase your maximum health. The game has a variety of dungeons and enemies, meaning you'll want to withstand as many hits as possible.
Our Echoes of Wisdom All Heart Pieces: Locations and Guide page includes locations for all the Heart Pieces, including:
Suthorn Forest - Cave 2 Heart Piece
Hyrule Field Heart Piece 1
Zora River - Lord Jabu-Jabu's Den Heart Piece
Faron Wetlands - Deku Scrub Lockup
Kakariko Village - Slumber Dojo
For more The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom game help, check out:
Essential Tips and Tricks
Best Echoes
All Smoothie Recipes List and Effects
Amiibo Unlockables and Rewards
Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team, with a focus on trends. When she's not working, you can find her playing an RPG or making miniatures.
https://www.ign.com/articles/the-legend-of-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom-interactive-map
Joker 2’s 'Fantasy of Love': Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga & Todd Phillips on Folie à Deux's Bad Romance
Arthur Fleck – the protagonist of 2019’s Joker and its sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux – was just a struggling comedian and party clown until he inspired an anarchic social movement through his Gotham City murder spree. In Joker 2, Arthur is a supervillain to some and a superstar to others. “This is in some ways the fallout of that, the idea of celebrity and what do you do when you've created this image in this character and you have to live up to it," said Joaquin Phoenix, who won the Best Actor Oscar for Joker, in a recent interview with IGN.
The Best Trading Card Games Worth Getting Into
Today, card games are everywhere, but in 1993, the trading card game (TCG) genre was born with just one: Magic: The Gathering, created by Richard Garfield. I became a fan a few years later, in 1996, during the release of the Fourth Edition core set.
Once I got the hang of the game, I was hooked for nearly three years. The artwork drew me in, and the flavor text – often witty, dark, and sarcastic – kept me entertained, but what I loved most was playing. The tactile thrill of placing a card on the table, imagining myself as a powerful planeswalker commanding forces beyond mortal comprehension, was unbeatable.
Though other trading card games existed back then, my loyalty to Magic: The Gathering consumed both my attention and my budget. Fast forward to today, and the landscape is even more crowded. The old titans of the genre are still thriving, while countless newer games vie for attention, each bringing something unique to the table.
With that in mind, here are the 10 best trading and living card games to dive into in 2024 – games that are fun to play, boast active communities, and have the potential for long-term growth. Whatever you decide to try out and play, make sure you have a community to share it with: either a local one where you live or an online one that is supportive. The community surrounding the game is as important as the game itself.
The Big Three
These are the established choices for anyone who's deciding on a trading card game.
Magic: The Gathering
The original trading card playing experience, Magic: The Gathering established so many norms that we take for granted today. Plains, Swamps, Forests, Mountains, Islands – these were the lands you drew power from, to call angels, demons, zombies, orcs, goblins, and enchanted creatures to your side. The benefits of picking up Magic: The Gathering now, nearly 30 years into its run, are the same as the drawbacks: It's just so big at this point. There's a lot to explore and play with, but it can be intimidating and overwhelming to learn it from scratch. As was true back when I started playing, the best way to learn is not by reading the instruction booklet that comes with every starter deck, but by having a friend walk you through a match.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming MTG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Pokémon TCG
Still popular after all these years, Pokemon TCG started in 1996. Its cards in America were originally published by Wizards of the Coast, the same company that published Magic: The Gathering. Pokemon's fan base has always been more collector-heavy than player-heavy, but this has been especially true in recent years, as the value of Pokemon cards has continued to go up. (Most famously in 2021, Logan Paul paid $5.27 million for a Grade 10 Pokemon Illustrator card, which he occasionally wears around his neck when he wrestles in WWE.) Beyond this, there's an appealing simplicity to Pokemon, in that your turn is largely your own; you aren't overlapping moves or playing over your opponent's turn, which makes things a lot more streamlined.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming Pokemon TCG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
Recognized in 2009 by Guinness as the highest-selling trading card game in the world, Yu-Gi-Oh! popularized chains as a gameplay mechanic, and it was considerably more chaotic than its predecessors. You're often countering and making significant moves during your opponent's turn in addition to your own, and on its highest levels, the victor can be determined on a starting hand and who goes first. Your enjoyment will largely depend on who you learn from, especially if you're coming into the game cold.
The Newcomers
The seven TCGs below might not have the decades-long legacies of the Big Three, but they're making plenty of noise and are worth checking out.
Digimon TCG
Newly revamped for 2020, Digimon's main draw is its progression: Hatch an egg, have it undergo Digivolution (which allows you to improve upon your Digimon's stats), and move it to the Battle Area to attack your opponent. It is still a newer TCG game, relatively speaking, which means that it doesn't have the legacy baggage of the prior three. The community is notably welcoming and open to new innovations, and the metagame is diverse and still in the process of being defined.
Netrunner
Set in a cyberpunk dystopia, Netrunner, which pits hackers against a faceless corporate entity, has a long, complex history. The original physical card game came out in 1996, and it was revamped and released as Android: Netrunner in 2012. Today, it currently exists as an ongoing fan project. Non-profit game publisher Null Signal Games releases new starter and expansion sets, and the PDFs are all available on a pay-what-you-want basis. These new sets are also compatible with the prior Android: Netrunner sets, and everything, from the artwork to the new mechanics, feels legitimate and true to form.
Disney Lorcana
When Disney commits to something, they go full throttle. Disney Lorcana, which draws from over 100 years of Disney animated history, takes full advantage of the nostalgia and sea of creative properties inherent in its brand. Instead of land, you summon with ink, and true to Disney's family-friendly image, you accumulate 20 points instead of decimating your opponent's life to win. There are currently over 600 different cards in print between the starter set and the two expansions. The newest expansion, Chapter 4: Ursula's Return, launched on May 31.
Marvel Champions: The Card Game
Name recognition goes a long way. In Marvel Champions, select the specific Marvel superhero that you want to play. Then, team up with other players and work through different scenarios, in which you defeat villains and foil their schemes. The Core set starts you with five different selectable heroes: Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and She-Hulk. Subsequent Expansion packs give you prebuilt decks that allow you to play as over 30 additional characters and face additional villains with different storylines. It's among one of our favorite Marvel card games available.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Inspired by the 1981 horror RPG Call of Cthulhu, Arkham Horror is a supernatural, Lovecraftian mystery game. It puts you in the shoes of an investigator, who must work through a creepy horror scenario and emerge with their body and sanity intact. You start by choosing an investigator: a Guardian, Seeker, Rogue, Mystic, Survivor, or Neutral, each of which has its specific strengths and weaknesses. Then, you investigate missing people, creepy cults, rumors of a lost ancient city, and more. It's all very evocative and tentacled. It's a great RPG card game worth getting into
Star Wars Unlimited
Star Wars: Unlimited is a brand new card game, but the established pre-existing universe of Star Wars makes this an excellent place to start; its longevity is nearly guaranteed, given the franchise's popularity. You play as a leader of your respective faction – the starter set includes Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Then you wage war, sending out droids and troops or using Force powers until one base is destroyed. The current set, Spark of Rebellion, focuses largely on the events of the original trilogy. The most recent expansion set, Shadows of the Galaxy, focuses on the criminal underbelly of the galaxy, and features mercenaries and bounty hunters.
