A Mobile Future for CCGs

From their early history as trading card games in 1904, collectable card games have enjoyed a constant uptick in popularity. Now played more than ever, a huge number of CCGs from every genre means there’s something for everyone, but this popularity can also act as a double-edge Sword of Revealing Light.

The physical state of CCGs produces twofold challenges. The first is found in the number of cards players accrue, and the second is in finding others to match against. Both of these can seriously affect a player's enjoyment of a game, and both can be effectively managed through new digital approaches. With that in mind, we want to explore these challenges in more detail, and the mobile solutions that illustrate a developing new and helpful way to play.

"Magic the Gathering Collector Cards"  CC BY-SA 2.0 by mikecogh

In some of the most important ways, CCGs are a lot like books. Nothing beats the feeling of holding them in your hand and combining their use with the tactile pleasure of a great piece in action. Also, like books, CCGs can be inconvenient, bulky, and prone to damage if used constantly. This might not be an issue if you're starting out, but for longtime players who enjoy many different games, storing, sorting, and carrying your cards can be a real hassle.

Just because CCGs are more popular than ever, that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to find someone to play against. If you live in a city like New York, a search on a website like Meetup could produce an enormous number of matches, but such a density of competition is rare. Even if your local area has a CCG scene, your game of choice might be too niche to be popular, or the skill levels might be too different for engaging play.

Modern mobiles act as a powerful solution in CCG challenges as they have for many other industries. Perhaps the most relatable is the landscape of online casinos, which have seen significant advantages and changes when moving to the mobile space. Free bet online casinos for mobile like Betfair and Paddy Power bring the already convenient PC gaming opportunities anywhere with an internet connection. Adding another layer of accessibility and convenience alongside bonuses like free spins and deposit matches, the mobile approach rapidly became a successful form of access for millions of players.

In CCGs, the advantages of mobile play start with removing traditional storage or damage concerns to cards. Mobiles can let you store thousands of cards in online accounts, with superior sorting options and no risk of card damage. Finding somebody to play with is also much easier thanks to global matchmaking systems. Not only can you track down an opponent from anywhere with an internet connection, but you can also be confident that the player you face is of similar skill thanks to matchmaking solutions.

"Favourite Cardgame" CC BY-SA 2.0 by tsuihin - TimoStudios

With the age of folding phones now reaching the mainstream, CCGs on the go have never been better, but that doesn’t make them a replacement for physical play. Rather, we hope they illustrate an alternative that can provide new opportunities. Whether you prefer Pokémon, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh, or anything else out there, the town really is big enough for everyone, at least as long as they play by the rules.