We’ve been graced by many card games over the years. A lot of these card games follow a similar strategy and gameplay and have provided us with entertainment to last us years. From the Pokémon Trading Card game to Yu-Gi-Oh, there are a lot of quality trading card games out there to choose from but the one game that has stuck out as a favorite for many is Magic the Gathering. Magic the Gathering was released in 1993 at the Origins Game Fair in Dallas, Texas and it was an instant success. It was such a big hit that it immediately sold out what was thought to be a year’s supply of cards. Its popularity only continued to grow, and it is now one of the biggest trading card games worldwide.
Online Coverage
Magic the Gathering initially went online in 2002 after a lot of preparation. This was very early compared to many of the other TCG games and card games in general. Only recently have we seen multiplayer online card games gaining traction, and this even includes online casinos like www.novibet.co.uk. Since they had quite an early start in the area, the computer geeks got into the MTG scene a lot sooner, at a time where other online options were scarce.
Universe
Magic the gathering has built a massive universe for its cards filled with majestic planes and rich characters. The champions or planeswalkers of MTG are a diverse set of characters all with deep storylines within the universe, that keep expanding throughout the years as the game keeps growing. The worlds of MTG are filled with an unprecedented amount of monsters that fall into different species and magic categories. All of this is reflected in the cards and the gameplay itself.
Complexity
Magic the gathering is the first trading card game to bring to the front depth and complexity that had not been seen before. The game requires lots of planning, strategy and critical thinking on your part to bring your opponent to their knees and win the duel. Compared to other card games at the time which primarily targeted children, this gave a larger audience the chance to appreciate what it offered.
Social Aspect
Magic the gathering brings people together and that’s a fact. You can’t play a trading card game by yourself. Even when playing the online variant, albeit limited, there is some form of communication between players (read about the benefits of online games here.
The MTG community is huge, and the fans regularly get the opportunity to meet each other at private events organized by fans themselves or at game and fantasy conventions.
It’s well known by now that many classic card games are great stimulants for keeping the brain healthy. The same applies to magic the gathering. The gameplay in itself is challenging enough to stimulate higher cognitive functions. This combined with the social aspect of the game and the rich story background could help with keeping the brain on alert and might be and an additional plus for a regular player’s mental health in the long run.