TCG

Trading Card Game (TCG) refers to a genre of card games in which players build and customize decks from a personal collection to compete against others. The best-known example is Magic: The Gathering, released in 1993, which popularized deck-building, rarity-based card collection, and resource management. The term is often used interchangeably with collectible card game (CCG), though some players distinguish the two by emphasis on trading and collection.

Gameplay generally involves two players or teams who take turns drawing and playing cards to achieve victory, such as reducing an opponent’s life total to zero or fulfilling a specific objective. Most games use a resource system to enable playing higher-cost cards. Card types vary by game but commonly include creatures or monsters, spells or abilities, and artifacts or equipment.

Sets, formats, and play styles are central to TCGs. Cards are released in sets and obtained through booster packs, purchases, or trades. Formats include constructed, where players build decks from their own collections, and limited, where players assemble decks from a limited pool of cards obtained from booster packs via sealed or draft play.

Collectibility and markets are also defining features. Cards have rarities, and players trade to complete decks or acquire powerful or sought-after cards. A robust secondary market supports buying, selling, and trading.

Notable examples include Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon Trading Card Game, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game. Digital adaptations and online platforms exist for many TCGs, providing online play that mirrors the physical card games while expanding accessibility and competition.