There is a reason why I prefer playing card games on mobile to most other genres within the gaming industry. The slower pace and the detailed graphics allow the game to flourish however, it is the strategic aspect of the genre that keeps me interested.
With so many card games available for download, I know it is very difficult to choose which ones you should be playing. Most of these mobile games come from well-known franchises. Here are my top choices for the best card games on mobile.
Hearthstone
Of course, Hearthstone, the very popular turn-based strategy card game would be on my list of the best card games for mobile devices. Set in the Warcraft universe, Hearthstone builds upon the stories from the Warcraft series by using the same characters, elements, storyline, and spells.
The game is played with two players where each player gets a deck of cards, either a preset one or they can create a deck of their choice. Each deck has a theme, with cards summoning minions into the board that deal damage to the enemy. To win, the player must cause enough damage to bring the enemy's health points to zero.
I love playing Hearthstone for its immersive storyline and the strategy involved in creating your deck. Each deck has varying themes relating to a playstyle, such as a Cleric theme for a more defensive style or a Warlock deck for a more risky style of play. You can download the game on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
The Elder Scrolls: Legends
The Elder Scrolls: Legends offers one of the best single-player features of all time with its campaign mode. The game follows the stories of The Elder Scrolls franchise but is set within the trading card game genre. If you are a fan of turn-based strategy card games then this one's for you.
The Elder Scrolls: Legends' battlefield is different in that it is divided into lanes. This presents different strategies for players depending on the deck of cards that they have built.
While the single-player campaign can be quite fun, I find the multiplayer PvP competition to be more interactive and deeply strategic since I'm up against real online players. I highly recommend that you download this game on either Google Play Store or the App Store if you are into the strategic aspect of card games.
Gwent
I was quite excited when it was officially announced that CD Projekt Red was working on a collectible card game under the Witcher franchise for both Android and iOS devices. At first, it was a plausible spin-off to the widely successful Witcher games as it is very easy to translate the adventures set within the Continent into a card game.
Probably one of my favorite card games to have played, Gwent is played with two opposing players, each with their deck fashioned into a specific faction with a specific playstyle. The game is won, best two rounds out of three, by playing cards and spells to acquire power. The player with the most power wins the round.
In a recent update, changes were made to the game such as adding artifacts and removing the siege row while having the leader card grants the player a certain ability instead. Currently, Gwent is available for download at the Google Play Store and the App Store where it is accessible for everyone as I find it one of the most gorgeous-looking and highly strategic card games in the genre.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
Ever want to play Yu-Gi-Oh! with friends just to show them who is the best duelist in the world? Now is that for you to test your strength and prepare to duel using some of the best cards known within the world of Yu-Gi-Oh! You can find the game on the Google Play Store or the App Store.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links is a direct offering from Konami that features all the characters and voices from the anime and I tell you as a fan of the anime, you will certainly find this an exciting card game to play. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links features online multiplayer battles that let you battle with other duelists from all over the world.
I can collect and edit my decks to form the most powerful deck that will destroy every adversary. Use your trusted cards and apply them as necessary to take down your opponent. Take part in events, offline battles, and duels to earn tons of rewards. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Link‪s‬ is available for both iOS and Android devices.
Clash Royale
Clash Royale is a fast-paced collectible card game and is widely different from the ones that I have listed. The game's goal is to earn three crowns by destroying buildings before the time runs out. Each player has to build a deck of cards that consists of different characters from the Clash universe. Clash Royale can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the App Store.
What makes Clash Royale quite different apart from the fast-paced gameplay is the use of Elixir to play the cards. As soon as a card is played, a new card is automatically drawn from the deck. Players get to choose which card they want to play into the field to capture the towers faster and earn crowns.
Clash Royale might be different from other games found on my list but it still has the same heart-pounding strategic gameplay that everyone expects from a mobile card game. Add to the fact that you also get other games such as a tower defense game and a multiplayer battle online arena game and it makes Clash Royale the ultimate mobile game to play.
Plants vs. Zombies Heroes
Plants vs. Zombies was always a fun franchise to visit now and again, but I never thought that they would delve into the collectible card game genre! In this game, players get to pick whether to join the plants or zombies and unlock hundreds of characters including Citron, Rose, and many other new characters within the PvZ universe.
Jump into an adventure with the single-player campaign, or play against another player in real-time. My favorite mode is the Today's Challenge mode, where I get to finish different challenges and earn rewards. There are lots to do within the game such as Plant Missions, Zombie Missions, and challenging your friends.
The main goal of Plants vs. Zombies Heroes is similar to other collectible card games. Reduce your opponent's health to zero by drawing a card and playing it on the field. Plants vs. Zombies Heroes is available worldwide for download. For Android mobile devices, download Plants vs. Zombies Heroes from the Google Play Store. For iOS smartphone users, you can find the app on the Apple App Store.
Pokémon TCG Online
Ever since Pokemon first aired on TV, I've always wanted to get a Pokemon for myself. Now, I get the chance to live that dream with Pokémon TCG Online. Formerly known as Pokemon Trainer Challenge, this collectible card game is now available for all mobile devices on the Google Play Store and the App Store.
The game lets me challenge characters from the game and other players online in a card battle using a deck of cards that are chosen beforehand. In the Versus Mode, I get to challenge another online player and earn tokens as well as partake in the tournament that resets every three weeks to earn prizes.
The game offers three starting decks to choose from and booster packs can also be purchased at the online shop to enhance and diversify your deck depending on your playstyle. You can find the game for Android mobile devices on the Google Play Store and on the Apple App Store for iOS smartphone devices.
Legends of Runeterra
By far the best mobile card game that I have played, Legends of Runeterra brings together all the card games on this list and improves upon its graphics, strategy, complexity, and gameplay.
Legends of Runeterra is a trading card game where players summon different characters from the League universe. The ultimate goal is to defeat the opposing player. To do this, I build a deck depending on my playstyle and choose a champion that matches the gameplay. I summon different characters with their own skills to do damage or protect my nexus.
If you are a fan of the League of Legends franchise, I highly recommend playing a few matches of Legends of Runeterra. It is a combination of a trading card game together with the fun gameplay that we are familiar with League. Legends of Runeterra is currently available for download at the Google Play Store and App Store for mobile devices.
Conclusion
What I like about card games is it infuses in-depth strategies that make playing these card games exciting. I find it very fun to summon cards and surprise your opponent by tearing the entire battlefield apart.
Simple, accessible, and most of all, fun, these are the card games that I think are the best and that I highly recommend for you to try and discover for yourself.
