Top 10 Trading Card Games

Let’s start by diving straight into pure chaos. Originally created in Denmark around the beginning of the 21st century, “Chaotic” quickly became a popular niche card game overseas. This can easily be attributed to the game’s unique battle system, which pits two players against each other with an individual monster and battle gear, attacking until one emerges victorious. While the online version of the game has long since been taken down, “Chaotic” was the only franchise to be able to fully integrate a solid game across multiple platforms. Now that is dedication.

What’s one way to spice up a card game? Why, add mechs of course! Created by Wizards of the Coast – the same minds behind the famed “Magic: The Gathering” – “BattleTech” was created in 1996 as an addition to the already popular tabletop series. Sharing many elements with its predecessor, the goal of “BattleTech” is to attack your opponent’s stockpile of cards with a variety of units. You win the game once all opponents’ cards have been depleted. While the franchise is still running strong, the collectible card game has since faded from popularity after a strong five year run.

Spawned from the “Duel Masters” manga and anime series, the collectible card game is played much like “Magic: The Gathering.” Creatures and powers are used to attack and destroy the other player, and the game has a lot of strategic depth. “Duel Masters” was the best-selling card game in its native Japan for over a year after its release there in 2002. Its success stateside was more moderate, and it was discontinued in America in 2006. But, “Duel Masters” has since been re-branded and given new life under the title “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters.” Only the top tier deserves a second chance.

Time to represent your astral spirits. A rather unique entry for our list, “Cardfight Vanguard” pits two players against each other as astral spirits on a faraway planet. With a finite number of units to call to their side, the player loses when he or she gets hit with too many damage cards or runs out of units. A monumental collaboration between creators of “Yu-Gi-Oh!” and “Duel Masters” that was first released in 2011, the game attributes most of its success to the popular anime of the same name. With its recent rise in popularity, this game has become a regular at tournaments around the globe.

Let’s leave the magic behind and dive into the world of cyberpunk. Inspired by the William Gibson novel “Neuromancer,” this is yet another cardseries created and published by Wizards of the Coast. “Netrunner” casts characters as hackers competing with each other to hack and steal valuable data from a mega-corporation. While considered an underrated title by fans, critics praised “Netrunner” for addictive gameplay and impressive artwork. The game eventually won everyone over, and today it’s still being distributed under the name “Android: Netrunner,” despite losing its trading and collecting aspect.

When a MMORPG isn’t enough, add a card game. Not to be confused with Blizzard’s online card game “Hearthstone,” this trading card game was first released in 2006, and it pits players against each other one-on-one or with allies in an arena-style form of combat. Due to the monumental popularity of World of Warcraft, over 20 sets of cards were released, giving players control over almost every major character from the franchise. While the series was discontinued after a successful seven-year run, it later gave way to the even more popular “Hearthstone” series. So we can let this one go.

Yeah, we know. It’s time to duel. Based on the fictional “Duel Monsters” plot device in the “Yu-Gi-Oh!” anime adaptation, this TCG sees two duelists set in opposition to each other, using monsters, spells, and traps to deplete their opponent’s life points. Launched in 1999, the game has been praised for its ease of play and unique card designs. As of 2011, the “Yu-Gi-Oh!” trading card game has sold more than 25 billion cards, snagging the spot as the best-selling card game in the Guinness Book of World Records. Clearly they’re doing something right; they must believe in the heart of the cards.

Now these are real vampires – not ones that sparkle. Designed in 1994 as the second venture from famed creator Richard Garfield, “Vampire” is set in the World of Darkness and sets rival players as vampires from different clans in the eternal struggle for dominance. Unlike most trading cardgames that focus on a duel between two players, “Vampire” works best with a group of five in a king-of-the-hill style match, or it can even be played in teams. Regardless of how you play, “Vampire: The Eternal Struggle” shines a new light on the World of Darkness.

I choose you! No not Pikachu; give us a Charizard instead. The Pokémon card game features two Pokémon trainers as they duel with their individual inventory of Pokémon in order to knock out their opponents and win the prize. The card game is heavily influenced by the accompanying anime series and video games, bringing simulated Poké-battles to the tabletop and schoolyard. This hasn’t hindered the cardgame’s success. While its peak was in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, the series still is popular with younger audiences to this day. Because, well, y’gotta catch ‘em all!

Before we build our deck for our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “Star Wars Customizable Card Game”
- “Star Trek Customizable Card Game”
- “OverPower”
- “Legend of the Five Rings”

Earning our top crown is the world’s first trading card game. Created by Wizards of the Coast in 1993, “Magic” pits two mages against each other in an effort to pull mana from land and triumph over each other. As the game’s popularity skyrocketed, it became a household game staple and spurred the creation of a tournament circuit for tabletop and card games. On top of the game’s colossal success, “Magic” celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2013 and has an estimated 20 million players as of 2015. Here’s to another twenty years of tapping that mana.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite trading card game? For more official top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.