History TabletopGame / MagicTheGathering

* ''VideoGame/MagicTheGathering'': A 1997 CardBattleGame by Creator/MicroProse. It contained both a free-dueling mode, allowing you to build decks and battle them against AI opponents, and a campaign mode, where you could travel across the land of Shandalar exploring, dueling enemies, collecting cards, and eventually battling a BigBad. Notable in that when the game was in DevelopmentHell, Creator/SidMeier was brought in to give it more focus.

* ''VideoGame/MagicTheGathering'': A 1997 CardBattleGame by {{MicroProse}}. It contained both a free-dueling mode, allowing you to build decks and battle them against AI opponents, and a campaign mode, where you could travel across the land of Shandalar exploring, dueling enemies, collecting cards, and eventually battling a BigBad. Notable in that when the game was in DevelopmentHell, Creator/SidMeier was brought in to give it more focus.

* ''VideoGame/DuelsOfThePlaneswalkers'': A more modern adaptation available on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 The Playstation Store]], XBox Live Arcade and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, originally released in 2009. It has received {{Numbered Sequel}}s in summer of each succeeding year, coinciding with new Core Set releases, and Wizards are [[InvokedTrope deliberately]] positioning it as their GatewaySeries to new players.

''Magic: The Gathering'' is a CollectibleCardGame, produced in 1993 by WizardsOfTheCoast (eventually the owners of that other great geek game, ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''). It was the first true {{Collectible Card Game}}[[note]]previous attempts mostly involved baseball cards[[/note]], the GenrePopularizer, and [[LongRunner even today]] it is one of the most popular card games in the world.

Each game is a duel between powerful mages (the players) known as "planeswalkers." Planeswalkers deploy a wide array of spells, SummonMagic, [[LostTechnology artifacts]] and enchantments (all represented by cards) as they vie to dominate [[TheMultiverse entire realms ("planes")]]--or, [[WatsonianVersusDoylist if you prefer]], to reduce the opponent's [[HitPoints life total]] to zero. Notable gameplay elements include:

** ''Magic: The Gathering Arena'': On July 2017, Wizards announced that they would no longer update ''Magic Duels'' in preparation for a new FreeToPlay game named ''Magic: The Gathering Arena''. It appears to take a lot of cues from ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft'' in terms of visual styling. Its announcement suggests that it is also being positioned to deprecate ''Magic Online'', causing some skepticism from the fandom.

Each game is a duel between powerful mages (the players) known as "planeswalkers." Planeswalkers deploy a wide array of spells, creatures, artifacts, and enchantments (all represented by cards) as they vie to dominate [[TheMultiverse entire realms ("planes")]]--or, [[WatsonianVersusDoylist if you prefer]], to reduce the opponent's [[HitPoints life total]] to zero. Notable gameplay elements include:

* The {{Mana}} system: To cast spells, players need the correct amount and color of mana, is gained from Land cards... but you can only play one Land per turn. At a stroke, this brings the AwesomeButImpractical and LimitedMoveArsenal tropes into the game (more powerful spells cost lots of mana, and decks with too many colors risk drawing the wrong lands and being unable to play their current hand of spells).
* It's "[[CollectibleCardGame collectible]]": You assemble decks out of your personal collection of cards. This gives you a chance to create a deck that no one else on earth has. (And of course, it encourages you to buy more cards.)

** ''Magic: The Gathering Arena'': On July 2017, Wizards announced that they would no longer update ''Magic Duels'' in preparation for a new FreeToPlay game named ''Magic: The Gathering Arena''.

* ''VideoGame/MagicTheGathering'': A 1997 CardBattleGame by {{MicroProse}}. It contained both a free-dueling mode, allowing you to build decks and battle them against AI opponents, and a campaign mode, where you could travel across the land of Shandalar exploring, dueling enemies, collecting cards, and eventually battling a BigBad.

->''You are a planeswalker...''

'''''Magic: The Gathering''''' is a CollectibleCardGame, produced in 1993 by WizardsOfTheCoast (eventually the owners of that other great geek game, ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''). It was the first true {{Collectible Card Game}}[[note]]previous attempts mostly involved baseball cards[[/note]], the GenrePopularizer, and [[LongRunner even today]] it is one of the most popular card games in the world.

* The {{Mana}} system: To play their cards, players need the correct amount and color of mana, gained from land cards. At a stroke, this brings the AwesomeButImpractical and LimitedMoveArsenal tropes into the game (more powerful spells cost lots of mana, and decks with too many colors risk drawing the wrong lands and being unable to play any of their cards).

* ''VideoGame/DuelsOfThePlaneswalkers'': A more modern adaptation available on [[{{PS3}} The Playstation Store]], XBox Live Arcade and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, originally released in 2009. It has received {{Numbered Sequel}}s in summer of each succeeding year, coinciding with new Core Set releases, and Wizards are [[InvokedTrope deliberately]] positioning it as their GatewaySeries to new players.
* ''Magic The Gathering Tactics'': A 2011 TurnBasedStrategy for PC and PlayStation3 inspired by ''Magic''. The gameplay bears little to no resemblance to the original card game, but the flavor of it is retained.

* ''VideoGame/DuelsOfThePlaneswalkers'': A more modern adaptation available on [[{{PS3}} The Playstation Store]], XBox Live Arcade and {{Steam}}, originally released in 2009. It has received {{Numbered Sequel}}s in summer of each succeeding year, coinciding with new Core Set releases, and Wizards are [[InvokedTrope deliberately]] positioning it as their GatewaySeries to new players.

