Magic: The Gathering
- Players
- 2-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 20 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 13+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.3 / 5
- Year
- 1993
About the game
Magic: The Gathering is the original collectible card game, in which players take on the role of planeswalkers dueling with decks built from spells, creatures, and lands representing their magical arsenal. Players summon creatures, cast spells, and manage mana to reduce their opponent's life total to zero, with deck construction happening before the duel as a strategic layer all its own. With tens of thousands of unique cards released since 1993 spanning common to mythic rarity, the game supports countless formats from casual kitchen-table duels to high-level tournament play. Its intricate rules for reactive card play, known as "the stack," give it a depth that has sustained a devoted competitive community for decades.
Hobbli's Notes
Magic: The Gathering is the granddaddy of collectible card games for a reason: few games offer this much strategic depth in deck construction alone, let alone in actual play. It scales from a casual two-player kitchen-table duel all the way to serious tournament competition, which is part of why it has endured for so long. The catch is the collecting: staying competitive or simply keeping up with new cards can become a real financial commitment over time.
What we like
- The deck-building possibilities are virtually limitless across decades of cards.
- Strategic and tactical depth rewards long-term mastery.
- A huge card pool supports many formats for different budgets and playstyles.
- Both casual and competitive communities remain active and thriving.
Keep in mind
- Collecting cards to stay competitive can become expensive.
- New players face a steep learning curve navigating rules and card interactions.
- Power creep across the card pool can complicate deck-building decisions.
- Playing well requires deck preparation and planning outside of the game itself.
Who it's for
Appeals to strategy and card-game fans ages 13+, from casual duelists to competitive tournament players, in games of 2 or more.
