Magic: The Gathering, or MTG, is quickly becoming the Fortnite of trading cards, and I’m all for it. This sounds like such a fever dream to even write about, but for all intents and purposes, let it be known that I’ve been playing this game for more than a decade, and yes, nothing makes sense anymore.
What even is MTG, or Magic: The Gathering?
Magic: The Gathering, shortened to MTG for the remainder of this piece, is a tabletop collectible card game developed by Richard Garfield for Wizards of the Coast back in 1993. Gameplay-wise, it’s a card game where you, a Planeswalker (what players are referred to in-game), cast spells to defeat your opponent.
There’s a long history of MTG as a whole, with multiple accounts of its origin and numerous videos on the subject available on YouTube. If you were a Gen X kid or a millennial who played card games back in high school or, heck, even grade school, and studied in a Catholic school, you probably remember it as the game that got confiscated for being Satanic in nature.
The funny thing about the entire “Satanic Panic” back then was that the same people who targeted MTG also had Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings on their radar. And would you look at that? They’re mainstream now.
Magic: The Gathering Over the Years
To say that MTG isn’t successful would be an insult to its legacy. While it isn’t regarded as the standard for trading card games the way it should be, the fact that it’s still standing with a sizable player base is a testament to how it continues to capture the modern populace and maintain its position in the market.
There’s an appeal to having a competitive game both digitally and physically that makes dreams of going pro seem feasible. Between Magic: The Gathering Online (MTGO) and Magic: The Gathering Arena, Planeswalkers can play the game and explore the world of MTG from the comfort of their own homes. MTG has even reached various global markets and demographics, expanding its influence through different forms of media.
Back in the day, it had novels that encapsulated the lore of certain expansions, and there were even comics that brought more of its characters to life. More recently, a manga titled Destroy All Humans, They Can’t Be Regenerated—named after the ruling text of the card Wrath of God—explored how MTG was the catalyst for a relationship in the ’90s. Magic is all about the Gathering, after all.
It’s Not Just the Players Who Gather
Times have changed since the early days of MTG. Sure, it’s still the same game you know and love, but if you’ve been living under a rock, you might have missed all the new (and old) faces joining the fray. Urza, one of MTG’s original main characters, returned in The Brothers’ War, an expansion that literally revisits the past to fix the present. And in that same expansion? Optimus Prime.
You’re probably thinking, WHAT’S OPTIMUS PRIME DOING IN MAGIC: THE GATHERING? But would you believe that Transformers isn’t the only franchise that has made its way into MTG? It all started with the MTG HasCon promos back in 2017, featuring other Hasbro properties like Dungeons & Dragons, Transformers, and even Nerf, with more IPs joining over time.
Magic: The Gathering in 2025
It’s 2025 now, and there’s more than a handful of IPs—and even artists—with cards in Magic: The Gathering. Dungeons & Dragons, for example, has had two full expansions: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and Battle for Baldur’s Gate. There have also been multiple Secret Lair drops—small, collectible pseudo-sets with unique themes and wild new art styles.
Beyond IP collaborations, artists like Junji Ito and Peach Momoko have also contributed their own Secret Lair drops.
I could go on and on about how random MTG has become over the years, but in reality, it’s still the same game—just with a fresh coat of paint. Case in point:
I declare attackers and swing with my Rick, Steadfast Leader from The Walking Dead. My opponent summons an Encore Electromancer, which is a reprint of Snapcaster Mage featuring Hatsune Miku, targeting an instant or sorcery in their graveyard to give it flashback. Before declaring blockers, I cast Hadoken from Street Fighter—which is really just Lightning Bolt—targeting Miku. But then, Miku crews the Battle Bus from Fortnite, which is just a Smuggler’s Copter, before it dies. Blocks are declared with the Battle Bus and Wolverine, Best There Is from Marvel blocking Rick, but I cast ‘Tis But A Scratch—which is Dismember—on Wolverine to remove him from the equation.
MTG is in an interesting spot these days. It’s a bit pricier, but it remains socially relevant, with celebrities like Post Malone and others showing their support and love for the game. With major IPs like Marvel and Final Fantasy coming in 2025, I’m personally excited to see more people join in on the fun—because, at the end of the day, the fun is always in the Gathering.
Another thing that brings me joy is that the competitive scene is still as active as ever, with big tournaments happening both locally and internationally. Being a nerd has never been more liberating. And while the game may have a different coat of paint, it’s still the same game I know and love.
Magic is fun, and I can’t wait for the next gathering.
