7 great Yu-Gi-Oh games to discover and play

Released in 1996 in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, Yu-Gi-Oh! is a series that started without the main element for which it is known to this day: its card game. Introduced as a temporary thing by creator Kazuki Takahashi, it became so popular that to this day it inspires new physical collections and a generous amount of games.

Given the series’ popularity and longevity, it has become the subject of many adaptations that played with rules, introduced new elements, and helped fans around the world stay connected. Today more accessible than ever, the franchise also has older experiences that are still worth checking out. Check out our selection!

7. You-Gi-Oh! Master Duel (2022)

Plataformas: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam), Android e iOS

When talking about Yu-Gi-Oh! games, it’s hard not to recognize how much good Master Duel did for the series. Released in 2022, the title is not only a faithful reproduction of the physical card game, but also features one of the most impressive visual presentations in the entire history of the franchise.

Adopting a free to play format, it allows you to spend your money to build your deck, but the options unlocked for free already offer good fun, especially for those who are more casual. While it may take a while to receive more current cards, there isn’t much to complain about the game in general.

6. Yu-Gi-Oh! Tag Force 5 (2010)

Platforms: PSP

Quite popular in the early 2000s, the Tag Force series stood out for allowing battles to be carried out both alone and with a partner. When the game debuted in 2010, it represented the pinnacle of the series in terms of its rules and presentation.

The title has stood the test of time well, and is worth checking out for reasons that go beyond pure nostalgia. While Yu-Gi-Oh! Tag Force 5 is the latest in the franchise, it’s worth getting to know the first titles in the series, which bring a similar story to the anime and allow you to be a student at the Duel School, adding layers of RPG and exploration to the gameplay.

5. Yu-Gi-Oh! The Eternal Duelist Soul (2002)

Plataformas: Game Boy Advance

Although it quickly exploded in popularity in Japan, the series took a few years to catch on in the West, which also affected game releases. One of the first to receive a respectful adaptation was the Game Boy Advance, with a very good experience for its time: The Eternal Duelist Soul.

For many who followed the anime, this was the game that taught the real rules of the physical card game, which at the time was difficult to find (and quite expensive). Although it has simple visuals and a limited card selection by today’s standards, it is still quite addictive and worth checking out.

4. Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories (2002)

Plataformas: PlayStation

Come on confess: this is a game that makes the list more for the nostalgia of the time it was released than for its qualities. It’s not that it’s bad — far from it — but the unique rules and lack of basic mechanics like polymerization make it a little complicated to understand what’s going on. However, its unique setting and opponents somewhat compensate for these problems.

3. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links (2017)

Platforms: Android, iOS and PC

Going back to a more recent moment in time, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links brought elements from the series to smartphones and PC in a very competent way. No wonder, it has already accumulated more than 100 million downloads around the world and continues to receive updates at a constant pace.

One of its strengths is its accessibility, allowing you to play quick matches with players around the world wherever you are. Despite having a generous amount of microtransactions, the title has an economy considered fair and matchmaking that guarantees that you won’t be run over by those who decided to spend a little more.

2. Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution (2015)

Plataformas: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC (Steam)

The first game in the series for the eighth generation of consoles, Legacy of the Duelist managed to break the curse of uninspired titles that marked the franchise for a few years. Bringing together distinct elements from its predecessors, the title stood out for allowing fans to play in their favorite ways without any limits.

At the same time as it is quite deep and brings modalities with rules that may seem conflicting with each other, the title also stands out for being accessible. If you want to learn about the series and thousands of cards, this is a great place to start even today.

1. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2011: Over the Nexus (2011)

While the Nintendo DS has a generous selection of games from the series, Over the Nexus represents the pinnacle of the franchise on the portable. With more than 4,000 cards at their disposal, players can enjoy a main mission that is very generous in challenges and has a surprising combo system.

At the same time, you can dedicate a lot of time to Duel Puzzles, which challenge you to combine cards in a slightly different way. To top it off, it is possible to duel against several characters from the anime, whose story is reproduced quite faithfully given the limits of the console.

And there, what is your opinion on Yu-Gi-Oh? Do you have a favorite game in the series? Take the opportunity to share your opinion about it on Voxel’s social networks!