Are you looking for board games that are similar to Magic the Gathering? Whether you are just starting to play MTG or need an alternative game to practice before jumping in, we’ve got you covered!
Magic the Gathering is a thrilling trading card game for two players. If you are looking for multiple players to include, there are other options that are similar in style.
What board games are like Magic the Gathering? The MTG game is an example of a collectible card game, which implies the game is built from all sorts of cards derived from multiple sets and packs that are brought together.
Best similar Magic the Gathering boards games are:
- The Dresden Files
- Epic Card Game
- Lord of the Ring: The Card Game
- Mage Wars Arena
- Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn
- Android Netrunner
- Arkham Horror
- Hero Realms
- A Game of Thrones: The Card Game
- Doomtown: Reloaded
The game involves the fantasy of playing with cards where two-player interact one on one and require to anticipate the opponent’s weakness or attack it.
Playing Magic the Gathering trading card game is not hard to learn and following the basic rules is straightforward. The gameplay is engaging, which really makes you smarter since it takes a lot of mental participation.
In this article, we are going to explore the best board games that mimic Magic the Gathering. We will dive deeply into each game and share why we think it resembles MTG.
What other games are like Magic the Gathering?
Some board games have the similar characteristics as MTG in terms of deck building, card collection, attacks, and weakness of cards, and the number of players.
Based on these similarities, we gathered the closest examples of board games to match with MTG:
A long time ago, the Dresden files themed the MTG game, and the book classifies magic as an energy and energy as a spell. In addition, the file talks about the use of firearms, casting spells through gathering energy and directing it in an intense direction.
The book contains the Harry Dresden series, which outlines how to use magic to hurt an attacking opponent and perhaps destroy when a player’s magic taps into energies, which is similar to the processes used in MTG.
Any player who has played MTG will see the similarity in Deck building and card battling games in the Epic Card Game.
A player familiar with MTG will immediately notice that turn phasing and how the creatures and spells work, including even artwork of the cards in the Epic card game, are the same.
The Lord of the Ring novel inspired the Magic the Gathering game. It’s an upcoming product of the MTG universes Beyond series launched by the Wizards of the Coast, and the cards from the sets will have triangular holo foil stamps.
The storyline of the Lord of the Rings is based on MTG, which talks of an antagonist Dark Lord Sauron who was at an early age created on the one ring that rules other rings of power. It acts as the ultimate weapon to campaign to conquer and finally rule middle-earth.
The game makes the list of board games similar to MTG because it involves two players who play a fantasy card game through grouping and combos to knock down their opponent during the match.
It also allows the player to go into the game with a deck of their own choice just like the MTG game. The players summon powerful creatures to do the battle on their behalf.
They can cast mighty spells to attack the opponent player and destroy any strategic plan the opponent player might have. The game allows the player to turn the table through the use of hidden enchantments.
The board game is similar to MTG because the game gives the players powerful Phoenixborn, which has the ability and control over creatures.
Just like MTG, the game involves a combination of cards battling and dice rolling. The Ashes game allows the two-player to control Phoenixborn, which works like MTG magic casting Planeswalker.
Players have individual decks filled with spells, creatures, and abilities that help battle their opponent players' health down.
The Android Netrunner board game is similar to MTG since it forms a two-player strategic game with a vast plethora of variable powers entitled to a player. Even though the MTG game is a bit fantasy, both games have many races, common traits, and factions.
In each turn, players try to take their time and credit to acquire a necessary wealth of resources. The game lasts about 45 minutes, almost the same as MTG two-player mode.
The Arkham Horror board games is similar to Magic because it forms two players who choose a character from Arkham.
The players and the characters they chose embark on a journey of fear and discovery. Just like MTG game, the game involves deck building with role-playing characters and actions.
Similar to the MTG game, the Hero Realms is a two-player game involving the players competing to bring down their counterparts’ health.
In both games, the player must juggle with new cards, and use the cards they have to attack each other, trying to bring their opponent player down to acquire more and more powerful cards.
The Realm is the same as the MTG game. It's played with two players, and more so, the game supports both battles and deck building.
However, the Realm game is not a collectible card game since the player plays with everything needed in a core set.
The Game of Thrones card game is just like Magic the Gathering because it consists of a modular deck with a showdown attack.
The ultimate goal of the Game of Thrones game is to gain influence to conquer the most incredible seat power in Westeros.
A player calls upon iconic characters such as Robb stark, Euron Crow Eye, Daenerys Targaryen, The Red Viper, and dozens of other characters to attain victory.
Just like Magic the Gathering, the game allows the players to have two decks to draw cards such as characters, locations, events band attachments. However, the game also allows multiple players from 2 to 4 players.
The Doomtown: Reloaded game uses the classic western trope kind of poker to determine the results of its duets, through their cards adopting playing card suits and numbers which combine with MTG kind of abilities to keep the players on their toes.
It's an expandable card game that has a fixed expansion. The storyline is based on gunslinging the western shootout of four people trying to control the titular locale.
Board Games Like MTG: Conclusion
Apart from Magic the Gathering, there is an expandable list of exciting games that can replace the trading card game.
If you are looking for games that use mental complexities and strategic movements with fantasy creature themes, there are various board games that are similar to Magic the Gathering.
As per our gameplay experience, these are the alternative games that imitate MTG: The Dresden Files, Epic Card Game, Lord of the Ring: the Card Game, Mage Wars Arena, Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn, Android Netrunner, Arkham Horror, Hero Realms, A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, and Doomtown: Reloaded.
Whether it require 2 or more players with deck building and strategy to get the game started, try the suggested games and let us know what your favorite games are.