Flesh and Blood
The creators of Flesh and Blood are traditionalists; they designed their game to be played in person – hence, in “Flesh and Blood” – rather than an online format. The game is fantasy-themed, and you have a hero who falls into one of 11 classes: Assassin, Brute, Guardian, Illusionist, Mechanologist, Merchant, Ninja, Ranger, Runeblade, Warrior, or Wizard. You equip your hero, build a deck around them, and send them into battle with spells, blows, and counterblows at the ready.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO and Card Games. His byline has appeared in numerous publications, including Complex, Engadget, Vice, Playboy, Gamespot, Popverse, and Kotaku. A pop culture aficionado, Kevin has written long-form features on a wide range of subjects, including movies and television, video games, professional wrestling, comics, and emerging tech. He lives in New York with his wife and son. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
The Best Trading Card Games Worth Getting Into
Today, card games are everywhere, but in 1993, the trading card game (TCG) genre was born with just one: Magic: The Gathering, created by Richard Garfield. I became a fan a few years later, in 1996, during the release of the Fourth Edition core set.
Once I got the hang of the game, I was hooked for nearly three years. The artwork drew me in, and the flavor text – often witty, dark, and sarcastic – kept me entertained, but what I loved most was playing. The tactile thrill of placing a card on the table, imagining myself as a powerful planeswalker commanding forces beyond mortal comprehension, was unbeatable.
Though other trading card games existed back then, my loyalty to Magic: The Gathering consumed both my attention and my budget. Fast forward to today, and the landscape is even more crowded. The old titans of the genre are still thriving, while countless newer games vie for attention, each bringing something unique to the table.
With that in mind, here are the 10 best trading and living card games to dive into in 2024 – games that are fun to play, boast active communities, and have the potential for long-term growth. Whatever you decide to try out and play, make sure you have a community to share it with: either a local one where you live or an online one that is supportive. The community surrounding the game is as important as the game itself.
The Big Three
These are the established choices for anyone who's deciding on a trading card game.
Magic: The Gathering
The original trading card playing experience, Magic: The Gathering established so many norms that we take for granted today. Plains, Swamps, Forests, Mountains, Islands – these were the lands you drew power from, to call angels, demons, zombies, orcs, goblins, and enchanted creatures to your side. The benefits of picking up Magic: The Gathering now, nearly 30 years into its run, are the same as the drawbacks: It's just so big at this point. There's a lot to explore and play with, but it can be intimidating and overwhelming to learn it from scratch. As was true back when I started playing, the best way to learn is not by reading the instruction booklet that comes with every starter deck, but by having a friend walk you through a match.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming MTG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Pokémon TCG
Still popular after all these years, Pokemon TCG started in 1996. Its cards in America were originally published by Wizards of the Coast, the same company that published Magic: The Gathering. Pokemon's fan base has always been more collector-heavy than player-heavy, but this has been especially true in recent years, as the value of Pokemon cards has continued to go up. (Most famously in 2021, Logan Paul paid $5.27 million for a Grade 10 Pokemon Illustrator card, which he occasionally wears around his neck when he wrestles in WWE.) Beyond this, there's an appealing simplicity to Pokemon, in that your turn is largely your own; you aren't overlapping moves or playing over your opponent's turn, which makes things a lot more streamlined.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming Pokemon TCG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
Recognized in 2009 by Guinness as the highest-selling trading card game in the world, Yu-Gi-Oh! popularized chains as a gameplay mechanic, and it was considerably more chaotic than its predecessors. You're often countering and making significant moves during your opponent's turn in addition to your own, and on its highest levels, the victor can be determined on a starting hand and who goes first. Your enjoyment will largely depend on who you learn from, especially if you're coming into the game cold.
The Newcomers
The seven TCGs below might not have the decades-long legacies of the Big Three, but they're making plenty of noise and are worth checking out.
Digimon TCG
Newly revamped for 2020, Digimon's main draw is its progression: Hatch an egg, have it undergo Digivolution (which allows you to improve upon your Digimon's stats), and move it to the Battle Area to attack your opponent. It is still a newer TCG game, relatively speaking, which means that it doesn't have the legacy baggage of the prior three. The community is notably welcoming and open to new innovations, and the metagame is diverse and still in the process of being defined.
Netrunner
Set in a cyberpunk dystopia, Netrunner, which pits hackers against a faceless corporate entity, has a long, complex history. The original physical card game came out in 1996, and it was revamped and released as Android: Netrunner in 2012. Today, it currently exists as an ongoing fan project. Non-profit game publisher Null Signal Games releases new starter and expansion sets, and the PDFs are all available on a pay-what-you-want basis. These new sets are also compatible with the prior Android: Netrunner sets, and everything, from the artwork to the new mechanics, feels legitimate and true to form.
Disney Lorcana
When Disney commits to something, they go full throttle. Disney Lorcana, which draws from over 100 years of Disney animated history, takes full advantage of the nostalgia and sea of creative properties inherent in its brand. Instead of land, you summon with ink, and true to Disney's family-friendly image, you accumulate 20 points instead of decimating your opponent's life to win. There are currently over 600 different cards in print between the starter set and the two expansions. The newest expansion, Chapter 4: Ursula's Return, launched on May 31.
Marvel Champions: The Card Game
Name recognition goes a long way. In Marvel Champions, select the specific Marvel superhero that you want to play. Then, team up with other players and work through different scenarios, in which you defeat villains and foil their schemes. The Core set starts you with five different selectable heroes: Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and She-Hulk. Subsequent Expansion packs give you prebuilt decks that allow you to play as over 30 additional characters and face additional villains with different storylines. It's among one of our favorite Marvel card games available.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Inspired by the 1981 horror RPG Call of Cthulhu, Arkham Horror is a supernatural, Lovecraftian mystery game. It puts you in the shoes of an investigator, who must work through a creepy horror scenario and emerge with their body and sanity intact. You start by choosing an investigator: a Guardian, Seeker, Rogue, Mystic, Survivor, or Neutral, each of which has its specific strengths and weaknesses. Then, you investigate missing people, creepy cults, rumors of a lost ancient city, and more. It's all very evocative and tentacled. It's a great RPG card game worth getting into
Star Wars Unlimited
Star Wars: Unlimited is a brand new card game, but the established pre-existing universe of Star Wars makes this an excellent place to start; its longevity is nearly guaranteed, given the franchise's popularity. You play as a leader of your respective faction – the starter set includes Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Then you wage war, sending out droids and troops or using Force powers until one base is destroyed. The current set, Spark of Rebellion, focuses largely on the events of the original trilogy. The most recent expansion set, Shadows of the Galaxy, focuses on the criminal underbelly of the galaxy, and features mercenaries and bounty hunters.
Flesh and Blood
The creators of Flesh and Blood are traditionalists; they designed their game to be played in person – hence, in “Flesh and Blood” – rather than an online format. The game is fantasy-themed, and you have a hero who falls into one of 11 classes: Assassin, Brute, Guardian, Illusionist, Mechanologist, Merchant, Ninja, Ranger, Runeblade, Warrior, or Wizard. You equip your hero, build a deck around them, and send them into battle with spells, blows, and counterblows at the ready.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO and Card Games. His byline has appeared in numerous publications, including Complex, Engadget, Vice, Playboy, Gamespot, Popverse, and Kotaku. A pop culture aficionado, Kevin has written long-form features on a wide range of subjects, including movies and television, video games, professional wrestling, comics, and emerging tech. He lives in New York with his wife and son. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
The Best Trading Card Games Worth Getting Into
Today, card games are everywhere, but in 1993, the trading card game (TCG) genre was born with just one: Magic: The Gathering, created by Richard Garfield. I became a fan a few years later, in 1996, during the release of the Fourth Edition core set.
