Here Are the 19 Most Popular Trading Card Games

Last updated on August 31, 2025

Barroom Brawl | Illustration by Craig J Spearing

Thinking about getting into trading card games or just want to know which ones are big in 2025? You’re in the right place. Magic: The Gathering might’ve been the first for many of us, but it’s not the only game worth checking out.

There are tons of great TCGs out there right now—some new, some that have been around for years—and each one brings something different to the table. In this article, we’ll go over the best trading card games you can play today and why players are loving them. Let’s dive in!

What Are Trading Card Games?

Lord of Atlantis | Illustration by Billy Christian

Trading card games (TCGs) are games where players collect cards, build custom decks, and compete using a set of rules. Each card has its own artwork, effects, and abilities, making every deck unique. What sets TCGs apart is that players can trade, buy, or sell cards to improve their decks or collections.

In this article, we’re talking only about physical trading card games—the kind you can actually hold and play face-to-face. We’re not including digital games like Hearthstone or Legends of Runeterra since those don’t use real cards and don’t let you trade with others.

#19. Force of Will

Force of Will Website

Force of Will is an anime-inspired card game that’s been on the global market since 2013. I briefly remember some talk of it being an MTG killer when it came out. Some of the game’s appealing qualities included:

• Fantastic anime artwork.
• Rules that were overall very similar to MTG/other card games, for a quick learning curve.
• A more user-friendly take on lands that keeps the pacing while reducing bad beats.
• Each deck featuring a “commander” of sorts that your strategy would center around.

Unfortunately, Force of Will is low on this list because the game is practically dead at this point. It isn’t technically dead like WoW TCG or Digimon’s first card game, but I can’t recall the last time I saw anyone playing it or stores having products on their shelves. Online buzz pins the downfall of the game on secondary market woes and overprinting. I had been meaning to try it a decade ago, but perhaps I made the (sadly) right call.

#18. Union Arena

Union Arena website

Union Arena is a two-player trading card game that brings together characters from popular anime like Hunter × Hunter, Bleach, My Hero Academia, and more. Each player builds a 50-card deck using cards from a single series, and the goal is to attack your opponent directly using characters, field cards, and events. There’s no special leader card—just straight-up action. Union Arena stands out for its crossover appeal. You can finally see dream matchups like Deku vs. Tanjiro or Kirito vs. Edward Elric, all under one consistent ruleset. Plus, collectors love the game thanks to rare cards, special parallel foils, and even autographs from voice actors.

2025 was a huge year for Union Arena. Bandai released new expansions almost every month, with fan-favorite franchises like Sword Art Online, Fullmetal Alchemist, Bleach Vol. 2, and Attack on Titan joining the roster. Each release included a starter deck and booster packs, making it easy for fans to jump in right away. The One Punch Man set, which launched in English and Japanese at the same time, got a ton of buzz without breaking the game’s balance. For the game’s English anniversary, Bandai announced even more support—new sleeves, playmats, and regular monthly content that kept the hype going strong all year.

On the competitive side, Union Arena really stepped up in 2025. Local stores started hosting regular tournaments, and Bandai introduced a full Championship circuit with regional qualifiers. Meanwhile, casual players kept enjoying the fun of mixing characters from different series, especially at events like Anime Expo and Gen Con.

#17. Marvel Champions

Marvel Champions website

Marvel Champions is a co-op card game where you and your friends play as Marvel heroes like Spider-Man or Iron Man to stop villains like Rhino or Ultron. Each hero has their own deck and a cool flip mechanic that lets you switch between hero and alter-ego. It’s easy to jump into whether you’re playing solo or with a group, and, with regular expansions, there's always a new hero or scenario to try. Since it's a living card game, there are no random booster packs—just straight-up themed content you can build around.

2025 brought a ton of fresh content. The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. box gave us Nick Fury and Maria Hill, while later hero packs added Shuri, Silk, Falcon, and Winter Soldier. The Civil War expansion was a big shake-up, letting players face off in teams—Iron Man vs. Captain America—in a new competitive mode. Epic Multiplayer mode also launched, letting big groups take on tough villains like Loki all at once. These updates kept the game exciting for both casual and challenge-seeking fans.

