As a teenager there was little I enjoyed more than playing Yu-Gi-Oh with my best friend. Many a sleepover was spent summoning Dark Magicians late into the night, be it with our physical decks or in video game form. It truly was a wonderful time, and those years of Yu-Gi-Oh are likely the reason I love card games so much today. As life moved forward though I struggled to make time for spell and trap cards alongside work, education and (ahem) wild and crazy parties, and this teenage obsession faded away. There was only so long that was going to happen though, and the nostalgia bug came back for a cheeky nibble a few years ago.
I’m not sure how the YouTube algorithm knew to recommend me Yu-Gi-Oh content one fateful day, and I’m not sure what prompted me to click the video, but watching Team APS battle with old structure decks I used to own filled me with joy. I was brought crashing back into a world long forgotten, and thanks to a wealth of retro Yu-Gi-Oh content from YouTubers like MBT and Cimo I was back.
Despite my excitement there was a problem with my grand return to Yu-Gi-Oh. The game had evolved in so many ways that I no longer understood how to play. As a youngster I knew how to fuse and synchro summon with the best of them, but suddenly phrases like pendulum scaling and XYZs were being thrown around and I had no idea what was going on. I tried over and over again to watch people play modern Yu-Gi-Oh and try to learn about these mechanics, and nothing ever stuck. It seemed like this wonderful Trading Card Game was still lost to me, and I was going to be left behind as a Yu-Gi Boomer forever.
No. Not again. I don’t want to lose Yu-Gi-Oh. If the current generation of preteens can learn to duel in 2025 then so can this old dog. And so began my quest, to find the best way to get started with Yu-Gi-Oh in 2025. There are a surprising amount of routes you can take into this hobby nowadays, and from physical routes to digital I tried a whole bunch of them. I won’t pretend that I’m suddenly a master of all the decks this card game has to offer now, but I can securely say that I understand Yu-Gi-Oh now and won’t stop playing anytime soon. Hopefully this feature will help you get into Yu-Gi-Oh too, whether you’re a lapsed fan or a newcomer.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection
Before I even knew I was going to write this, I reviewed Early Days Collection for LootLevelChill. As someone who had played a lot of these games before, this collection was the perfect refresher course for my rusty dueling skills. For newcomers it’s also a great way to be introduced to the very basic mechanics of the game. Without all the complex newer summoning mechanics you’ll be able to play around with basic monsters and more simple elements like tribute summoning and fusion.
There are few things you’ll need to be aware of if you’re using Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection as an educational tool though. In terms of ease of access this isn’t a free to play game like some of the other games I’ll be talking about today, so you’ll have to take the plunge and actually purchase it. It also features a lot of games that will offer no help in your quest for knowledge, like the older games that don’t use real TCG mechanics or the spinoffs that aren’t even card games. As a first step on this journey it’s hard to deny how helpful this collection is, and I got dozens of hours of fun out of it too.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
This was the missing piece of the puzzle I needed to get into modern Yu-Gi-Oh. Duel Links is a free to play game that is available on iOS, Android and PC, which also runs like a dream on Steam Deck if that’s your preference too. Duel Links goes through all the different generations of the Yu-Gi-Oh anime, and it does introduces all the different mechanics they add to the game. Duels are faster than in standard Yu-Gi-Oh which takes a bit of getting used to and the field is smaller, but this doesn’t really change how much it helps teach you about the TCG as a whole.
With loads of AI duellists to take on, thousands of cards to collect and even the option to take the fight online, you could easily put thousands of hours into Duel Links if it gets its hooks into you. The game is constantly evolving and adding new content and events too. They even hold World Championships for Duel Links specifically, so it’s not even like you’re playing a lesser game. The only issue I had with Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links was getting used to all the different free to play currencies and quests. This is pretty much the case with all free to play games though, and as a bonus I’ve played for over twenty hours currently without ever feeling the need to spend money on cards. If you want to get fast access to specific meta decks you’ll have to splash the cash, but you’re offered plenty of other options to play around with regardless.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
Master Duel is the perfect digital version of the Yu-Gi-Oh trading card game that fans have wanted for years, and as such is pretty beloved. It’s also the game that made me give up on Yu-Gi-Oh altogether when I tried it a few years ago. This is a complex modern Yu-Gi-Oh simulation that doesn’t hold your hand. It does feature some tutorials, but once they’re done you’ll be thrown into battles with one of three complex starter decks against other players. It is a sensational game, but it should not be anywhere close to the first stop on your Yu-Gi-Oh journey. Or if it is you’ll need some extra help from YouTube videos at the very least.
Despite me saying this though, Master Duel is incredible. I now finally understand the game enough to play it, and perhaps those who stuck with Yu-Gi-Oh long enough in the past would find it easier to jump into than I did. There are a ton of options like rental decks and cheap structure decks to ensure you don’t have to pump stacks of cash into the game when you first start either, and since launch there has been a ton of solo content added too that’s nice for beginners. Whether you try to climb the ladder to the highest level of play or just want to use daft decks against your mates, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is a great game to dive into once you’ve got some experience under your belt.
The physical Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game
Above all other options, the best way to get into Yu-Gi-Oh is to learn from real people who already love the game. Much like when I was a youngun, playing against someone in person is just a magical experience. It’s not the same as playing against sweaty randoms online, you get to laugh at ridiculous moments, beg to be spared an extra turn, and depending on who you’re playing with they’ll likely be happy to teach someone about their beloved hobby too.
Obviously this is the hardest of the options to actually find, but it’s not impossible. We live in an age where most decently sized cities have board game cafes (there are two within walking distance here and Stoke is basically a ghost town) and these will usually be full of TCG fans. If you find out they have a specific Yu-Gi-Oh night then head on down. Even without a deck I’ve seen people given spares to borrow so they can join in, because there’s nothing better for a friendly nerd than getting the chance to share their hobby.
No matter which route you take, Yu-Gi-Oh has something for everyone to enjoy right now. Whether you want to play old school, real life or digital there are thousands upon thousands out there who want the same, and the community at large is incredibly welcoming. I’m so glad I gave Yu-Gi-Oh another chance and am back into this wonderful hobby, so don’t be intimidated and before you know it you’ll be the King of Games.