Once I got the hang of the game, I was hooked for nearly three years. The artwork drew me in, and the flavor text – often witty, dark, and sarcastic – kept me entertained, but what I loved most was playing. The tactile thrill of placing a card on the table, imagining myself as a powerful planeswalker commanding forces beyond mortal comprehension, was unbeatable.
Though other trading card games existed back then, my loyalty to Magic: The Gathering consumed both my attention and my budget. Fast forward to today, and the landscape is even more crowded. The old titans of the genre are still thriving, while countless newer games vie for attention, each bringing something unique to the table.
With that in mind, here are the 10 best trading and living card games to dive into in 2024 – games that are fun to play, boast active communities, and have the potential for long-term growth. Whatever you decide to try out and play, make sure you have a community to share it with: either a local one where you live or an online one that is supportive. The community surrounding the game is as important as the game itself.
The Big Three
These are the established choices for anyone who's deciding on a trading card game.
Magic: The Gathering
The original trading card playing experience, Magic: The Gathering established so many norms that we take for granted today. Plains, Swamps, Forests, Mountains, Islands – these were the lands you drew power from, to call angels, demons, zombies, orcs, goblins, and enchanted creatures to your side. The benefits of picking up Magic: The Gathering now, nearly 30 years into its run, are the same as the drawbacks: It's just so big at this point. There's a lot to explore and play with, but it can be intimidating and overwhelming to learn it from scratch. As was true back when I started playing, the best way to learn is not by reading the instruction booklet that comes with every starter deck, but by having a friend walk you through a match.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming MTG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Pokémon TCG
Still popular after all these years, Pokemon TCG started in 1996. Its cards in America were originally published by Wizards of the Coast, the same company that published Magic: The Gathering. Pokemon's fan base has always been more collector-heavy than player-heavy, but this has been especially true in recent years, as the value of Pokemon cards has continued to go up. (Most famously in 2021, Logan Paul paid $5.27 million for a Grade 10 Pokemon Illustrator card, which he occasionally wears around his neck when he wrestles in WWE.) Beyond this, there's an appealing simplicity to Pokemon, in that your turn is largely your own; you aren't overlapping moves or playing over your opponent's turn, which makes things a lot more streamlined.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming Pokemon TCG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
Recognized in 2009 by Guinness as the highest-selling trading card game in the world, Yu-Gi-Oh! popularized chains as a gameplay mechanic, and it was considerably more chaotic than its predecessors. You're often countering and making significant moves during your opponent's turn in addition to your own, and on its highest levels, the victor can be determined on a starting hand and who goes first. Your enjoyment will largely depend on who you learn from, especially if you're coming into the game cold.
The Newcomers
The seven TCGs below might not have the decades-long legacies of the Big Three, but they're making plenty of noise and are worth checking out.
Digimon TCG
Newly revamped for 2020, Digimon's main draw is its progression: Hatch an egg, have it undergo Digivolution (which allows you to improve upon your Digimon's stats), and move it to the Battle Area to attack your opponent. It is still a newer TCG game, relatively speaking, which means that it doesn't have the legacy baggage of the prior three. The community is notably welcoming and open to new innovations, and the metagame is diverse and still in the process of being defined.
Netrunner
Set in a cyberpunk dystopia, Netrunner, which pits hackers against a faceless corporate entity, has a long, complex history. The original physical card game came out in 1996, and it was revamped and released as Android: Netrunner in 2012. Today, it currently exists as an ongoing fan project. Non-profit game publisher Null Signal Games releases new starter and expansion sets, and the PDFs are all available on a pay-what-you-want basis. These new sets are also compatible with the prior Android: Netrunner sets, and everything, from the artwork to the new mechanics, feels legitimate and true to form.
Disney Lorcana
When Disney commits to something, they go full throttle. Disney Lorcana, which draws from over 100 years of Disney animated history, takes full advantage of the nostalgia and sea of creative properties inherent in its brand. Instead of land, you summon with ink, and true to Disney's family-friendly image, you accumulate 20 points instead of decimating your opponent's life to win. There are currently over 600 different cards in print between the starter set and the two expansions. The newest expansion, Chapter 4: Ursula's Return, launched on May 31.
Marvel Champions: The Card Game
Name recognition goes a long way. In Marvel Champions, select the specific Marvel superhero that you want to play. Then, team up with other players and work through different scenarios, in which you defeat villains and foil their schemes. The Core set starts you with five different selectable heroes: Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and She-Hulk. Subsequent Expansion packs give you prebuilt decks that allow you to play as over 30 additional characters and face additional villains with different storylines. It's among one of our favorite Marvel card games available.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Inspired by the 1981 horror RPG Call of Cthulhu, Arkham Horror is a supernatural, Lovecraftian mystery game. It puts you in the shoes of an investigator, who must work through a creepy horror scenario and emerge with their body and sanity intact. You start by choosing an investigator: a Guardian, Seeker, Rogue, Mystic, Survivor, or Neutral, each of which has its specific strengths and weaknesses. Then, you investigate missing people, creepy cults, rumors of a lost ancient city, and more. It's all very evocative and tentacled. It's a great RPG card game worth getting into
Star Wars Unlimited
Star Wars: Unlimited is a brand new card game, but the established pre-existing universe of Star Wars makes this an excellent place to start; its longevity is nearly guaranteed, given the franchise's popularity. You play as a leader of your respective faction – the starter set includes Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Then you wage war, sending out droids and troops or using Force powers until one base is destroyed. The current set, Spark of Rebellion, focuses largely on the events of the original trilogy. The most recent expansion set, Shadows of the Galaxy, focuses on the criminal underbelly of the galaxy, and features mercenaries and bounty hunters.
Flesh and Blood
The creators of Flesh and Blood are traditionalists; they designed their game to be played in person – hence, in “Flesh and Blood” – rather than an online format. The game is fantasy-themed, and you have a hero who falls into one of 11 classes: Assassin, Brute, Guardian, Illusionist, Mechanologist, Merchant, Ninja, Ranger, Runeblade, Warrior, or Wizard. You equip your hero, build a deck around them, and send them into battle with spells, blows, and counterblows at the ready.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO and Card Games. His byline has appeared in numerous publications, including Complex, Engadget, Vice, Playboy, Gamespot, Popverse, and Kotaku. A pop culture aficionado, Kevin has written long-form features on a wide range of subjects, including movies and television, video games, professional wrestling, comics, and emerging tech. He lives in New York with his wife and son. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
The Best Trading Card Games Worth Getting Into
Today, card games are everywhere, but in 1993, the trading card game (TCG) genre was born with just one: Magic: The Gathering, created by Richard Garfield. I became a fan a few years later, in 1996, during the release of the Fourth Edition core set.
Once I got the hang of the game, I was hooked for nearly three years. The artwork drew me in, and the flavor text – often witty, dark, and sarcastic – kept me entertained, but what I loved most was playing. The tactile thrill of placing a card on the table, imagining myself as a powerful planeswalker commanding forces beyond mortal comprehension, was unbeatable.
Though other trading card games existed back then, my loyalty to Magic: The Gathering consumed both my attention and my budget. Fast forward to today, and the landscape is even more crowded. The old titans of the genre are still thriving, while countless newer games vie for attention, each bringing something unique to the table.
