Yu-Gi-Oh! is one of the most well-known andinfluential trading card gameson the planet. It’s also pretty complicated, and you can spend countless hours learning specific card interactions on your quest to become a master duelist.
Even if you’re not into the complexity of the TCG, the cards are fun to collect, and the anime has seen dozens of iconic heroes and villains. As you probably expect, the franchise practically begs for video game adaptations, which vary massively in quality.
There are some absolute banger Yu-Gi-Oh! video games, butit’s easy to pick up a bad one by accident, which may put you off the series as a whole. If you don’t want that to happen to you, duelist, here’s a selection of the best Yu-Gi-Oh! games on the market.
8Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories
Nostalgia Bait
Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories
Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories is abeloved PS1 gamedespite havingdramatically altered rules compared to the real-life TCG.
Beyond ATK and DEF values, the Forbidden Memories card game plays entirely differently from the TCG. Fusion is a big deal, but it works very differently from the TCG with Polymerization. I adore the PS1 and Yu-Gi-Oh!, so I couldn’t be more biased, but I understand how polarizing this rule change can be.
It’sunforgiving until you memorize a few combinations. Even then, many of your opponents are out for blood with absurd difficulty.
The game is propped up with a unique story where you follow Yugi and the Pharaoh, Atem. Many characters you know from the anime appear in an altered form, which is a neat addition.
7Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses
A Beloved Follow-Up
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses
Despite having an unconventional rule set, players' love of Forbidden Memories can’t be understated.Konami noticed this and made a superb follow-up in The Duelists of the Roseson the PS2.
Duelists of the Roses has a bizarre premise, set in a fictional version of 15th-century England during the War of the Roses.Some characters in the game are loosely based on real people, but you’ll recognize many of your favorites.
This strange title makes the list because the actual gameplay is incredibly addictive, even if it has little to do with the card game. Matches are played on a 7x7 grid, and the monster models are brilliant. Duelists of the Roses is a fantastic strategy game set in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Universe, and is an excellent choice as a break from the official rules.
6Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards
An Underrated GBA Tie-In
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards is aGBA gameand issomewhat limited by system constraints. However, it’s remarkable what Konami managed to squeeze into a humble cartridge, and it’s a superb addition to the console’s library.
The most impressive part of The Sacred Cards is thatthe game has a story mode, complete with a world to explore. Many of the characters from the original series show up, and there’s a very basic RPG holding everything together.
I’m a stickler for the official rules, so it’s worth pointing out that The Sacred Cards differs from the regular game.‘Phases’ in each turn are gone, and while duels follow the same basic format, they are much faster. There are also ‘Elements’ to cards, alaPokémon, so your legacy knowledge will only carry you so far.
5Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightmare Troubadour
Putting Those Dual Screens To Good Use
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Nightmare Troubadour
Nightmare Troubadour was the first Yu-Gi-Oh! game to launch on Nintendo’s humble DS, andwhat a way to make a first impression!
You play as a unique protagonist on a quest to conquer several Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournaments run by Seto Kaiba.The game makes full use of both screens, which helps the handheld experience feel less cluttered.
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The rules are pretty accurate, although they follow the OCG (Japanese rules) instead of the TCG. Another great feature is that you can trade cards with your opponents once you’ve dueled enough, incentivizing repeat battles.
Funnily enough, there are even duels at night against dangerous opponents.It’s game over if you lose, so this is a Yu-Gi-Oh! Game with stakes if you don’t save often!
4Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
As Close As You’ll Get To Speed Duels
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
I struggled to place Duel Links on the list. On one hand, I dislike the format, asit doesn’t use official rules and is designed for short, snappy matches.
On the other hand, Duel Links isperfect for players who don’t have a ton of timeto duel, and it retains enough of the TCG’s identity to be fun and playable. Duel Links is played on a much smaller playfield than regular Yu-Gi-Oh! with a reduced LP pool.
The result is a rapid card game, and it is perfect for commuting and gaming on the go. The rule switch makes sense for a mobile game, and it’s easier to follow the game state on a smaller playfield. With this in mind,it’s an attractive option for newcomers.
3Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds World Championship 2011 - Over The Nexus
A Solid Handheld Entry
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2011: Over the Nexus
In the 2010s, Yu-Gi-Oh! was a prime candidate for handheld gaming. I preferred thePSP games, which we’ll cover soon, but the Nintendo DS offerings are fantastic.
Over The Nexus is set in the 5D era, with characters like Yusei Fudo leading the charge. The card game works great with the console’s dual screens, with one showing the card description while the other displays the playfield.
Surprisingly, Over the Nexus boasts superb story-driven content.There’s a 3D world to explore, and you’re more than just a faceless, nameless protagonist.If you’re into your Yu-Gi-Oh! games, you’ll know we’re lucky to get a story at all, and it’s far better here than you’d expect.
Over the Nexus is the final World Championship game on the system, but the previous two, Stardust Accelerator and Reverse of Arcadia, are also worth playing.
2Yu-Gi-Oh! Tag Force 5
A Personal Favorite
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Tag Force 5
The Tag Force games are easily my favorite way to play Yu-Gi-Oh!, and they only got better with later entries. The only problem is you’ll need a Sony PSP to play them.
All of the Tag Force games are decent, but I’ll be talking about the latest entry (for English speakers, at least), Tag Force 5.The title is set in the 5D era, and while tag dueling is the gimmick, you can solo duel for most of it.There are thousands of cards available with an addictive currency system.
You earn DP by winning duels and can spend that on booster packs. You unlock more boosters by dueling with different characters from the show, andthe game follows traditional YGO rules. Honestly, I can’t think of a better way to enjoy the franchise, but Tagforce 5 came out in 2010, and the game has evolved since then.
1Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
Why Maxx C, Though?!
Yu-Gi-Oh: Master Duel
I’m not a fan of online TCG monetization, but there’s no denying thatMaster Duel is the best way to play in the modern era. The game has a fantastically healthy player base and a current ban list.
Master Duel is a great resource to learn Yu-Gi-Oh! and a brilliant simulation of the TCG using official rules.Like most F2P games, Master Duel showers you with currency at the start. Pros can throw a decent deck together early, although the system arguably punishes new players.
For example, I threw together a meme ‘Train’ deck because I knew what I wanted and planned accordingly. New players won’t have that luxury, but there’s no denying the amount of content available and endless possibilities withdeckbuilding.
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