The Marvel Champions community continued to grow, with events like Con of Heroes 2025 bringing fans and developers together to share decks, ideas, and sneak peeks. And for fans of crossover fun, some of these same Marvel characters—like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Black Panther—are also showing up in Magic: The Gathering, thanks to Wizards of the Coast's upcoming Marvel sets.

#16. Weiß Schwarz

Weiß Schwarz Website

Weiß Schwarz is an anime card game that’s been on the market since 2007. Its most eye-catching quality is its absolutely massive catalog of franchises that it draws its card pool from. If you love anime, then you’ll probably like battling with characters from:

• Attack on Titan
• Fate/stay night
• Kill la Kill
• Re:Zero
• Persona 3-5
• Sword Art Online
• KonoSuba
• Lucky Star
• The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

I used to see regulars playing this occasionally at my LGS, but I must confess that I’ve never played a game myself. One unique quality of the game is that decking does not eliminate a player; instead, the game simply lets you shuffle up your discard pile (known as a “waiting room”) back into your deck. The game lacks any kind of official Limited format, so if you get into it, you’ll be playing Constructed with an absolutely massive card pool. I wouldn’t count on finding much local play for it though; it’s much more popular overseas, particularly in Japan (which their website makes pretty clear).

That said, its YouTube presence is still strong, with an average of 81k views from top-viewed videos this year.

#15. Cardfight!! Vanguard

Cardfight!! Vanguard Website

Cardfight!! Vanguard is another anime-style card game that’s been out globally since 2011. It’s similar to Yu-Gi-Oh! in that it has its own anime series with parallels to its own gameplay, which consists of summoning units to attack/defend against your opponent. The popularity of this game seems to be on a bit of a downturn, as my primary LGS stopped selling packs of it years ago. I’ve also heard various complaints online about the game’s uncompetitiveness (apparently RNG is higher than in most card games) and expensive chase cards. Can’t honestly say I’d recommend it!

#14. Universus

Universus Website

Universus is another older card game (released around 2006) that could rightfully be called an “anime card game.” Cards feature characters from anime like My Hero Academia, Cowboy Bepop, and Yu Yu Hakusho. They also had a novel set focused on the famous “Critical Role” series (of Youtube D&D fame). The gameplay has you playing as a character in the form of a “character card,” fighting against your opponent character with various attacks. I was able to find boosters for this one at only one local store, and have yet to see anyone play it in person. It does seem to have a larger scene in America than Weiß Schwarz though.

#13. Shadowverse: Evolve

Shadowverse website

Shadowverse is a popular digital CCG with a ruleset that greatly resembles Hearthstone.

It features excellent anime art (what can I say, I’m biased towards this art style) and easily understandable gameplay that somewhat closely follows MTG. You have 10 lands (play points) that grow each turn, 20 life points, creatures with power and toughness (that can attack each other like in Hearthstone), and more.

If you enjoy digital card games but miss the feel of real cards, Shadowverse: Evolve is a great middle ground. It brings the strategy and visuals of the original online game to the table in a fresh, collectible format. While it’s still gaining traction globally, it’s steadily building a player base—and YouTube is starting to reflect that with strong interest in coverage of big tournaments and competitive matches.

#12. Grand Archive

Grand Archvie Website

Did I mention that I love anime art? Because Grand Archive is yet another new card game with excellent anime-inspired artwork! It came out in April 2023 and promised an anime art style with Western card game mechanics. Just looking at an example card I can already see what they mean by that:

With absolutely no experience playing the game, I can tell this card has:

• A mana cost of 3!
• 2 power!
• 4 toughness!
• Two creature types that you could literally find in MTG (Cleric and Human)!

Of course, it would be a bit forward of me to pretend the game is just an MTG port: MTG has no “class bonuses,” and I doubt the game means “Ally” in the same way MTG does! The game’s also unique in that each deck will have a commander-style “champion” card, with its own life total and abilities. You win the game by taking your opponent’s champion from whatever life they started with (most seem to be around 17-20) to 0.

Either way, it’s pleasantly close to MTG and also supports Limited play via Draft and specially configured prereleases. I’m going to look for this one next time I go to a local store, as I’ve unfortunately never seen it played in person.

#11. Dragon Ball Super Collectible Card Game

Dragon Ball Super Collectible Card Game Website

Dragon Ball Super Collectible Card Game (DBSCCG for short) is a solid card game based on the famous Dragon Ball franchise. It features characters from all of Dragon Ball’s long history, but has a particular focus on the most recent Super series.

