One of the ancient pastimes in the world, card games have been around for some centuries, with some historians believing they were created in 9th century China, before being introduced in the western world and becoming the iconic 52-card deck we all know and love. These playing cards have developed into a variety of trading card games in recent years, each with its own set of rules that distinguishes it from the others.
With the widespread use of the internet and the subsequent popularization of online gaming, many of these card games were adapted for the web, giving players new opportunities to compete across huge distances. Long gone are the days that fans of card games had to search for other players of the same games; now, it’s as simple as accessing the game and finding someone to play with.
There are now a plethora of card games claiming to be the best card games available online, and the genre is one of the industry’s fastest growing. These unique card games provide players with a rich and ever-changing metaverse as well as virtually endless replayability, so it’s easy to understand why they’ve become so popular in recent years.
Online card games have become increasingly popular since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of quarantines and social distancing measures. This was especially true in 2020, when lockdowns were prevalent; yet, online card games are still going strong even with the pandemic winding down, as many players have discovered how simple it is to play their favorite card games with friends or opponents over the internet.
Thankfully, there are plenty of excellent online card games that can be enjoyed from the comfort of our own homes, so in this article, we’ll take a brief look at some of the most popular options available today.
Pokémon Trading Card Game
One of the most popular video game franchises in the world, Pokémon also has its own trading card game. Even though it’s not as popular as the mainline RPG series, to this day, the Pokémon Trading Card Game has a devoted fan base, and real-world tournaments are frequently held alongside the Video Game Championship tournaments.
People may play the game online through the official Pokemon website, which also features a trading option that few other collecting card games provide. The Pokémon Company is even launching a new client for the game, which will be available on multiple platforms, including Microsoft Windows, macOS, and both iOS and Android mobile devices, and will bring some major visual updates as well as new social features.
Hearthstone
Developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment in 2014, Hearthstone is an online competitive digital collectable card game set in the Warcraft universe. It was launched for Microsoft Windows and macOS, and it is also available for Android devices, featuring cross-platform play.
Players can pick from nine different Warcraft classes, each of which defines the hero cards they can employ during battles. The game was an instant hit, with over 23 million players throughout the world by 2021. Hearthstone is a prominent esport that has been included in various Blizzard and esports leagues and tournaments.
Live dealer card games
One of the hottest trends in the iGaming industry today, live dealer card games provide players with an authentic casino feeling, since, unlike conventional online card games that rely on random number generators, these games are managed and operated in real time by professional croupiers, and broadcast to players via streaming.
There are several game options, including classic card games like blackjack, poker, and baccarat, offered by a wide variety of iGaming operators. Players just need to find a trustworthy website, check for the welcome bonuses – you can even check this list of online casino promo codes – create an account and start playing.
Splinterlands
Blockchain games are one of the trendiest concepts in the internet world today, and are currently causing a complete makeover in the way we play online games. Undoubtedly one of the most popular blockchain games in recent months, Splinterlands is a multiplayer card game based on the Hive blockchain in which players can summon warriors and monsters through collectible cards and face off in battles in different game modes.
Splinterlands is free to play, but to unlock stronger cards and real-money prizes, players must purchase the Summoner’s Spellbook, which costs US$10 in the game currency, called Dark Energy Crystals, and may be purchased in the in-game shop. After then, players may collect new cards and level them up to gain improved stats and new abilities by completing missions or purchasing booster packs.