Wondering what the best TCG to get into today is? Whether you are a collector looking for something to invest in, or a player looking to travel the world, or just an average Joe wanting to play a few games at your local game shop on a Friday night, this list contains the top TCGs to try now, with a little something to offer everyone.

#1 Pokemon TCG

A massive game with something for everyone

The Pokemon TCG is the biggest TCG right now, even outselling Magic: The Gathering last year (according to ICV2’s 2025 report). And that’s for good reason. It’s got arguably the single best IP of all trading card games, and doesn’t need to resort to crossovers with third party IPs in order to bring in new players (and cash).

What makes Pokemon especially great is that there’s a little something for everyone in this TCG. The most competitive players out there will enjoy its massive pro circuit where they can chase glory and insane cash prizes. Meanwhile, collectors will enjoy the biggest and most robust collectors’ community of any TCG out there. Finally, casual to semi-competitive players have plenty to enjoy at the local level, with leagues just about everywhere you can imagine, usually packed with players eager to play.

Beyond the physical card game, you can also take part in the Pokemon TCG in its fullest on Pokemon TCG Live – a terrific app that enables you to battle with the latest and greatest cards and strategies at any time. Meanwhile, Pokemon TCG Pocket affords a more accessible version of the game for collectors and players.

The Pokemon TCG is one of the most established of them all. Decades after its founding, it’s hotter than ever.

Wondering where to get started? Check out my ranking of the best Pokemon TCG sets.

#2 Magic: The Gathering

The OG TCG continues to innovate

Magic: The Gathering looks very, very different today than it did decades ago, and yet it’s still the OG TCG in the room, with every other TCG owing something to it. Today, the game feels more IP driven than ever, with its top sets being based on third party IPs rather than Magic: The Gathering’s own original works. Yet, that seems to be working for the TCG giant as sets like Final Fantasy mark its biggest launch ever.

As a result of Magic: The Gathering becoming something of an IP brawler themselves, the game actually does feel more accessible than it did in years past. Of course, hardened Magic players and fans will have their own take on what’s become of their favorite TCG, yet in a world increasingly driven by IPs over everything, it makes sense that Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast would see the writing on the wall and dive in head first to the IP arms race.

Additionally, there are magic players everywhere, making it a game you are more than likely able to find a group to play with regardless of where you are. There’s also a plethora of different formats and ways to play the game, granting a layer of accessibility to an admittedly complex game.

It may lack the sheer collector-fueled frenzy of the Pokemon TCG, and it may need to license its IPs instead of owning them outright, but Magic: The Gathering proves that although it was the first really big TCG, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

#3 One Piece TCG

A newer entry into the big five

The One Piece TCG taps into the absolute behemoth that is One Piece: one of the longest running and most beloved anime series of all time. One Piece is unique among the top selling TCGs due to the fact that it’s a relatively recent entry. Originally plagued by supply and demand issues, the game has eased its way into a powerhouse among the second-tier TCGs.

While its player base, sales, and market power may pale in comparison to the big two that are Pokemon TCG and Magic, OPTCG has proven itself a mainstay in the current TCG landscape, with a devoted fanbase, killer sets, and plenty of attendance at competitive events.

#4 UNION ARENA TCG

The best anime IP brawler TCG

If you regularly follow my blog, you might not be surprised to see UNION ARENA TCG pop up on the list. It’s based on fantastic anime IPs – think just about any big anime and UNION ARENA has got it. As if that weren’t enough, there’s a bunch of added plusses to picking up this TCG as your main hobby.

For starters, its got a fantastic battle system, and a very balanced gameplay that enables a wide variety of decks to be played at any given time.

What I particularly like about this TCG, however, is the staying power of decks. Because decks can only be built out of a given anime, decks tend to stick around longer, and need to be upgraded far, far less often. For folks looking to have a ton of fun playing their favorite deck without having to invest a fortune in their builds are going to absolutely love UNION ARENA. You can go as hard or as conservatively on investing in this game and still enjoy it thoroughly competitively.

The only downside to UNION ARENA? The game is still new, and while support for local tournaments is fantastic, the competitive scene is still growing with relatively limited major events to attend.

Check out my list of every UNION ARENA set ranked to figure out where to get started with this TCG.

#5 Yu-Gi-Oh

The one with a dedicated player base

Despite its own fair share of challenges, Yu-Gi-Oh retains its place as one of the big three TCGs. Although its place was briefly taken over in 2024 by the outstanding success Lorcana saw in its inaugural year, today it’s back on top and doing fairly well despite a stagnating growth rate that slipped into a negative trend last year. Ultimately, it feels like Yu-Gi-Oh is destined to slip a few pegs as other, fresher TCGs rise up in the rankings. And yet, its dedicated player base and nostalgic appeal continue to resonate enough to move some serious product, even if it lacks the excitement garnered by both Pokemon and Magic.

“Yu-Gi-Oh is not the biggest thing for us but it still has a lot of dedicated fans , so it still sells pretty well whenever there’s a new product” says Schaefer of Dragon’s Lair (ICV2 2025 report). With most of these fans being players and not collectors, eventually Yu-Gi-Oh could have trouble keeping up with some of the TCGs coming up in the ranks that have IPs with broader appeals.

#6 Gundam TCG

A brand new TCG with a ton of promise

Although brand new to the TCG scene, Gundam has amassed insane interest thanks to a fantastic marketing campaign from Bandai, insane interest over a slightly botched beta test in late 2024, and overall enthusiasm for the IP in general. Already Facebook groups of 10K+ are gathering to discuss potential deck ideas, chase cards, and tournaments as Bandai continues its recent string of hits.

For fans of the Gundam series, the Gundam TCG feels like the ideal entry-point to the world and culture of TCGs. Those new to the universe, however, might find it a little overwhelming with so many different series, continuities, and different mechs to learn about.

An additional advantage to getting into Gundam right now for players leaving other TCGs and looking for something new, however, is the chance to be on the ground floor of something new and exciting that shows a ton of potential.

#7 Disney Lorcana

A TCG tragedy of Shakespearean proportions

Lorcana’s history reads something like a Shakespearean tragedy. At one point, it was one of the biggest TCGs in the world, with countless fans eagerly attending store tournaments or queuing up for battles in the fan-made simulator, Pixelborn, for their chance to play the hot new Disney TCG.

Indeed, there was something incredibly magical about the early days of Disney Lorcana that would be hard to replicate by any other TCG. Hunting local shops for packs filled with cards adorned with alternate looks for our beloved Disney characters felt a little surreal, as did the insane demand for events that sold out within minutes.

However, through a series of misfortunes both natural to a hot new TCG and somewhat artificial in the form of apparent blunders on the part of the game’s creators, Disney Lorcana has fallen far from the lofty perch it once rested on.

Officially, it’s lost its coveted spot in the top three, dropping to fifth TCG overall. With recent events like the reduction of major competitive events in key markets, as well as general player fatigue with how the competitive scene is handled and no support for the game via a digital client, it doesn’t seem likely that Lorcana will be regaining its spot at the top anytime soon.

That being said, the game isn’t without its own share of silver linings. While the competitive scene feels abysmal, several important changes have come to the game that could help broaden its appeal. An upcoming set entitled Fabled seeks to address previous shortcomings in the TCG by introducing additional rarities to provide a better collector experience, as well as the game’s first rotation to help enliven an otherwise stale metagame.

Will these changes be enough to wake Sleeping Beauty? Only time will tell. But certainly this game’s fall from grace can and should serve as a learning lesson for anyone new to the TCG space.

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