YuGiOh

Yu-Gi-Oh! is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by Kazuki Takahashi, centered on a fictional card game called Duel Monsters and a real-world trading card game. It began as a manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1996 and expanded into an anime series, films, video games, and a wide range of merchandise. The trading card game was launched in 1999 by Konami and grew into one of the most popular collectible card games worldwide.

Gameplay centers on two players using a Deck of at least 40 cards to duel and reduce the opponent’s life points from 8000 to zero. Cards fall into Monster, Spell, and Trap types. Monster cards summon to the field to attack or defend, Spell cards provide ongoing or one-time effects, and Trap cards respond to threats with countermeasures. Players manage a board that includes zones for monsters and for spells and traps, along with zones for the Deck, Graveyard, and an Extra Deck that houses additional monster types such as Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, and Link monsters. Players perform normal or special summons and use various mechanics to bring powerful monsters into play. Competitive play is guided by a Forbidden and Limited List to balance formats and restrict card usage.

Tournaments and media have played a major role in its popularity. The franchise has produced multiple anime series, films, and a wide range of video games, along with official tournaments including world championships and regional events. Yu-Gi-Oh! has had a lasting impact on gaming culture and the broader trading card game market since its early 2000s expansion.