With that in mind, here are the 10 best trading and living card games to dive into in 2024 – games that are fun to play, boast active communities, and have the potential for long-term growth. Whatever you decide to try out and play, make sure you have a community to share it with: either a local one where you live or an online one that is supportive. The community surrounding the game is as important as the game itself.
The Big Three
These are the established choices for anyone who's deciding on a trading card game.
Magic: The Gathering
The original trading card playing experience, Magic: The Gathering established so many norms that we take for granted today. Plains, Swamps, Forests, Mountains, Islands – these were the lands you drew power from, to call angels, demons, zombies, orcs, goblins, and enchanted creatures to your side. The benefits of picking up Magic: The Gathering now, nearly 30 years into its run, are the same as the drawbacks: It's just so big at this point. There's a lot to explore and play with, but it can be intimidating and overwhelming to learn it from scratch. As was true back when I started playing, the best way to learn is not by reading the instruction booklet that comes with every starter deck, but by having a friend walk you through a match.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming MTG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Pokémon TCG
Still popular after all these years, Pokemon TCG started in 1996. Its cards in America were originally published by Wizards of the Coast, the same company that published Magic: The Gathering. Pokemon's fan base has always been more collector-heavy than player-heavy, but this has been especially true in recent years, as the value of Pokemon cards has continued to go up. (Most famously in 2021, Logan Paul paid $5.27 million for a Grade 10 Pokemon Illustrator card, which he occasionally wears around his neck when he wrestles in WWE.) Beyond this, there's an appealing simplicity to Pokemon, in that your turn is largely your own; you aren't overlapping moves or playing over your opponent's turn, which makes things a lot more streamlined.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming Pokemon TCG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
Recognized in 2009 by Guinness as the highest-selling trading card game in the world, Yu-Gi-Oh! popularized chains as a gameplay mechanic, and it was considerably more chaotic than its predecessors. You're often countering and making significant moves during your opponent's turn in addition to your own, and on its highest levels, the victor can be determined on a starting hand and who goes first. Your enjoyment will largely depend on who you learn from, especially if you're coming into the game cold.
The Newcomers
The seven TCGs below might not have the decades-long legacies of the Big Three, but they're making plenty of noise and are worth checking out.
Digimon TCG
Newly revamped for 2020, Digimon's main draw is its progression: Hatch an egg, have it undergo Digivolution (which allows you to improve upon your Digimon's stats), and move it to the Battle Area to attack your opponent. It is still a newer TCG game, relatively speaking, which means that it doesn't have the legacy baggage of the prior three. The community is notably welcoming and open to new innovations, and the metagame is diverse and still in the process of being defined.
Netrunner
Set in a cyberpunk dystopia, Netrunner, which pits hackers against a faceless corporate entity, has a long, complex history. The original physical card game came out in 1996, and it was revamped and released as Android: Netrunner in 2012. Today, it currently exists as an ongoing fan project. Non-profit game publisher Null Signal Games releases new starter and expansion sets, and the PDFs are all available on a pay-what-you-want basis. These new sets are also compatible with the prior Android: Netrunner sets, and everything, from the artwork to the new mechanics, feels legitimate and true to form.
Disney Lorcana
When Disney commits to something, they go full throttle. Disney Lorcana, which draws from over 100 years of Disney animated history, takes full advantage of the nostalgia and sea of creative properties inherent in its brand. Instead of land, you summon with ink, and true to Disney's family-friendly image, you accumulate 20 points instead of decimating your opponent's life to win. There are currently over 600 different cards in print between the starter set and the two expansions. The newest expansion, Chapter 4: Ursula's Return, launched on May 31.
Marvel Champions: The Card Game
Name recognition goes a long way. In Marvel Champions, select the specific Marvel superhero that you want to play. Then, team up with other players and work through different scenarios, in which you defeat villains and foil their schemes. The Core set starts you with five different selectable heroes: Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and She-Hulk. Subsequent Expansion packs give you prebuilt decks that allow you to play as over 30 additional characters and face additional villains with different storylines. It's among one of our favorite Marvel card games available.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Inspired by the 1981 horror RPG Call of Cthulhu, Arkham Horror is a supernatural, Lovecraftian mystery game. It puts you in the shoes of an investigator, who must work through a creepy horror scenario and emerge with their body and sanity intact. You start by choosing an investigator: a Guardian, Seeker, Rogue, Mystic, Survivor, or Neutral, each of which has its specific strengths and weaknesses. Then, you investigate missing people, creepy cults, rumors of a lost ancient city, and more. It's all very evocative and tentacled. It's a great RPG card game worth getting into
Star Wars Unlimited
Star Wars: Unlimited is a brand new card game, but the established pre-existing universe of Star Wars makes this an excellent place to start; its longevity is nearly guaranteed, given the franchise's popularity. You play as a leader of your respective faction – the starter set includes Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Then you wage war, sending out droids and troops or using Force powers until one base is destroyed. The current set, Spark of Rebellion, focuses largely on the events of the original trilogy. The most recent expansion set, Shadows of the Galaxy, focuses on the criminal underbelly of the galaxy, and features mercenaries and bounty hunters.
Flesh and Blood
The creators of Flesh and Blood are traditionalists; they designed their game to be played in person – hence, in “Flesh and Blood” – rather than an online format. The game is fantasy-themed, and you have a hero who falls into one of 11 classes: Assassin, Brute, Guardian, Illusionist, Mechanologist, Merchant, Ninja, Ranger, Runeblade, Warrior, or Wizard. You equip your hero, build a deck around them, and send them into battle with spells, blows, and counterblows at the ready.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO and Card Games. His byline has appeared in numerous publications, including Complex, Engadget, Vice, Playboy, Gamespot, Popverse, and Kotaku. A pop culture aficionado, Kevin has written long-form features on a wide range of subjects, including movies and television, video games, professional wrestling, comics, and emerging tech. He lives in New York with his wife and son. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
The Best Trading Card Games Worth Getting Into
Today, card games are everywhere, but in 1993, the trading card game (TCG) genre was born with just one: Magic: The Gathering, created by Richard Garfield. I became a fan a few years later, in 1996, during the release of the Fourth Edition core set.
Once I got the hang of the game, I was hooked for nearly three years. The artwork drew me in, and the flavor text – often witty, dark, and sarcastic – kept me entertained, but what I loved most was playing. The tactile thrill of placing a card on the table, imagining myself as a powerful planeswalker commanding forces beyond mortal comprehension, was unbeatable.
Though other trading card games existed back then, my loyalty to Magic: The Gathering consumed both my attention and my budget. Fast forward to today, and the landscape is even more crowded. The old titans of the genre are still thriving, while countless newer games vie for attention, each bringing something unique to the table.
With that in mind, here are the 10 best trading and living card games to dive into in 2024 – games that are fun to play, boast active communities, and have the potential for long-term growth. Whatever you decide to try out and play, make sure you have a community to share it with: either a local one where you live or an online one that is supportive. The community surrounding the game is as important as the game itself.
The Big Three
These are the established choices for anyone who's deciding on a trading card game.
