The Cure for Your Boredom Lies in the Cards

Jeff Kotuby,

February 20, 2018 6:20 PM

No, we're not talking about Spades and 3-Card Poker, but these competitive card games will be sure to get your blood pumping! Whether you're a fan of some known properties or prefer to jump into a whole new universe, we've got a card game just for you.

People have been playing card games competitively for generations now, and in 2017 it’s no different. While people still prefer to use playing cards, some have taken to trading card games (TCGs) instead, which offer a different spin on classic card games - with some pretty incredible art to boot. Most virtual TCG games are free-to-play but most offer the option to pay for packs with real money for those who wish to take things a bit more seriously. Also, these games are available on your mobile device, so you can take the action with you on the go! No matter what side of the coin you fall on, you’ll be sure to love these competitive card games!


Hearthstone  - (PC, Mobile)

C’mon, you knew this had to be the first game on this list. Hearthstone is the current top dog of competitive card games - and it’s not even close to slowing down. A new expansion titled Kobolds and Catacombs was just released on December 7, and the game shows no signs of slowing down. An added bonus for convenience is that players can use their PC or as of 2014, mobile devices to play the game. Players interested in taking their game to the next level can strive to compete in the Hearthstone World Championships, taking place in January 2018. For more info on Hearthstone’s competitive scene, check out their website. Hearthstone fan site HearthHead reminds new players to take it easy when first starting out. “Try not to worry too much about results when you finally head into the Ranked Ladder,” they say in their beginner’s guide.  “Simply try to learn all of the cards you should be looking out for, the different archetypes that are popular in the current meta, and how to better pilot your own deck!

Eternal Card Game - (Steam, Mobile)

From the group that put together the Pokemon online TCG, Eternal Card Game combines the quickplay style of Hearthstone with the gameplay and awesome card art of Magic: The Gathering. As one of the newer titles on this list, Eternal is still in its infancy, so while there’s no pro circuit just yet, you can bet there’s going to be one in the future. Until then, players can take their talents online, where they can compete against other players in casual and ranked matches using their deck, as well as a draft mode, where players must draft a deck consisting of only cards they are offered by the game. This is a personal pick - I’ve been playing this game for a few weeks and absolutely love it, and I know you will too. To learn more about the game, check developer Direwolf’s website.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links - (Steam, Mobile)

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links is a different take on the classic TCG. Players can choose one of their favorite characters from the popular anime series, build their favorite decks, and battle against other players online. The game’s pace is much faster than its real-life counterpart, and only has space for three monsters and three spell/trap cards, along with a smaller deck size. While getting cards is always cool, it might be frustrating for new players to get the cards they really want if they haven’t put any real money into the game. However, as r/duellinks pro DarkProjectM says to aspiring free-to-play users, “if you want something, fight for it, do not just sit there and wait for it to drop from the sky.”

South Park: Phone Destroyer - (Mobile)

Probably the most innovative game on the list, South Park: Phone Destroyer is a tactical-auto-RPG-trading card game using the popular South Park IP. The action unfolds automatically in front of you, and all you, as the player, does is cast cards when you have enough resources. It’s also got the classic South Park humor and self-awareness to go along with the solid gameplay, and is a must to pick up for card game lovers. The nice part of this game versus others is that, generally speaking, super rare cards aren’t a necessity. As r/southparkphone moderator Yvraine says, “Legendaries may be good in the early phase of the game, but once you get into the higher ranks you will rarely see legendaries being used as it is too hard to upgrade them to be competitive compared to other cards... Don't be too sad about having bad luck getting them, you're not missing out on much.”

If you need some inspiration or if you love seeing people steamroll their opponents in card games, check out this awesome play Hearthstone pro Firebat pulled on his opponent!



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