I never stuck with it, but did enjoy playing basic decks against some friends a few years ago. It’s a fast-paced, combat focused game with a win condition similar to Pokémon’s prize cards (your life total is eight face-down cards placed at the start of game). It gets a solid spot on this list as it’s one of several TCGs that I could buy packs of locally (always a good sign for whether or not a game is being played). Gameplay seems to focus on one large eternal Constructed format with a fairly hefty banlist, but it does have Limited in the form of special draftable booster boxes. If you have any locals playing it, I’d encourage you to give it a try!

#10. Digimon Card Game

Digimon Card Game Website

Digimon Card Game is a somewhat new card game that was released about three years ago alongside a reboot of the original Digimon anime. I had cards for the old, short-lived Digimon card game as a kid, but the rules have been completely reworked since then. The game now features a “breeding phase” that lets you breed for stronger Digimon during games, and lots of Digimon vs Digimon combat as you would expect.

Unfortunately, the game doesn’t really have much of a Draft format at the moment, though it did recently have its first ever paper Sealed prerelease. Perhaps I’ll check out the next set and see how it plays!

#9. Star Wars: Unlimited

Star Wars: Unlimited Website

Star Wars is a media giant that needs no introduction, so it’s no surprise to see it represented in the TCG sphere. Star Wars: Unlimited is the franchise’s most recent foray into trading cards, but hardly it’s first; a quick online search shows “Star Wars: the Card Game,” “Star Wars: Deckbuilding Game,” “Star Wars: Han Solo Card Game,” and more. I also remember having movie cards when I was a kid and The Phantom Menace had just been released!

Anyways, Star Wars: Unlimited was released on March 8^th, 2024. The base set seems to focus mostly on the original trilogy, though characters from later films (such as Rose) are present. Some unique facets of the gameplay are:

• Pre-game setup with each player presenting a Base and Leader card (i.e. Command Center + Darth Vader).
• Two different combat zones at once in “Ground” and “Space.”
• Cards played face down as resources, similar to Lorcana.
• Official support for Limited gameplay, with both Draft and Sealed being options.

I’m not the biggest Stars Wars fan to be honest, but I won’t lie; anything I can draft has my interest!

#8. MetaZoo

MetaZoo website

I can find MetaZoo packs at one large LGS, but I’ve never seen anyone play it myself. It doesn’t seem “try-hard” enough to have ever picked my interest, but perhaps I just hate fun. That said, MetaZoo gets a decent amount of attention online. Throughout this year, it’s been sitting in the middle of the pack compared to other TCGs on YouTube, averaging around 110,000 views across its top long-form videos. So while it might not be making waves at your LGS, there’s clearly still some interest out there.

#7. One Piece Card Game

One Piece Card Game Website

One Piece is another media giant, known primarily for the excellent (and ridiculously long) manga series that birthed it. It got its hands into the trading card game business late 2022, and has been going pretty strong ever since. This is one of the better represented card games locally that isn’t part of the usual big three, as I see plenty of products on local shelves whenever I go to FNM. Its main highlights seem to be:

• Full support for both Sealed and Draft formats, with Sealed pre-releases and fully draftable boosters (the only catch is leader cards are chosen after you draft your deck).
• Gameplay with fair resemblance to many other TCGs (competitive play has “Aggro,” “Midrange,” and “Control” archetypes just like Magic).
• Characters and moments from One Piece, which draws millions of readers with each new chapter.

This is another game that I unfortunately haven’t been able to play yet, so I’ll be looking to give it a try with the next set that comes out!

#6. Flesh and Blood

Flesh and Blood Website

Flesh and Blood was another “Magic killer” I heard about that was released in late 2019. It boasted impressive design credentials and had lots of Magic pros (particularly Brian Gottlieb and Gerry Thompson) telling people to check it out at the time. When compared to MTG, Flesh and Blood’s gameplay is remarkably different in a number of ways:

• The basic gameplay formula of F&B is Hero vs Hero combat. You have a titular Hero character, a number of equipment cards for that hero, and then a deck full of actions that usually represent attacks by that hero.
• Unlike MTG, which typically has players starting small and building up into more powerful spells later, F&B is a front-loaded game. Your Hero is generally at their strongest right away, and each turn you and your opponent will find yourself being worn down.
• Because of the Hero focus, archetypes are easily defined by whatever Hero character a player is using. There will often be variations, but the core gameplay loop between two Lexi decks shouldn’t be that far off.