'''''Magic: The Gathering''''' is a CollectibleCardGame, produced in 1993 by WizardsOfTheCoast (eventually the owners of that other great geek game, ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''). It was the first true {{Collectible Card Game}}[[note]]previous attempts mostly involved baseball cards and the clunky, photo art filled, and not fun Dungeons and Dragons based CCG Spellfire[[/note]], the GenrePopularizer, and [[LongRunner even today]] it is one of the most popular card games in the world.

* ''VideoGame/MagicTheGatheringTactics'': A 2011 TurnBasedStrategy for PC and PlayStation3 inspired by ''Magic''. The gameplay bears little to no resemblance to the original card game, but the flavor of it is retained.

* The {{Mana}} system: To play their cards, players need the correct amount and color of mana, gained from land cards. At a stroke, this builds AwesomeButImpractical (more-powerful spells cost lots of mana) and LimitedMoveArsenal (decks with too many colors risk drawing the wrong lands and being unable to play any of their cards) straight into the game.

At the core of each deck is a duel between god-like wizards, the players themselves, known as "planeswalkers." Planeswalkers deploy a wide array of spells, creatures, artifacts, and enchantments (all represented by cards) as they vie to dominate [[TheMultiverse entire realms ("planes")]]--or, [[WatsonianVersusDoylist if you prefer]], to reduce the opponent's [[HitPoints life total]] to zero. Notable gameplay elements include:

''Magic: The Gathering'' is a CollectibleCardGame, produced in 1993 by WizardsOfTheCoast (eventually the owners of that other great geek game, ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''). It was the first true {{Collectible Card Game}}[[note]]previous attempts mostly involved baseball cards and the clunky, photo art filled, and not fun Dungeons and Dragons based CCG Spellfire[[/note]], the GenrePopularizer, and [[LongRunner even today]] it is one of the most popular card games in the world.

At the core of each deck is a duel between god-like wizards - the players themselves, who are described in game parlance as "planeswalkers." These planeswalkers deploy a wide array of spells, creatures, artifacts, and enchantments (all represented by cards) as they vie to dominate [[TheMultiverse entire realms ("planes")]]--or, [[WatsonianVersusDoylist if you prefer]], to reduce the opponent's [[HitPoints life total]] to zero. Notable gameplay elements include:

''Magic: The Gathering'' is a CollectibleCardGame, produced in 1993 by WizardsOfTheCoast (eventually the owners of that other great geek game, ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''). It was the first true {{Collectible Card Game}}[[note]]previous attempts mostly involved baseball cards[[/note]], the GenrePopularizer, and [[LongRunner even today]] it is one of the most popular card games in the world.

''Magic: The Gathering'' is a CollectibleCardGame, produced in 1993 by WizardsOfTheCoast (eventually the owners of that other great geek game, ''DungeonsAndDragons''). It was the first true {{Collectible Card Game}}[[note]]previous attempts mostly involved baseball cards[[/note]], the GenrePopularizer, and [[LongRunner even today]] it is one of the most popular card games in the world.

[-[[caption-width-right:275:The standard ''Magic'' card back. Its design is meant to represent the cover of a SpellBook.]]-]

* ''VideoGame/MagicTheGatheringBattlegrounds'': A 2003 title for the {{Xbox}} and PC inspired by ''Magic''. The gameplay bears very little resemblance - featuring dynamic battles instead of the usual card game - but much of the flavor is retained.

* ''VideoGame/MagicTheGatheringTactics'': A 2011 TurnBasedStrategy for PC and PlayStation3 inspired by ''Magic''. Like ''Battlegrounds'' above, it foregoes the traditional gameplay in favor of a unique style.

* ''VideoGame/MagicTheGatheringTactics'': A 2011 TurnBasedStrategy for PC and PlayStation3 inspired by ''Magic''. The gameplay bears little to no resemblance, but much of the flavor is retained.

At the core of each deck is a duel between god-like wizards - the players themselves, who are described in game parlance as "planeswalkers." These planeswalkers deploy a wide array of spells, creatures, artifacts, and enchantments (IE, cards) as they vie to dominate [[TheMultiverse entire realms ("planes")]]--or, [[WatsonianVersusDoylist if you prefer]], to reduce the opponent's [[HitPoints life total]] to zero. Notable gameplay elements include:

The game has even inspired entire comics based on it, like [[http://cardboard-crack.com/ Cardboard Crack]], which takes its name from the game's [[CrackIsCheaper addictive nature]].

* It's "[[CollectibleCardGame collectible]]": You assemble decks out of your personal collection of cards. This gives you a chance to create a deck that no one else on earth has. (And of course, it encourages you to [[CrackIsCheaper buy more cards]].)

* ''Magic: the Gathering'': A 1997 CardBattleGame by {{MicroProse}}. It contained both a free-dueling mode, allowing you to build decks and battle them against AI opponents, and a campaign mode, where you could travel across the land of Shandalar exploring, dueling enemies, collecting cards, and eventually battling a BigBad.
* ''Duels of the Planeswalkers'': A more modern adaptation available on [[{{PS3}} The Playstation Store]], XBox Live Arcade and {{Steam}}, originally released in 2009. It has received {{Numbered Sequel}}s in summer of each succeeding year, coinciding with new Core Set releases, and Wizards are [[InvokedTrope deliberately]] positioning it as their GatewaySeries to new players.
* ''Magic: the Gathering: Tactics'': A 2011 TurnBasedStrategy for PC and PlayStation3 inspired by ''Magic''. The gameplay bears little to no resemblance, but much of the flavor is retained.
* ''Magic: the Gathering Online'': The official program for playing the game online.