Magic: The Gathering
The original trading card playing experience, Magic: The Gathering established so many norms that we take for granted today. Plains, Swamps, Forests, Mountains, Islands – these were the lands you drew power from, to call angels, demons, zombies, orcs, goblins, and enchanted creatures to your side. The benefits of picking up Magic: The Gathering now, nearly 30 years into its run, are the same as the drawbacks: It's just so big at this point. There's a lot to explore and play with, but it can be intimidating and overwhelming to learn it from scratch. As was true back when I started playing, the best way to learn is not by reading the instruction booklet that comes with every starter deck, but by having a friend walk you through a match.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming MTG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Pokémon TCG
Still popular after all these years, Pokemon TCG started in 1996. Its cards in America were originally published by Wizards of the Coast, the same company that published Magic: The Gathering. Pokemon's fan base has always been more collector-heavy than player-heavy, but this has been especially true in recent years, as the value of Pokemon cards has continued to go up. (Most famously in 2021, Logan Paul paid $5.27 million for a Grade 10 Pokemon Illustrator card, which he occasionally wears around his neck when he wrestles in WWE.) Beyond this, there's an appealing simplicity to Pokemon, in that your turn is largely your own; you aren't overlapping moves or playing over your opponent's turn, which makes things a lot more streamlined.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming Pokemon TCG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
Recognized in 2009 by Guinness as the highest-selling trading card game in the world, Yu-Gi-Oh! popularized chains as a gameplay mechanic, and it was considerably more chaotic than its predecessors. You're often countering and making significant moves during your opponent's turn in addition to your own, and on its highest levels, the victor can be determined on a starting hand and who goes first. Your enjoyment will largely depend on who you learn from, especially if you're coming into the game cold.
The Newcomers
The seven TCGs below might not have the decades-long legacies of the Big Three, but they're making plenty of noise and are worth checking out.
Digimon TCG
Newly revamped for 2020, Digimon's main draw is its progression: Hatch an egg, have it undergo Digivolution (which allows you to improve upon your Digimon's stats), and move it to the Battle Area to attack your opponent. It is still a newer TCG game, relatively speaking, which means that it doesn't have the legacy baggage of the prior three. The community is notably welcoming and open to new innovations, and the metagame is diverse and still in the process of being defined.
Netrunner
Set in a cyberpunk dystopia, Netrunner, which pits hackers against a faceless corporate entity, has a long, complex history. The original physical card game came out in 1996, and it was revamped and released as Android: Netrunner in 2012. Today, it currently exists as an ongoing fan project. Non-profit game publisher Null Signal Games releases new starter and expansion sets, and the PDFs are all available on a pay-what-you-want basis. These new sets are also compatible with the prior Android: Netrunner sets, and everything, from the artwork to the new mechanics, feels legitimate and true to form.
Disney Lorcana
When Disney commits to something, they go full throttle. Disney Lorcana, which draws from over 100 years of Disney animated history, takes full advantage of the nostalgia and sea of creative properties inherent in its brand. Instead of land, you summon with ink, and true to Disney's family-friendly image, you accumulate 20 points instead of decimating your opponent's life to win. There are currently over 600 different cards in print between the starter set and the two expansions. The newest expansion, Chapter 4: Ursula's Return, launched on May 31.
Marvel Champions: The Card Game
Name recognition goes a long way. In Marvel Champions, select the specific Marvel superhero that you want to play. Then, team up with other players and work through different scenarios, in which you defeat villains and foil their schemes. The Core set starts you with five different selectable heroes: Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and She-Hulk. Subsequent Expansion packs give you prebuilt decks that allow you to play as over 30 additional characters and face additional villains with different storylines. It's among one of our favorite Marvel card games available.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Inspired by the 1981 horror RPG Call of Cthulhu, Arkham Horror is a supernatural, Lovecraftian mystery game. It puts you in the shoes of an investigator, who must work through a creepy horror scenario and emerge with their body and sanity intact. You start by choosing an investigator: a Guardian, Seeker, Rogue, Mystic, Survivor, or Neutral, each of which has its specific strengths and weaknesses. Then, you investigate missing people, creepy cults, rumors of a lost ancient city, and more. It's all very evocative and tentacled. It's a great RPG card game worth getting into
Star Wars Unlimited
Star Wars: Unlimited is a brand new card game, but the established pre-existing universe of Star Wars makes this an excellent place to start; its longevity is nearly guaranteed, given the franchise's popularity. You play as a leader of your respective faction – the starter set includes Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Then you wage war, sending out droids and troops or using Force powers until one base is destroyed. The current set, Spark of Rebellion, focuses largely on the events of the original trilogy. The most recent expansion set, Shadows of the Galaxy, focuses on the criminal underbelly of the galaxy, and features mercenaries and bounty hunters.
Flesh and Blood
The creators of Flesh and Blood are traditionalists; they designed their game to be played in person – hence, in “Flesh and Blood” – rather than an online format. The game is fantasy-themed, and you have a hero who falls into one of 11 classes: Assassin, Brute, Guardian, Illusionist, Mechanologist, Merchant, Ninja, Ranger, Runeblade, Warrior, or Wizard. You equip your hero, build a deck around them, and send them into battle with spells, blows, and counterblows at the ready.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO and Card Games. His byline has appeared in numerous publications, including Complex, Engadget, Vice, Playboy, Gamespot, Popverse, and Kotaku. A pop culture aficionado, Kevin has written long-form features on a wide range of subjects, including movies and television, video games, professional wrestling, comics, and emerging tech. He lives in New York with his wife and son. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
The Best Trading Card Games Worth Getting Into
Today, card games are everywhere, but in 1993, the trading card game (TCG) genre was born with just one: Magic: The Gathering, created by Richard Garfield. I became a fan a few years later, in 1996, during the release of the Fourth Edition core set.
Once I got the hang of the game, I was hooked for nearly three years. The artwork drew me in, and the flavor text – often witty, dark, and sarcastic – kept me entertained, but what I loved most was playing. The tactile thrill of placing a card on the table, imagining myself as a powerful planeswalker commanding forces beyond mortal comprehension, was unbeatable.
Though other trading card games existed back then, my loyalty to Magic: The Gathering consumed both my attention and my budget. Fast forward to today, and the landscape is even more crowded. The old titans of the genre are still thriving, while countless newer games vie for attention, each bringing something unique to the table.
With that in mind, here are the 10 best trading and living card games to dive into in 2024 – games that are fun to play, boast active communities, and have the potential for long-term growth. Whatever you decide to try out and play, make sure you have a community to share it with: either a local one where you live or an online one that is supportive. The community surrounding the game is as important as the game itself.
The Big Three
These are the established choices for anyone who's deciding on a trading card game.
Magic: The Gathering
The original trading card playing experience, Magic: The Gathering established so many norms that we take for granted today. Plains, Swamps, Forests, Mountains, Islands – these were the lands you drew power from, to call angels, demons, zombies, orcs, goblins, and enchanted creatures to your side. The benefits of picking up Magic: The Gathering now, nearly 30 years into its run, are the same as the drawbacks: It's just so big at this point. There's a lot to explore and play with, but it can be intimidating and overwhelming to learn it from scratch. As was true back when I started playing, the best way to learn is not by reading the instruction booklet that comes with every starter deck, but by having a friend walk you through a match.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming MTG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Pokémon TCG
Still popular after all these years, Pokemon TCG started in 1996. Its cards in America were originally published by Wizards of the Coast, the same company that published Magic: The Gathering. Pokemon's fan base has always been more collector-heavy than player-heavy, but this has been especially true in recent years, as the value of Pokemon cards has continued to go up. (Most famously in 2021, Logan Paul paid $5.27 million for a Grade 10 Pokemon Illustrator card, which he occasionally wears around his neck when he wrestles in WWE.) Beyond this, there's an appealing simplicity to Pokemon, in that your turn is largely your own; you aren't overlapping moves or playing over your opponent's turn, which makes things a lot more streamlined.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming Pokemon TCG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
Recognized in 2009 by Guinness as the highest-selling trading card game in the world, Yu-Gi-Oh! popularized chains as a gameplay mechanic, and it was considerably more chaotic than its predecessors. You're often countering and making significant moves during your opponent's turn in addition to your own, and on its highest levels, the victor can be determined on a starting hand and who goes first. Your enjoyment will largely depend on who you learn from, especially if you're coming into the game cold.
