The Joy of Card Collection in Strategy Card Games

First, let’s discuss the term “card game.” The rapid growth of the gaming industry, especially mobile games, has blurred the definition of card games. Classic examples such as Magic: The Gathering , Yu‑Gi‑Oh! , and Hearthstone are widely recognized as card games. Earlier titles like I'm MT , Dota Legends , and Young Three Kingdoms are also called card games, but they belong to a different sub‑type. The former group is strategy‑oriented card games, while the latter focuses on character development. This article concentrates on the former – strategy‑oriented card games.

Players familiar with card games have likely heard the terms TCG and CCG. TCG (Trading Card Game) refers to physical, collectible card games where players buy random packs, trade cards, and build decks from the cards they collect. CCG (Collectible Card Game) is the digital evolution of TCGs, exemplified by Hearthstone . In CCGs, players cannot trade cards and must obtain them through official in‑game channels, which often makes them more lucrative for developers.

According to the author, card games have three core sources of enjoyment: card collection, deck construction, and battle decision‑making.

Card collection is enjoyable because acquiring new cards can introduce fresh gameplay experiences, while duplicate cards serve as a resource pool.

Deck construction is enjoyable because it allows players to imagine and create a unique deck that reflects their personal strategy.

Battle decision‑making is enjoyable because it creates a game of limited‑resource “bargaining” against an opponent.

The three elements are tightly linked: you need cards to build a deck, a deck to make meaningful battle decisions, and battle rewards to fund further collection. This article focuses on the collection aspect, with future pieces planned for the other two.

The author reflects on personal experiences with collection in games. In classic platformers like Super Mario Odyssey , collecting coins provided pure joy, even though the coins had little impact on gameplay. Over time, the novelty faded as the player began to evaluate the value of each coin.

Comparing two “Odyssey” titles— Super Mario Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey —highlights how the design of collection mechanics influences enjoyment. Mario’s moon‑collecting quests are distinct, well‑designed mini‑levels that feel rewarding, whereas Assassin’s Creed’s numerous collectibles become repetitive and feel like a chore after a while.

In physical card games, collection often occurs by spending resources to open packs. New players may feel uncertain about the quality of cards they obtain, especially when information channels are limited. Modern games address this by assigning rarity levels and providing clear visual feedback when a rare card is drawn, ensuring that even uninformed players experience the thrill of obtaining something valuable.

High‑rarity cards are generally perceived as powerful. In some single‑player titles, such as the Gwent cards in The Witcher 3 , rarity directly correlates with strength. However, in paid online card games, designers must balance rarity and power to avoid a pay‑to‑win perception while still incentivizing purchases. This often involves giving rare cards unique mechanics that feel strong without being overwhelmingly dominant.

For seasoned players, collecting high‑rarity cards is enjoyable because it can unlock new content and enable the construction of fresh decks, extending the game’s longevity.

The article concludes by promising future posts that will delve into the pleasures of deck construction and battle decision‑making, and invites readers to follow the public account for more content.