Yu-Gi-Oh! has been around for almost 25 years now, and the new Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel looks like a culmination of everything the franchise has done. While the manga’s original run has since ended, video games and trading card game continue to be massive hits. With over 50 Yu-Gi-Oh! games released in half as many years, it is incredible to see how a franchise that started as a manga has grown into one of the most dominant card games on the planet.

Yu-Gi-Oh! consistently sells some of the most cards in the world, even as it is rivaled by both Magic the Gathering and Pokemon. Even still, the series’ video games continue to be highly anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed by fans. The recent new game announcement has left a lot of people hyped, but for some this might be their first foray into the series in a while. There are some excellent titles to start with before jumping into Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel.

RELATED: Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Platforms and Gameplay Details Announced

Legacy of the Duelist

Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution might be one of the most complete Yu-Gi-Oh! experiences to date. The game was released on the Nintendo Switch a little over two years ago and does an excellent job at connecting much of Yu-Gi-Oh! history. The game’s campaign focuses on the unique story arcs used throughout the different Yu-Gi-Oh! anime, from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series up to VRAINS.

All of these stories have the option to play with a personal deck or a recommended deck that the character for that duel used. The main story mode is also split between whichever characters were partaking in the specific duel. This allows players to work through classic encounters like some of Yugi’s duels with Kaiba as either duelist.

The game’s inclusion of Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS also makes it a solid jumping-off point for fans of the franchise that might not have played the card game, or any Yu-Gi-Oh! game for that matter, in a while. The rules used in VRAINS do change the game with the introduction of Link Monsters. Link Monsters can amp up the fast-paced blitzing the players use and make for some impressive plays.

Bidding on Yu-Gi-Oh Card Shenanigans

Another great option for fans is Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links. The game is mostly optimized as a mobile title, but its Steam accessibility could make it a great Steam Deck option. Its mobile nature changes the traditional card game format that many fans are used to and limits a lot of the field. While some might see this as a hindrance to fast-paced gameplay, it has some pros.

Firstly, it allows for a few different play styles that are not exclusive to swarming the field. Field swarming can still be an incredibly useful tactic, but the reduced space means players will have to think carefully about where cards will go. The game has also featured several in-game events and activities that boost the rate at which cards are acquired or introduce specialty ones. With its free-to-play focus, this makes it easy to play some Yu-Gi-Oh! before Master Duel releases without the need for any financial commitments.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is in development for Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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