The Newcomers
The seven TCGs below might not have the decades-long legacies of the Big Three, but they're making plenty of noise and are worth checking out.
Digimon TCG
Newly revamped for 2020, Digimon's main draw is its progression: Hatch an egg, have it undergo Digivolution (which allows you to improve upon your Digimon's stats), and move it to the Battle Area to attack your opponent. It is still a newer TCG game, relatively speaking, which means that it doesn't have the legacy baggage of the prior three. The community is notably welcoming and open to new innovations, and the metagame is diverse and still in the process of being defined.
Netrunner
Set in a cyberpunk dystopia, Netrunner, which pits hackers against a faceless corporate entity, has a long, complex history. The original physical card game came out in 1996, and it was revamped and released as Android: Netrunner in 2012. Today, it currently exists as an ongoing fan project. Non-profit game publisher Null Signal Games releases new starter and expansion sets, and the PDFs are all available on a pay-what-you-want basis. These new sets are also compatible with the prior Android: Netrunner sets, and everything, from the artwork to the new mechanics, feels legitimate and true to form.
Disney Lorcana
When Disney commits to something, they go full throttle. Disney Lorcana, which draws from over 100 years of Disney animated history, takes full advantage of the nostalgia and sea of creative properties inherent in its brand. Instead of land, you summon with ink, and true to Disney's family-friendly image, you accumulate 20 points instead of decimating your opponent's life to win. There are currently over 600 different cards in print between the starter set and the two expansions. The newest expansion, Chapter 4: Ursula's Return, launched on May 31.
Marvel Champions: The Card Game
Name recognition goes a long way. In Marvel Champions, select the specific Marvel superhero that you want to play. Then, team up with other players and work through different scenarios, in which you defeat villains and foil their schemes. The Core set starts you with five different selectable heroes: Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and She-Hulk. Subsequent Expansion packs give you prebuilt decks that allow you to play as over 30 additional characters and face additional villains with different storylines. It's among one of our favorite Marvel card games available.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Inspired by the 1981 horror RPG Call of Cthulhu, Arkham Horror is a supernatural, Lovecraftian mystery game. It puts you in the shoes of an investigator, who must work through a creepy horror scenario and emerge with their body and sanity intact. You start by choosing an investigator: a Guardian, Seeker, Rogue, Mystic, Survivor, or Neutral, each of which has its specific strengths and weaknesses. Then, you investigate missing people, creepy cults, rumors of a lost ancient city, and more. It's all very evocative and tentacled. It's a great RPG card game worth getting into
Star Wars Unlimited
Star Wars: Unlimited is a brand new card game, but the established pre-existing universe of Star Wars makes this an excellent place to start; its longevity is nearly guaranteed, given the franchise's popularity. You play as a leader of your respective faction – the starter set includes Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Then you wage war, sending out droids and troops or using Force powers until one base is destroyed. The current set, Spark of Rebellion, focuses largely on the events of the original trilogy. The most recent expansion set, Shadows of the Galaxy, focuses on the criminal underbelly of the galaxy, and features mercenaries and bounty hunters.
Flesh and Blood
The creators of Flesh and Blood are traditionalists; they designed their game to be played in person – hence, in “Flesh and Blood” – rather than an online format. The game is fantasy-themed, and you have a hero who falls into one of 11 classes: Assassin, Brute, Guardian, Illusionist, Mechanologist, Merchant, Ninja, Ranger, Runeblade, Warrior, or Wizard. You equip your hero, build a deck around them, and send them into battle with spells, blows, and counterblows at the ready.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO and Card Games. His byline has appeared in numerous publications, including Complex, Engadget, Vice, Playboy, Gamespot, Popverse, and Kotaku. A pop culture aficionado, Kevin has written long-form features on a wide range of subjects, including movies and television, video games, professional wrestling, comics, and emerging tech. He lives in New York with his wife and son. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
The Best Trading Card Games Worth Getting Into
Today, card games are everywhere, but in 1993, the trading card game (TCG) genre was born with just one: Magic: The Gathering, created by Richard Garfield. I became a fan a few years later, in 1996, during the release of the Fourth Edition core set.
Once I got the hang of the game, I was hooked for nearly three years. The artwork drew me in, and the flavor text – often witty, dark, and sarcastic – kept me entertained, but what I loved most was playing. The tactile thrill of placing a card on the table, imagining myself as a powerful planeswalker commanding forces beyond mortal comprehension, was unbeatable.
Though other trading card games existed back then, my loyalty to Magic: The Gathering consumed both my attention and my budget. Fast forward to today, and the landscape is even more crowded. The old titans of the genre are still thriving, while countless newer games vie for attention, each bringing something unique to the table.
With that in mind, here are the 10 best trading and living card games to dive into in 2024 – games that are fun to play, boast active communities, and have the potential for long-term growth. Whatever you decide to try out and play, make sure you have a community to share it with: either a local one where you live or an online one that is supportive. The community surrounding the game is as important as the game itself.
The Big Three
These are the established choices for anyone who's deciding on a trading card game.
Magic: The Gathering
The original trading card playing experience, Magic: The Gathering established so many norms that we take for granted today. Plains, Swamps, Forests, Mountains, Islands – these were the lands you drew power from, to call angels, demons, zombies, orcs, goblins, and enchanted creatures to your side. The benefits of picking up Magic: The Gathering now, nearly 30 years into its run, are the same as the drawbacks: It's just so big at this point. There's a lot to explore and play with, but it can be intimidating and overwhelming to learn it from scratch. As was true back when I started playing, the best way to learn is not by reading the instruction booklet that comes with every starter deck, but by having a friend walk you through a match.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming MTG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Pokémon TCG
Still popular after all these years, Pokemon TCG started in 1996. Its cards in America were originally published by Wizards of the Coast, the same company that published Magic: The Gathering. Pokemon's fan base has always been more collector-heavy than player-heavy, but this has been especially true in recent years, as the value of Pokemon cards has continued to go up. (Most famously in 2021, Logan Paul paid $5.27 million for a Grade 10 Pokemon Illustrator card, which he occasionally wears around his neck when he wrestles in WWE.) Beyond this, there's an appealing simplicity to Pokemon, in that your turn is largely your own; you aren't overlapping moves or playing over your opponent's turn, which makes things a lot more streamlined.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming Pokemon TCG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
Recognized in 2009 by Guinness as the highest-selling trading card game in the world, Yu-Gi-Oh! popularized chains as a gameplay mechanic, and it was considerably more chaotic than its predecessors. You're often countering and making significant moves during your opponent's turn in addition to your own, and on its highest levels, the victor can be determined on a starting hand and who goes first. Your enjoyment will largely depend on who you learn from, especially if you're coming into the game cold.
