Collectible card games, also called trading card games, are a genre of card game wherein, instead of playing with a standard deck of cards, players could build their own decks by collecting and trading specially designed cards.
Collectible card games combine the competitive strategic game play of card games with the appeal of card collecting. Since its proper inception in the 90’s, the world of collectible card games have grown rapidly over the decades, with games like Magic- The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! and the Pokemon Trading Card Game amassing massive and loyal audiences across the globe.
Despite its origins as an analogue tabletop game between players, the concept of collectible card games have evolved and adapted to the modern age, with players and non-players alike finding new value in them.
Baseball cards
While the concept of trading cards can be traced as far back as the late 1800s, with the first printed baseball cards, the idea for trading cards made with the express purpose of being played in a game did not arise until as recently 1993, with the introduction of Magic - The Gathering.
The game was thought up by Richard Garfield, as a substitute to Dungeons and Dragons based on what he imagined it to be.
Though it ended up having very little in common with Dungeons and Dragons beyond visual and the matic similarities-Magic-The Gathering would go on to be very popular with the DnD community. Wizards of the Coast, the company that picked up Magic-The Gathering as its publisher would eventually become DnD’s publisher as well.
Though it underwent many iterations and evolutions since it was first created, Magic - The Gathering had many of the hallmark characteristics of what is understood to make up a traditional collectible card game.
Booster packs
Players could not have all the cards of Magic-The Gathering at once. With over 20,000 cards as of right now, and only being able to use 60 in a deck, players would have to buy a functional starter deck and then buy booster packs of random cards to customise it to their preference.
The rules and systems of the game were flexible, with card function having precedence over the rule, and rule sets as well as game formats being customizable from match to match.
The cards were also very appealing, with attractive designs based on high fantasy concepts, and some have stories and lore behind them to learn.
With new cards being released all the time, with new designs and card functions, collectible card games like Magic-The Gathering have practically infinite depth of play allowing the competitive scene behind it to always remain fresh.
One of the biggest reasons collectible card games became so ubiquitous is due to how the concept can be applied to existing intellectual properties and franchises.
Almost every large multi media franchise eventually tries its hand at a collectible card game, especially if it has a younger audience.
Star Wars, Elder Scrolls, World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, all have had major runs of collectible card games at certain points.
Wider appeal
However, the juggernaut of all collectible card games based on existing franchises, appropriately belongs to the single largest media franchise in the world, Pokemon. While Magic-The Gathering pioneered collectible card games and remains a cult classic among older card game fans, the Pokemon Trading Card Game had a much wider appeal amongst a much younger fan base thanks to the reach it already had through its other properties, such as its games and cartoons.
It has sold over 34 billion cards since its inception in 1996 and to this day has a strong mainstream presence. However, while the card game had a pretty strong competitive community, the cards themselves found a unique appeal amongst collectors, though this has brought on its own share of controversies.
While analogue card games have largely fallen out of mainstream popularity, this has not impacted collectible card games in the least.
Many of the lasting card games, like Magic the Gathering and YuGiOh! have made the leap into the digital, releasing many online and offline playable platforms that have many of the traditional appeals of analogue collectible card games.
Due to the very nature of collectible card games, once it has accumulated a significant community around it, it is likely to always remain relevant, enjoyable and profitable.