Shuffling cards, cracking packs, and cutting the deck before a duel are core parts of this category showcase, focusing on one of tabletop gaming’s biggest sectors: collectible card games.
Otherwise referred to as CCG’s in this piece, this dynamic category really kicked off with Magic in the early 90s and has since expanded into games small and large, past and present. Largely two-player, but with plenty of variants for more, CCG’s largely revolve around constructing a deck from your collection or drafting one from a series of booster packs. Once set up, you’ll clash with an opponent to whittle their life force, knock out their Pokémon, or complete other objectives to win.
Read on to learn a little more about some of the best CCG’s you can play today, including a few that’ve finished their print runs but have a vibrant second life.
The Big Three Collectible Card Games
To start, we have to open with the big three. Both Magic and Pokémon have been touched on in other articles, but it’s worth reiterating here that these two games 
are the CCG juggernauts for several reasons. First and foremost is their gameplay. Both focus on combat, with the goal of taking down your opponent’s life (Magic) or their Pokémon. Both have a wide variety of starter sets and game modes to try out, from meticulous planning and deck construction to dominate big tournaments to improvised drafting and all sorts of adventures in-between. I’m partial to Magic’s Pauper format, which prohibits rare cards and, thus, encourages creativity at a bargain cost.
Yu-Gi-Oh follows those two closely, and you’ll already know if you’re in the market for this one from the shows, manga, and other media in the years since its inception. You’ll deploy creatures, they’ll battle, and a victor will emerge.
If that sounds a bit flippant, it’s because this sort of direct combat is the key to most CCG’s (though not all, as we’ll discuss later on). You’re not going to find co-op CCG’s or ones that let you fiddle about scoring points solitaire style. But that’s what makes a CCG, and these three in particular, so compelling. You’re always going up against someone, pitting your deck’s strategies and potential against theirs.
The Most Dangerous Game had it right: another human presents the most compelling challenge, and sitting down to a Magic duel is about as good as such things get.
The reason I’m calling out these three at the top is their size, and how much easier it is to find an opponent when the games are this big. You’ll find game stores with dedicated nights for each of these card games, ensuring a chance to play as often as you like. All three also get regular releases of new sets, keeping games from getting stale. In short, if you’re looking to try out a CCG for the first time, I’d start with one of these three, but they’re far from the only great card games out there.
Unique Collectible Card Games
Dig a little deeper and you’ll find a pair of trading card games that innovate on the usual formula with compelling, entertaining results.
First up, is Star Wars Unlimited, which debuted in 2024 and has kept firing on all cylinders. We dove in more here, but it’s a game designed for fast action, cunning
reversals, and tricky decisions at every turn. Just the mechanism of turning a drawn card into, effectively, mana is a neat way to ensure you’re never short of supplies, but what tools can you afford to give up? Pair that design with the back-and-forth single action turns and Unlimited is a kinetic delight from a galaxy far, far away.
Flesh and Blood has deeper roots, starting in 2019, and narrows its sights (if not its depth) by focusing on dynamic combat between two heroes. Like Unlimited, you’re never starved for resources here, as your cards are generally pitched to pay for your attacks, abilities, and so on. When you make your swing, though, your opponent has a chance to drop cards of their own to defend. What you want to discard to stay alive or deliver a potentially killing blow is ultimately what makes Flesh and Blood so engaging – there’s rarely a rote turn, and given how many cards are thrown into the mix, it pulls off the feat of feeling like a desperate battle between two warriors.
Lastly, Disney and Ravensburger have created Lorcana, essentially a motley collection of nostalgic memories mixed with clever card game rules. Befitting Disney’s family-friendly vibe, Lorcana differs from its peers in that murder isn’t the aim. Goofy and Donald aren’t going to be bumping off Mickey anytime soon, folks.
