Heart of the Cards
Since the 90s, gamers everywhere have been hooked on collectible card games. While many players still prefer physical trading cards, a whole new generation is discovering the joys of collectible card games on their mobile devices. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newcomer, we’re sure you’ll unwrap a shiny new game from the booster pack that is our list of the best iPhone card games.
15. Hearthstone
We’re starting off our list of the best iPhone card games with a staple in the card collecting genre of mobile games—Hearthstone. Set in Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft universe, Hearthstone features easy to learn mechanics and addictive matches. Players will choose a hero class and build a deck of class-specific and neutral cards to take into battle in one of the game’s many modes. During battle, you’ll summon minions and cast spells to outwit and outlast your opponent. Afterwards, use your gold winnings to purchase booster packs and unwrap new cards to add to your growing collection. With hundreds of cards to collect and endless possible decks to build, fans of strategy games will enjoy the depth of this excellent CCG.
Available in the App Store
14. Eternal Card Game
From Dire Wolf Digital comes a collectible card game where six-guns and sorcery collide. Eternal Card Game allows players to collect cards from an ever-expanding library and craft a deck with endless possibilities. Unlike most collectible card games, Eternal allows its players to unlock and use every single card for free over the course of playing the game’s different modes. Each card battle feels cinematic thanks to the game’s gorgeously animated battlefields, unique card effects and superb voice acting. Moreover, players can expect their strategic skills to be challenged by the game’s tactical AI, which was created with the help of professional TCG players. While Eternal seems especially suited for newer players, veteran card gamers will find plenty of challenges in this unique card game.
Available in the App Store
13. Urban Rivals World
Get ready to fight! Create your own gang and challenge players from all over the world for control of Clint City in Urban Rivals World from Acute Games. Collect and trade over 2,000 cards and counting from over 30 clans by winning (or purchasing) them and unleash hundreds of combinations of abilities and powers. Play casually with friends in Training and Free Fight modes or climb the ladder in PVP game modes Survivor, Tournament and EFC Leagues. Duels take less than four minutes to complete, allowing for quick bursts of play. After duels, level up and evolve your characters to unlock more powerful moves. Use your cards and strategy to show your foes just who runs this city.
Available in the App Store
12. Magic: The Gathering Arena
Join the planeswalkers and enter the multiverse in Magic: The Gathering Arena. Collect tons of cards featuring iconic characters, spells and artifacts from the franchise’s storied past and present. Build decks and duel other players from across the realms on beautifully designed battlefields, while showing off cosmetics like avatars, card sleeves and pets. Participate in in-game events and play across a range of modes including causal matches or Esports qualifiers. New to the Wizards of the Coast trading card game? No worries. Magic: The Gathering Arena offers plenty of training to get you started. So, what’re you waiting for? Experience a Magic decades in the making.
Available in the App Store
11. Card Guardians: Deck Builder
The Guardians of Chaos have invaded the World of Valentia, corrupting all of its magical inhabitants. It’s up to you to cleanse the land of the dark magic’s influence. Part collectible card game, part roguelike RPG, Tapps Games’ Card Guardians: Deck Builder tasks players with building decks of collectible cards and facing off against monsters to save the World of Valentia. Players must choose a hero and use their cards strategically to discover the various realms. Along the way, they’ll explore dungeons, castles, forests and deserts while engaging in battle with monsters and powerful bosses. The more levels you advance, the more cards you’ll unlock. Discover if you have what it takes to restore Valentia to its former glory and complete your collection in this addictive CCG.
Available in the App Store
10. Little Alchemist: Remastered
The first of two Monumental games on our list of the best iPhone card games, Little Alchemist: Remastered combines card collecting and RPG mechanics. Players will assume the role of Master Alchemist and collect powerful spells to use against the villains terrorizing Little Town. When you’re not battling the forces of evil, take time to practice your strategies by challenging friends in the Arena. Collect over 1,300 spell cards featuring hundreds of spell types including Superheroes, Wizards, Vampires and Rainbows. Then use your collection of spell cards to cast over 6,000 possible combos. With all of those spells at your disposal, your enemies don’t stand a chance.
Available in the App Store
9. Storm Wars CCG
Build a deck without limits and explore the world of Atlantea in Storm Wars CCG from Monumental. The game features lightning-fast, automated matches that allow players to control how long they watch battles play out. Recruit and choose from 30 powerful heroes from six distinct races and experience the story of this fantasy world in the extended single-player campaign. Once you’ve learned the history of Atlantea and feel familiar with the gameplay, enter PVP ranked matches in the Arena. Face off against opponents from around the world in daily tournaments or challenge friends directly. Climb the leaderboards solo or link up with players from your guild to reign supreme. With hundreds of cards to collect, equipment slots and other features to consider, players will have nearly limitless strategic options.
Available in the App Store
8. Card Crawl
From indie developer Arnold Rauers comes Card Crawl—a collectible card dungeon crawler. This beautifully illustrative crawler features four single-player game modes, with matches lasting around two to three minutes. Players will clear dungeons of 54 cards by using collectible item cards, slaying monsters and managing a limited inventory. During each run, you’ll use five ability cards to build a mini deck and gain unique skills. After matches, collect gold and unlock 35 additional ability cards to access new strategies and higher scores. Compare scores, decks and achievements with your friends via Apple’s Game Center to determine who’s the greatest dungeon crawler.
