Magic: The Gathering

1993

An innovative fantasy game created by a mathematician launched the collectible card game industry.

Invented by Richard Garfield, Magic: The Gathering (or simply, Magic) is a card game in which players fight magical duels, casting spells and summoning creatures to fight for them. Magic’s groundbreaking idea is that while each player typically competes with a deck of 60 cards, they build that deck from a much larger catalog of available cards—around 300 when the game launched. Players design their decks for specific strategies, choosing cards that when played together create synergistic effects called “combos.” Publisher Wizards of the Coast creates new additions to the catalog at a steady pace, and as of 2020, the number of cards in the game is over 19,000.

Other game companies embraced the new collectible card game genre. Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! are two popular examples. Organized Magic tournaments are held worldwide, and players can rise to professional status, earning large prizes and becoming celebrities in the gaming and esports world.

Induction Year: 2018