Yes, Yu-Gi-Oh! is still cool

polygon.com:

Ever since I showed off my first deck of cards on the school playground, I thought of Yu-Gi-Oh! as an even more stylish, low-key, older cousin to Pokémon. Whether it’s Yami Yugi’s spiked hair and belt-sized choker, or the intricate designs of monsters like Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Exodia the Forbidden One, the series always felt a little more mature and a little darker than other popular series of the time like Pokémon or Digimon — both of which I also loved.

So when Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, came out and topped Steam charts in January, I decided to check out what the hype was about. It turns out that Yu-Gi-Oh! is still cool in the year 2022, and Master Duel makes the card game more approachable and fun than ever. Long-time players have a new way to play a favorite classic on console, Windows PC, and mobile. And though the free-to-play game is dense with various currencies, challenges, and rewards that can be hard to parse, strong tutorials invite newcomers in.

In case you’re unfamiliar, Yu-Gi-Oh! is a turn-based card game inspired by the manga of the same name. In the game, you try to deplete your opponent’s life points, or “LP,” by summoning monsters, laying trap cards, and using special magic bonus cards. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is a glittering, nostalgic call-back to early Yu-Gi-Oh!, but in a free-to-play card game format that makes for an enjoyable, snappy experience. Those who played before will recognize the brown, gold, and black swirl design on the back of the cards. Gameplay strategy is just as satisfying as the original card game, and you can play with classic cards, or switch it up and have the game teach you about the new mechanics that have been introduced over the years.

But the game is just as welcoming to