The Newcomers
The seven TCGs below might not have the decades-long legacies of the Big Three, but they're making plenty of noise and are worth checking out.
Digimon TCG
Newly revamped for 2020, Digimon's main draw is its progression: Hatch an egg, have it undergo Digivolution (which allows you to improve upon your Digimon's stats), and move it to the Battle Area to attack your opponent. It is still a newer TCG game, relatively speaking, which means that it doesn't have the legacy baggage of the prior three. The community is notably welcoming and open to new innovations, and the metagame is diverse and still in the process of being defined.
Netrunner
Set in a cyberpunk dystopia, Netrunner, which pits hackers against a faceless corporate entity, has a long, complex history. The original physical card game came out in 1996, and it was revamped and released as Android: Netrunner in 2012. Today, it currently exists as an ongoing fan project. Non-profit game publisher Null Signal Games releases new starter and expansion sets, and the PDFs are all available on a pay-what-you-want basis. These new sets are also compatible with the prior Android: Netrunner sets, and everything, from the artwork to the new mechanics, feels legitimate and true to form.
Disney Lorcana
When Disney commits to something, they go full throttle. Disney Lorcana, which draws from over 100 years of Disney animated history, takes full advantage of the nostalgia and sea of creative properties inherent in its brand. Instead of land, you summon with ink, and true to Disney's family-friendly image, you accumulate 20 points instead of decimating your opponent's life to win. There are currently over 600 different cards in print between the starter set and the two expansions. The newest expansion, Chapter 4: Ursula's Return, launched on May 31.
Marvel Champions: The Card Game
Name recognition goes a long way. In Marvel Champions, select the specific Marvel superhero that you want to play. Then, team up with other players and work through different scenarios, in which you defeat villains and foil their schemes. The Core set starts you with five different selectable heroes: Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and She-Hulk. Subsequent Expansion packs give you prebuilt decks that allow you to play as over 30 additional characters and face additional villains with different storylines. It's among one of our favorite Marvel card games available.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Inspired by the 1981 horror RPG Call of Cthulhu, Arkham Horror is a supernatural, Lovecraftian mystery game. It puts you in the shoes of an investigator, who must work through a creepy horror scenario and emerge with their body and sanity intact. You start by choosing an investigator: a Guardian, Seeker, Rogue, Mystic, Survivor, or Neutral, each of which has its specific strengths and weaknesses. Then, you investigate missing people, creepy cults, rumors of a lost ancient city, and more. It's all very evocative and tentacled. It's a great RPG card game worth getting into
Star Wars Unlimited
Star Wars: Unlimited is a brand new card game, but the established pre-existing universe of Star Wars makes this an excellent place to start; its longevity is nearly guaranteed, given the franchise's popularity. You play as a leader of your respective faction – the starter set includes Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Then you wage war, sending out droids and troops or using Force powers until one base is destroyed. The current set, Spark of Rebellion, focuses largely on the events of the original trilogy. The most recent expansion set, Shadows of the Galaxy, focuses on the criminal underbelly of the galaxy, and features mercenaries and bounty hunters.
Flesh and Blood
The creators of Flesh and Blood are traditionalists; they designed their game to be played in person – hence, in “Flesh and Blood” – rather than an online format. The game is fantasy-themed, and you have a hero who falls into one of 11 classes: Assassin, Brute, Guardian, Illusionist, Mechanologist, Merchant, Ninja, Ranger, Runeblade, Warrior, or Wizard. You equip your hero, build a deck around them, and send them into battle with spells, blows, and counterblows at the ready.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO and Card Games. His byline has appeared in numerous publications, including Complex, Engadget, Vice, Playboy, Gamespot, Popverse, and Kotaku. A pop culture aficionado, Kevin has written long-form features on a wide range of subjects, including movies and television, video games, professional wrestling, comics, and emerging tech. He lives in New York with his wife and son. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
The Best Trading Card Games Worth Getting Into
Today, card games are everywhere, but in 1993, the trading card game (TCG) genre was born with just one: Magic: The Gathering, created by Richard Garfield. I became a fan a few years later, in 1996, during the release of the Fourth Edition core set.
Once I got the hang of the game, I was hooked for nearly three years. The artwork drew me in, and the flavor text – often witty, dark, and sarcastic – kept me entertained, but what I loved most was playing. The tactile thrill of placing a card on the table, imagining myself as a powerful planeswalker commanding forces beyond mortal comprehension, was unbeatable.
Though other trading card games existed back then, my loyalty to Magic: The Gathering consumed both my attention and my budget. Fast forward to today, and the landscape is even more crowded. The old titans of the genre are still thriving, while countless newer games vie for attention, each bringing something unique to the table.
With that in mind, here are the 10 best trading and living card games to dive into in 2024 – games that are fun to play, boast active communities, and have the potential for long-term growth. Whatever you decide to try out and play, make sure you have a community to share it with: either a local one where you live or an online one that is supportive. The community surrounding the game is as important as the game itself.
The Big Three
These are the established choices for anyone who's deciding on a trading card game.
Magic: The Gathering
The original trading card playing experience, Magic: The Gathering established so many norms that we take for granted today. Plains, Swamps, Forests, Mountains, Islands – these were the lands you drew power from, to call angels, demons, zombies, orcs, goblins, and enchanted creatures to your side. The benefits of picking up Magic: The Gathering now, nearly 30 years into its run, are the same as the drawbacks: It's just so big at this point. There's a lot to explore and play with, but it can be intimidating and overwhelming to learn it from scratch. As was true back when I started playing, the best way to learn is not by reading the instruction booklet that comes with every starter deck, but by having a friend walk you through a match.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming MTG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Pokémon TCG
Still popular after all these years, Pokemon TCG started in 1996. Its cards in America were originally published by Wizards of the Coast, the same company that published Magic: The Gathering. Pokemon's fan base has always been more collector-heavy than player-heavy, but this has been especially true in recent years, as the value of Pokemon cards has continued to go up. (Most famously in 2021, Logan Paul paid $5.27 million for a Grade 10 Pokemon Illustrator card, which he occasionally wears around his neck when he wrestles in WWE.) Beyond this, there's an appealing simplicity to Pokemon, in that your turn is largely your own; you aren't overlapping moves or playing over your opponent's turn, which makes things a lot more streamlined.
You can check out our guide to all of the upcoming Pokemon TCG releases coming in 2024 and beyond.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
Recognized in 2009 by Guinness as the highest-selling trading card game in the world, Yu-Gi-Oh! popularized chains as a gameplay mechanic, and it was considerably more chaotic than its predecessors. You're often countering and making significant moves during your opponent's turn in addition to your own, and on its highest levels, the victor can be determined on a starting hand and who goes first. Your enjoyment will largely depend on who you learn from, especially if you're coming into the game cold.
The Newcomers
The seven TCGs below might not have the decades-long legacies of the Big Three, but they're making plenty of noise and are worth checking out.
Digimon TCG
Newly revamped for 2020, Digimon's main draw is its progression: Hatch an egg, have it undergo Digivolution (which allows you to improve upon your Digimon's stats), and move it to the Battle Area to attack your opponent. It is still a newer TCG game, relatively speaking, which means that it doesn't have the legacy baggage of the prior three. The community is notably welcoming and open to new innovations, and the metagame is diverse and still in the process of being defined.
