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Magic: The Gathering Arena
Magic: The Gathering - Arena is a free to play digital, collectible card game by Wizards of the Coast that places the players in the shoes of a powerful magic-user that can cast spells, summon creatures, and attack opposing players. Arena adds entire sets from the physical card game and features several modes/formats to play, including constructed...
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Magic: The Gathering Arena Reviews
Professional reviews from gaming critics
It would be a fool’s errand to review Magic: The Gathering. The mother of all card games has been going strong for over 25 years, all the while increasing in complexity. It is like chess, only each player brings their own set of pieces. Even when limited to the Standard environment, a place where only the last handful of sets are legal, there are endless possibilities and hundreds of bespoke cards to consider. This type of game has traditionally been difficult to translate to the digital realm in a way that made sense. From beginner-focused products to a truly insane Xbox strategy game, there ...
Magic: The Gathering has had numerous digital incarnations over the years. However, they’ve all fallen short of the core game’s appeal in different ways – whether it was Duels’ lack of staying power or Magic: The Gathering Online’s exclusive focus on hardcore players and a 1:1 pricing with physical model. With Magic: The Gathering Arena, there’s finally a Magic product that truly embraces the digital age, offering both casual fun and competitive card-slinging.
Magic: The Gathering Arena is an absolutely brilliant recreation of Magic only held back by Wizards of the Coast’s monetization strategy and some unfinished business. With more of an open mind toward new modes of play (plus ways to keep your old cards relevant) and a better client, this could be the definitive way to play the best card game in the world for the foreseeable future.
Magic: The Gathering Arena is a fantastic effort when it comes to bringing the grandmaster of trading card games to the digital world, and while it's been done many times before, this finally feels like a great and modern way to translate the game into a modern hub for players who want to take their game online and conquer other players. It's certainly my favorite digital Magic game since 1998's Magic: The Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers, and I surmise it may become your favorite, too.
You can’t beat the feeling of playing Magic with cardboard in your hands. Still, Arena presents a slick realisation in digital form, and one that should suit both old hands and newcomers.
The adaptation the CCG originator deserves.