Available in the App Store
7. Legends of Runeterra
Collect cards featuring iconic champions and allies from Riot Games’ League of Legends universe and outplay your opponents in Legends of Runeterra. Matches feature dynamic, alternating gameplay, meaning that both players can react and change strategies on the fly. Players craft decks by choosing from dozens of champions with abilities inspired by their LoL origins, as well as spells and allies.
In PVE, you’ll choose a region to explore and unlock your choice of cards as you advance. Over the course of those matches, you can experiment with interactions between champions, allies and regions and use those synergies to your advantage. Once a week, you’ll unlock chests from the Vault, which contain cards ranging from common to champion. The more you play across the game’s various modes, the more the rarity of these cards increases. While Legends of Runterra is completely free to play, players unwilling to wait for certain cards can unlock those through purchase.
Available in the App Store
6. Cards, Universe & Everything
Embrace the absurd and do battle against anything and everything from across the Universe in VirtTrade’s Cards, Universe & Everything. Nicknamed CUE Cards, each of the game’s over 4,000 cards features a random thing (and trivia) from the across universe. Cards can be anything from Saturn to the Honey Badger to Leonardo Di Vinci. Build a deck of your favorite things and duel with players from around the globe in arenas. Collect cards from daily rewards or participate in giveaways or weekly events. Players can even craft cards using secret recipes or fuse duplicates to make even more powerful cards. Use strategy to create crazy combos like Quantum Leap and Ace of Spies to defeat your opponent and climb the leaderboard. While the game’s still a few trillion things off from featuring a card for everything, new cards are added daily.
Available in the App Store
5. Mythrel
Enter a mystical realm just beyond Earth in Mythrel from Legend Games Limited. Collect over 120 unique cards featuring different species, spells and equipment and build a deck to dominate your opponents. Unwrap booster packs and trade any extras with a friend. Play against others from across the realm in a variety of modes including the Gauntlet, the Vortex and Tranquil. There’s also a highly competitive Weekly League that allows players to earn limited-edition promotional cards. For players who can’t quite get enough of Mythrel, the trading card game also comes in a physical edition.
Available in the App Store
4. GWENT: The Witcher Card Game
Command Geralt, Yennifer and all of your other favorites from the iconic Witcher series in fast-paced card duels in GWENT from CD Projekt. Collect beautifully hand-drawn cards while you play in Classic, Seasonal and Arena modes. Players will draw ten cards from their deck at the start of the match and can immediately play any card. You’ll place cards in two rows—melee and ranged—and use spells and special abilities to amass points each round. The player with the most points in two out of three rounds wins. While the game sounds simple, there’s plenty of room for strategy thanks to the variety of cards and freedom of choice during gameplay.
Available in the App Store
3. Warhammer Horus Heresy: Legions
Discover the brutal origins of Warhammer 40,000 in Warhammer Horus Heresy: Legions from Everguild. Traitorous Legions wage war on the Emperor. Choose which Legion you’ll support as you collect cards and create a deck of Space Marines. Strategize and challenge the solo campaign, ranked PVP or PVP Arena and experience Warhammer 40,000’s most heinous civil war. Influence which new cards, Legions and cosmetics are added to the game by participating in Faction Wars. What are you waiting for? Join this thriving collectible card game community and become a legendary warrior.
Available in the App Store
2. Marvel Snap
This multi-award-winning, fast-paced collectible card game rounds off our number two spot on our list of the best iPhone card games. Assemble a team of heroes and villains from across the Marvel Multiverse and battle against other players in Marvel Snap from Nuverse. Build a deck of 12 cards and face opponents in matches lasting a mere three minutes. To emerge victorious, players will need to have the highest power at two out of three iconic Marvel locations. New players will receive a free starter deck and unlock more cards as they play. Along the way, they’ll also unlock plenty of resources and cosmetics, including stylish variants of the cards they already own. To make battles more intense, players can Snap and double the number of Cosmic Cubes they’ll win from matches. Snap carefully because if you lose, you’ll give up twice the number of Cubes. Yikes!
Available in the App Store
1. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
It’s time to d-d-d-d-duel! The definitive edition of the ever-evolving collectible card game takes the top spot on our list of the best iPhone card games. With over 10,000 cards, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel from Konami makes the full experience of the 90s CCG accessible to players of any skill level. Simply complete the in-game tutorial and you’ll be awarded a deck to start you on your dueling journey. Players interested in the stories behind the legendary card game can play the Solo Mode, which guides players through the storylines of the themes from the TCG series. Of course, you can also challenge other Duelists and participate in a rotating variety of events and tournaments. Need deck-building tips? Check out deck lists from other Duelists and keep track of the huge library of cards via the Neuron card database.
Available in the App Store
What do you think of our list of the best iPhone card games? Did we leave off any of your favorites? Sound off in the comments below. And while you’re at it, check out our list of the Best iPhone Strategy Games or the Best iPhone Games You’ve Never Heard Of.
Also, be sure to check out the Best iPhone Games of 2024, the Best iPhone RPGs of 2024 and the Best iPhone Strategy Games of 2024.