While F&B probably won’t be killing Magic: The Gathering anytime soon, the game has maintained a strong reputation and a dedicated player fanbase. I know of several grinders on Twitter that I follow who have left MTG entirely to play F&B instead. It also fully supports Draft which is another nice touch. Though I wasn’t gripped by the gameplay myself (a little too different from MTG for my tastes), I’d still highly recommend checking it out.

#5. Altered

Altered website

Altered is one of the newest trading card games on the scene, and it’s made a big impression since launching in late 2024. Created by Dixit designer Régis Bonnessée and developed by French studio Equinox with Asmodee, the game raised over $6.2 million on Kickstarter.

What sets Altered apart is its “phygital” system—each physical card has a QR code that links to your digital collection. You can trade digital cards, play online through Board Game Arena, and even order printed copies of your digital cards straight from the publisher. It’s designed with both casual and competitive players in mind, with quality-of-life upgrades for stores and tournament organizers, too.

Gameplay-wise, Altered features two combat lanes (called Expeditions), each led by a Hero, and uses a flexible resource system where cards can be used as energy, kind of like what you see in Lorcana or Pokémon.

Its first big tournament in France brought in 1,024 players, which is huge for a brand-new TCG. Even more impressive? Nearly half of them were playing in their first-ever card game event, thanks to how beginner-friendly Altered is.

Lastly, in terms of community buzz, Altered’s YouTube presence has taken off fast, averaging around 300,000 views across its top 10 most-watched long-form videos in 2025, putting it just slightly ahead of even Magic: The Gathering.

With strong, organized play, a welcoming vibe for new players, and another set (Skybound Odyssey) already planned for late 2025, Altered is shaping up to be one of the most exciting new games to watch this year.

#3. Yu-Gi-Oh!

Yu-Gi-Oh! Website

Yu-Gi-Oh! is a popular and ancient card game that can be traced back to Ancient Egypt (or 1999, if you aren’t using anime lore). As a personal aside, it’s actually the only reason I ever discovered MTG; I went to an LGS to get sleeves for my Fire King starter, tried MTG on a whim, then realized I liked it better. Sorry, Yu-Gi-Oh!

But don’t let my personal preferences fool you; Yu-Gi-Oh! remains popular for good reason! Some of the game’s strengths include:

• Fast, dangerous gameplay that revolves around archetypes, combos, and convoluted gameplay loops. The lack of any sort of mana/land system makes Yu-Gi-Oh! incredibly volatile compared to something like Magic!
• An irreverent sense of art/flavor that goes all over the place, from badass dragons to anime waifus to ice cream dog monsters (“Madolche Cruffsant”).
• Trap cards that give the game tension and let you interact with your opponent in many different ways (including on their turn).
• A frequently updated and frankly massive banlist that often takes the hammer to broken decks/cards. The game also has two other soft ban lists: Limited (one copy) and Semi-Limited (two copies).
• An excellent digital client in Duel Links, which reportedly blows Magic Arena out of the water in terms of affordability and convenience.

One knock against Yu-Gi-Oh! is that it doesn’t really support competitive Limited play. This is likely because of how archetype focused the game is. Cards often reference other specific cards, and desire to be played in cohesive shells. While Yu-Gi-Oh! has definitely had its fair share of broken cards (cough cough Pot of Greed), the game has fewer cards like Tarmogoyf, Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, and Oko, Thief of Crowns than Magic does. Most staples seem to be essential interaction like Effect Veiler (or Limited cards like Change of Heart and Monster Reborn), rather than busted midrange threats.

Konami does a great job keeping Yu-Gi-Oh! in the spotlight. Between the ongoing anime series (like Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS and GO RUSH!!, which are more kid-focused) and a steady stream of new product releases, they’ve managed to appeal to both sides of the player base. Competitive players get new booster sets with meta-defining cards, while casual fans can enjoy reprint sets, collector boxes, and throwback products. Plus, with formats like Rush Duel—a faster, simplified version of the game with its own card pool—possibly making their way to the West, it’s clear Konami wants to make Yu-Gi-Oh! accessible to just about everyone.

And when it comes to content, Yu-Gi-Oh! holds its own. It’s actually the third most-watched TCG on YouTube, behind Pokémon and Lorcana.