What Lorcana offers instead is a race. You’ll try to collect pieces of lore (hence the name Lorcana) through your characters and locations, with the neat option of simply being able to gather that lore by exerting (read: tapping) a character on your turn. That uses up their action, so they won’t be able to do anything else, creating a fun puzzle – can you afford to sprint to victory, or do you need Stitch to maul Aladdin more? Lorcana’s lighter rules and friendlier vibe make it a great first CCG for younger players or anyone with a deep abiding love for Disney’s movies. Doesn’t hurt that it’s a solid game either.
Venturing beyond the big names into innovative CCG’s like Final Fantasy, One Piece, or Nostalgix can bring to a special tabletop gaming place, and deserve a look if you’re a fan of either the property or systems with more room to innovate. Just be aware that you’ll have to look a little harder to find dedicated groups, tournaments, and other events.
Collectible Card Game Accessories
Diving into collectible card games can be as easy as picking up a starter deck or two from Noble Knight’s store, shuffling the cards, and sitting down to play. Most CCG’s release fresh starter sets that have rulebooks and tokens included, no extra purchase needed.
However, leveling up from those initial dabbles into a tournament or draft night scene means considering some inexpensive accessories. First and foremost, you’ll likely want a deck box to hold your killer combos. These can be as fancy as you like, with magnets, leather, nifty designs, dresses, or simply functional containers to keep your deck organized as you move between tables and games.
Going with those deck boxes will be sleeves for your cards, which I treat as a little splash of personality. The sleeves serve both to protect the physical cards and keep your cards separated from another player’s, so pick a batch that matches your mood. Do I constantly sleeve my tournament decks, regardless of the game, with Jabba the Hutt’s slobbering mug?
I might, people, and I’m not sorry about it.
Those two pieces are about the most important, but if you’re planning on playing at a bunch of stores, you might consider a neoprene playmat too. CCG ones are smaller, ready just for your play area (though bigger mats exist if you’re hosting matches), and cover up stains, odd playing surfaces, and, again, let you add a splash of theme to your game. From a distance, you might wonder why, but use one for a few matches and you’ll find it awfully hard to go back.
Lastly, there’s the bits and bobs. Depending on the game, you might want a fancy life counter (Check out all life counters here) or spruced up tokens that match your personality or just make it easier for your fingers to pick up and move. I’d put these at the bottom of the list when exploring a CCG, but if you find a game to sink your teeth into, these accessories can add some functional joy to your play. Plus, the price range on these makes them excellent gift ideas.
Getting Into Collectible Card Games
So if you’ve read the above and have visions of trading cards dancing in your dreams, you might be wondering how best to actualize those fantasies and get a good CCG game going on your own table.
First, and perhaps simplest, is deciding how you want to play. If you’re interested in organized events, like tournaments and drafts, then check out the stores in your community. What CCG’s have regular nights? It’ll likely be Magic and Pokémon, but you’ll likely find a couple other options squirreled away too. Starting with a CCG that already has presence nearby ensures a steady source of opponents, new friends, and fun ways to play.
If you’re more interested in a local circle, like family and friends, your options increase dramatically. You can dive into smaller games like Flesh and Blood but also take advantage of the many out of print CCG’s available in big collections for low prices. Games like Dragonball Z, Transformers, and older Decipher Star Wars and Star Trek card games are all great fun, and you can effectively re-create the feel of popping packs and drafting with cubes. In this case, check out some learn-to-play or gameplay videos and see what style hits your group best.
Once you’ve picked a CCG, grabbing a starter set, preferably with two players, is the way to go. As I noted above, you’ll get the rules and any needed bits to play the game, and you can slap the decks on the table with a pal and get after it. From there, growing your card collection really depends on how you want to play. For most, I’d recommend diving into your game’s drafting system, followed by tournament play, buying single cards as needed to supplement a deck you want to play (whether it’s part of the game’s ‘meta’, or established strategy, or something more whimsical). Otherwise, investing in a booster box display or two per released set will ensure you have a healthy batch of new cards to play with a few times a year.
Really, though, the best CCG experiences come from finding a game you love and growing with it over time. Magic players have spent the last 30+ years seeing new mechanics and wild swings blend with the familiar core gameplay. You’ll make new friends, forge new bonds with existing partners, and have a great time.
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