Netrunner
Set in a cyberpunk dystopia, Netrunner, which pits hackers against a faceless corporate entity, has a long, complex history. The original physical card game came out in 1996, and it was revamped and released as Android: Netrunner in 2012. Today, it currently exists as an ongoing fan project. Non-profit game publisher Null Signal Games releases new starter and expansion sets, and the PDFs are all available on a pay-what-you-want basis. These new sets are also compatible with the prior Android: Netrunner sets, and everything, from the artwork to the new mechanics, feels legitimate and true to form.
Disney Lorcana
When Disney commits to something, they go full throttle. Disney Lorcana, which draws from over 100 years of Disney animated history, takes full advantage of the nostalgia and sea of creative properties inherent in its brand. Instead of land, you summon with ink, and true to Disney's family-friendly image, you accumulate 20 points instead of decimating your opponent's life to win. There are currently over 600 different cards in print between the starter set and the two expansions. The newest expansion, Chapter 4: Ursula's Return, launched on May 31.
Marvel Champions: The Card Game
Name recognition goes a long way. In Marvel Champions, select the specific Marvel superhero that you want to play. Then, team up with other players and work through different scenarios, in which you defeat villains and foil their schemes. The Core set starts you with five different selectable heroes: Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and She-Hulk. Subsequent Expansion packs give you prebuilt decks that allow you to play as over 30 additional characters and face additional villains with different storylines. It's among one of our favorite Marvel card games available.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Inspired by the 1981 horror RPG Call of Cthulhu, Arkham Horror is a supernatural, Lovecraftian mystery game. It puts you in the shoes of an investigator, who must work through a creepy horror scenario and emerge with their body and sanity intact. You start by choosing an investigator: a Guardian, Seeker, Rogue, Mystic, Survivor, or Neutral, each of which has its specific strengths and weaknesses. Then, you investigate missing people, creepy cults, rumors of a lost ancient city, and more. It's all very evocative and tentacled. It's a great RPG card game worth getting into
Star Wars Unlimited
Star Wars: Unlimited is a brand new card game, but the established pre-existing universe of Star Wars makes this an excellent place to start; its longevity is nearly guaranteed, given the franchise's popularity. You play as a leader of your respective faction – the starter set includes Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Then you wage war, sending out droids and troops or using Force powers until one base is destroyed. The current set, Spark of Rebellion, focuses largely on the events of the original trilogy. The most recent expansion set, Shadows of the Galaxy, focuses on the criminal underbelly of the galaxy, and features mercenaries and bounty hunters.
Flesh and Blood
The creators of Flesh and Blood are traditionalists; they designed their game to be played in person – hence, in “Flesh and Blood” – rather than an online format. The game is fantasy-themed, and you have a hero who falls into one of 11 classes: Assassin, Brute, Guardian, Illusionist, Mechanologist, Merchant, Ninja, Ranger, Runeblade, Warrior, or Wizard. You equip your hero, build a deck around them, and send them into battle with spells, blows, and counterblows at the ready.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO and Card Games. His byline has appeared in numerous publications, including Complex, Engadget, Vice, Playboy, Gamespot, Popverse, and Kotaku. A pop culture aficionado, Kevin has written long-form features on a wide range of subjects, including movies and television, video games, professional wrestling, comics, and emerging tech. He lives in New York with his wife and son. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
Megalopolis Ending Explained, Plus What Is the Immersive Experience?
Let's try to make sense of Francis Ford Coppola’s sci-fi opus Megalopolis. It's time for a post-credits scene check-in, our ending explained, and a look at what the immersive Ultimate Experience is!
Best iPhone Alternatives 2024: Get a Great Android Phone Instead
iPhones are everywhere these days, and if you're sick of Apple's phones, they're definitely not your only option. Check out the best iPhone alternatives you can buy today.
Enter to Win a Custom Xbox Series X, Women of Marvel: The Portrait Collection Print, and More on IGN Rewards
Are you looking for the opportunity to win new games, consoles, and accessories? Look no further than IGN Rewards! Multiple new giveaways and deals are now available for members this October! If you're not familiar with IGN Rewards, it's a platform free for all registered IGN users. You can enter into new giveaways each month, claim exclusive discounts, and so much more!
This month, you can enter to win a Women of Marvel: The Portrait Collection Print, a Custom Crossy Road Castle Xbox Series X, a 12% discount for LA Comic Con 2024, a Warcraft Rumble PURE KICK Collection, and more! Check out all the available IGN Rewards for October 2024 below, and be sure to enter before these giveaways close.
Note: Giveaways are exclusive to accounts based in the United States unless noted otherwise.
Enter to Win a Women of Marvel: The Portrait Collection Print!
Tristan Eaton, a renowned muralist and artist, has recently released his latest art print collection, Women of Marvel: The Portrait Collection Print, in collaboration with Marvel Entertainment. 1,500 prints are available in this collection, with 26 different original hand-painted portraits. To celebrate this landmark achievement, two IGN readers will win one randomly selected one of a kind print from Tristan Eaton, valued at $300 each. This giveaway will end on October 18 at 12 PM PST.
Enter to Win a Custom Crossy Road Castle Themed Xbox Series X!
Next, to celebrate Crossy Road Castle's recent release on console, IGN readers will have the chance to win a custom Crossy Road Castle Xbox Series X! One grand prize winner will win the custom Crossy Road Castle Xbox Series X and one game key. Additionally, ten runner-ups will be selected to win one Crossy Road Castle game key. This giveaway ends on October 23 at 12PM PST.
Enjoy an Exclusive 12% Discount on LA Comic Con 2024 Tickets!
To celebrate IGN becoming the exclusive media and streaming partner for Los Angeles Comic Con 2024, you can now claim a 12% discount on tickets to the event! Taking place from October 4-6, the Los Angeles Comic Con 2024 event is perfect for any fan of pop culture, comics, movies, sci-fi, anime, gaming, and more! IGN will be attending the event, hosting a variety of livestreams and content coverage. Be sure to claim this reward before the event!
Enter to Win Kits of the Warcraft Rumble PURE KICK Collection!
To celebrate the Warcraft Rumble x PURE KICK collection, ten IGN readers will win an influencer kit! This package includes one 16oz Tumbler & Straw, one large 30 count variety pack of the Warcraft Rumble Drink Mixes, three small 6 count individual flavors packs, and five post cards containing in-game content for Warcraft Rumble. This giveaway is set to end on October 31 at 12 AM PST.
Pokémon Masters Ex Turns 5! Win Poké Items From the Pokémon Center!
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Pokémon Masters EX, IGN is giving 10 winners the chance to win some amazing prizes! Each of these winners will receive one Arceus Poké Plush, one Pokémon Giant Pins: Arceus Oversize Pin, and finally, one Pokémon Trainers Black Oversize Drop-Shoulder Crew Neck Sweatshirt. This giveaway is set to end on October 10 at 12PM PT.
About IGN Rewards
IGN Rewards is a free platform that allows IGN readers to access free giveaways, discounts, and offers. You'll only need to create an IGN account to be eligible for the program. If you'd like to further your IGN Rewards experience, you can check out IGN Plus, where you can earn monthly games, ad-free browsing, and so much more.
DualSense vs. DualSense Edge: Which PS5 Controller Should You Buy?
The PS5 comes with a controller in the box, but if you're going to buy a second gamepad, should you get the DualSense Edge or the DualSense?
https://www.ign.com/articles/dualsense-vs-dualsense-edge-which-controller-should-you-buy