#3. Lorcana

Lorcana Website

Disney Lorcana has quickly become the hottest trading card game around. Since its launch in late 2023, it’s taken the world by storm by mixing beloved Disney characters with simple but smart game design. At first, it was nearly impossible to find packs—demand was so high that most stores sold out instantly, and some fans couldn’t get cards until the second set released. Thankfully, publisher Ravensburger ramped up production and expanded the game into over 20 countries by 2024, printing cards in English, French, German, and Italian.

The game itself is fun and easy to learn, but still has real strategy. You play as an Illumineer, summoning glimmers of Disney characters to collect “lore”—get to 20 and you win. The mechanics blend ideas from Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh, with smart twists like a flexible resource system and more interactive combat. It’s made for families but has enough depth to keep hobby players engaged. It even supports draft formats, which helps keep gameplay fresh.

Lorcana’s popularity keeps climbing. It was one of the fastest-growing TCGs in 2024 and topped sales at many local game stores. Ravensburger supports organized play with leagues and tournaments, and the online buzz is huge—YouTube and Twitch are full of game play, tutorials, and pack openings. In fact, it’s now the second most-viewed TCG on YouTube, right behind Pokémon. With more expansions coming and the possibility of adding Pixar or Star Wars cards, Lorcana is showing no signs of slowing down. Disney magic, it turns out, works just as well in card form.

#2. Pokémon

Pokémon TCG Website

When it comes to momentum, Pokémon TCG isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Every new generation of video games introduces fresh Pokémon, which naturally show up in new card sets. That means there’s always something new and exciting for collectors to chase. The way the video games, anime, merchandise, and trading cards all feed into each other keeps the whole franchise buzzing with energy. And it’s clearly working—Pokémon has broken sales records eight years in a row by 2024, with no signs of stopping.

Lastly, one of the clearest examples of what makes Pokémon so special comes from Pat Flynn, a well-known entrepreneur and online educator who launched a Pokémon-focused YouTube channel called DeepPocketMonster. While he's not a competitive player, Pat's channel blew up because it taps into what draws so many people to the game: the community and the joy of collecting. For a huge portion of fans, it’s not about tournaments or decklists—it’s about the thrill of opening packs, sharing finds, and bonding over their favorite Pokémon. That collector-first, heartwarming vibe is a big part of what keeps the Pokémon TCG so loved around the world.

#1. Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Website

Was there ever any doubt what #1 would be? Magic: The Gathering has taken a few hits over the years from worthy challengers, but it’s still the go-to trading card game for most players. What keeps Magic on top is its deep history, its name recognition, and how good it is at delivering Limited formats and multiplayer experiences. Honestly, nothing else out there compares to Commander (EDH)—it's become a massive part of the community and a big reason why players keep coming back.

Sure, there have been rocky moments in certain formats but there’s almost always a fun way to play Magic, no matter what kind of player you are. And lately, Wizards of the Coast has made some bold moves to keep the game fresh and exciting, especially by bringing in popular franchises through Universes Beyond. One of the biggest? The Final Fantasy crossover, which made such a splash that it basically shut down the old Final Fantasy TCG. By pulling in iconic series like Final Fantasy—and more on the horizon—Magic is opening the door for new fans to try the game, whether they’re longtime card players or just love those worlds. It’s clear that MTG isn’t just holding its spot at the top—it’s evolving to stay there.

What is the Best Selling Trading Card Game?

This question often depends on where in the world you are. In Japan for example, Pokémon TCG absolutely dominated other TCGs in 2023, with sales outperforming its top eight competitors combined. Given my obvious United States bias, I wrote the article based on a mixture of internet research + many local experiences in central Florida game shops. For Americans, the big three remain dominant, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Lorcana outperform Yu-Gi-Oh! one day if current trends continue.

Wrap Up

Godsend | Illustration by Daniel Ljunggren

And with that, we’ve come to the end of our journey. I enjoyed writing and researching for this one, as I must admit that I sometimes forget that games other than Magic even exist! I’ll be trying some of these excellent new titles before Magic inevitably Drag to the Bottoms me again. Perhaps I’ll see you at an LGS sometime.

If you want to know more about Magic or other TCGs, join the Draftsim Discord for more conversation, and be sure to follow us on Twitter/X. Until then, take care, and may your free time always be spent well!