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Magic: The Gathering / Similar games

18 games like Magic: The Gathering

The best games like Magic: The Gathering are Android Netrunner, Arkham Horror The Card Game and A Game of Thrones The Card Game (Second Edition) — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Android Netrunner shares bluffing, card game, collectible components with Magic: The Gathering.

Every alternative below links to its own Magic: The Gathering-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s bluffing / card game shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Magic: The Gathering’s 3.2 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

  1. 1. Android Netrunner (2012)
    2 players · 45 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Bluffing, Card Game, Collectible Components, Deck Construction, Hand Management, Take That · 3 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (75%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · ~25 min longer · +0.2 heavier
    View Android Netrunner on Amazon →
  2. 2. Arkham Horror The Card Game (2016)
    1–2 players · 60–120 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Collectible Components, Fantasy, Deck Construction, Hand Management · 2 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · plays solo · ~70 min longer · +0.2 heavier
    View Arkham Horror The Card Game on Amazon →
  3. 3. A Game of Thrones The Card Game (Second Edition) (2015)
    2–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-heavy
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Bluffing, Card Game, Collectible Components, Fantasy, Fighting, Hand Management · 1 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~70 min longer · +0.3 heavier
    View A Game of Thrones The Card Game (Second Edition) on Amazon →
  4. 4. The Lord of the Rings The Card Game (2011)
    1–2 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Collectible Components, Fantasy, Deck Construction, Hand Management · 2 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · plays solo · ~25 min longer · same complexity
  5. 5. Marvel Champions The Card Game (2019)
    1–4 players · 45–90 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Collectible Components, Deck Construction, Hand Management · 2 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~48 min longer · 0.4 lighter
  6. 6. Aeon's End (2016)
    1–4 players · 60 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Fantasy, Fighting, Hand Management · 1 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~40 min longer · 0.4 lighter
  7. 7. Warhammer Invasion (2009)
    2 players · 45 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Collectible Components, Fantasy, Fighting, Hand Management · 1 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · ~25 min longer · 0.5 lighter
  8. 8. KeyForge Age of Ascension (2019)
    2 players · 15–45 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Fantasy, Fighting, Hand Management, Take That · 2 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · ~10 min longer · 0.5 lighter
  9. 9. Res Arcana (2019)
    2–4 players · 20–60 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Fantasy, Hand Management, Take That · 2 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~20 min longer · 0.6 lighter
  10. 10. Middle-earth (1995)
    1–5 players · 90 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-heavy
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Collectible Components, Fantasy, Fighting, Hand Management · 1 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 5 · ~70 min longer · +0.5 heavier
  11. 11. Mage Wars Arena (2012)
    2 players · 90 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-heavy
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Fantasy, Fighting, Deck Construction · 1 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · ~70 min longer · +0.4 heavier
  12. 12. BattleCON Devastation of Indines (2013)
    1–5 players · 45 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Fantasy, Fighting, Hand Management · 1 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 5 · ~25 min longer · same complexity
  13. 13. Seasons (2012)
    2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Fantasy, Hand Management, Take That · 2 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~40 min longer · 0.5 lighter
  14. 14. Nightfall (2011)
    2–5 players · 45 min · ★ 6.5 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Fantasy, Fighting, Hand Management, Take That · 2 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · scales to 5 · ~25 min longer · 0.6 lighter
  15. 15. Black Rose Wars (2019)
    1–4 players · 90 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Bluffing, Card Game, Fantasy, Hand Management · 1 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~70 min longer · +0.3 heavier
  16. 16. Summoner Wars Alliances Master Set (2014)
    2–4 players · 45 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Card Game, Fantasy, Fighting, Hand Management · 1 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~25 min longer · 0.5 lighter
  17. 17. Exceed Fighting System (2016)
    2 players · 5–30 min · ★ 8.3 · Medium
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Bluffing, Card Game, Fantasy, Fighting, Hand Management · 1 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · about the same length · 0.6 lighter
  18. 18. Earth Reborn (2010)
    2–4 players · 180 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-heavy
    Shares with Magic: The Gathering: Bluffing, Fighting, Hand Management, Interrupts · 2 of Magic: The Gathering’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Magic: The Gathering: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~160 min longer · +0.7 heavier
Check Android Netrunner on Amazon →

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked

What game is most like Magic: The Gathering?
Android Netrunner (2012) is the closest match to Magic: The Gathering, sharing bluffing, card game, collectible components. It rates 7.9/10 on BoardGameGeek.
What should I play if I like Magic: The Gathering?
Android Netrunner, Arkham Horror The Card Game, A Game of Thrones The Card Game (Second Edition) are the top-ranked alternatives to Magic: The Gathering in the MeeplePick database, matched on medium complexity as well as mechanics. All 18 are ranked on this page with the shared mechanics shown for each.
Is Android Netrunner harder than Magic: The Gathering?
Compared with Magic: The Gathering, Android Netrunner is +0.2 heavier and ~25 min longer (3.4 vs 3.2 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Narrow it down

best 2-player board games · deck construction games · hand management games · interrupts games · take that games

Looking for the original? See the full Magic: The Gathering fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.