Looking for the best mobile card games? You’re in the right place. This list has only the creme of the crop of deck-building wonders, from solo experiences to intense multiplayer battlers, and everything in between. All you need to do is pick a game, and get to playing.
For more top-tier lists, see our picks for the best mobile strategy games, best mobile MMORPGs, best mobile shooters, and best mobile horror games. Or, if you need some space on your phone to download all these titles, check out our guides on how to delete contacts on iPhone and how to delete apps on iPhone.
Here are the best mobile card games:
- Magic: The Gathering Arena – a digital version of the iconic TCG
- Marvel Snap – a fast-paced hero deck-builder
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel – A Yu-Gi-Oh! sim in its truest form
- Clash Royale – The Clash universe’s answer to a card game
- Gwent – the card-game spin-off of the Witcher series
- Legends of Runeterra – a card game League of Legends spin-off
- Hearthstone – a card-collecting Warcraft spin-off
- Exploding Kittens – the digital version of the party card game
- Thronebreaker – a deck-building RPG Witcher spin-off
- Slay the Spire – a roguelike deck-building game
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Of course, we can’t let this list slip by without an entry from one of the biggest names in tabletop and digital collectable card games. Magic: The Gathering has taken the world by storm, and you can consider Magic: The Gathering Arena as your gateway into its vast, engaging world. Don’t worry if you’re new to magic – the tutorial and AI practice matches will help you get a grasp on this card-wielding phenomenon. With 15 unique decks, multiple playstyles, immersive lore, and plenty of customisation, this game is full of mystical goodness.
Play Magic: The Gathering Arena for free.
Marvel Snap
With some of the team from Hearthstone working on Marvel Snap, it was always going to be good fun, but as we found out in our Marvel Snap review in 2022, it’s much more than just that. There are few games that master the “one more match” feeling like Marvel Snap, with a few minutes easily turning into hours as you battle your opponent to take the most locations.
With the superpowered card game being such an instant hit, we’ve got plenty of content to help you get on your feet and maybe even fly into platinum rank. Be sure to check out our Marvel Snap decks and Marvel Snap tier list for all the best builds, or our Marvel Snap gold guide to help you earn some extra moolah.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
The closest that we’re ever going to get to an honest-to-god Kaibacorp duelling simulator, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is the only way to play the game in its classic format in this day and age. With a massive card catalogue, regular tournaments highlighting different builds, and a community of lifelong players, this is one for the hardcore duellists.
If you don’t want to rely on the heart of the cards and instead would prefer to brush up on your duelling skills, we’re on hand. Check out our Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel meta decks guide to see what’s popping in the current format, or if you just want to take it old school, see our Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Blue-Eyes deck build.
Clash Royale
The ever-expanding Clash universe includes its very own card game, Clash Royale, full of some of the serious most famous characters in rectangular form. There’s still the influence of some Clash of Clans strategy goodness, mixed in with the deck-building, tower defence, and arena mechanics. It’s a pretty unique title, and well worth including in our list of the best mobile card games.
If you want to give this one a try yourself, be sure to take a look at our Clash Royale download guide, before jumping into battle with one of the sets suggested by our Clash Royale Decks. We’ve also got some Clash Royale wallpaper, if you never want to take your eyes off the green pastures of the Clash Kingdom.
GWENT: The Witcher Card Game
It took its sweet time, but the official spin-off of Gwent, the Witcher 3 card game, is now on both Android and iOS. It’s quite different from what it was like at launch and it’s gone through several updates and revisions, meaning that us mobile jockeys get a game that’s tight and quite unique compared to some of its contemporaries. It’s a power-struggle between two people, but it’s less about pounding each other’s cards into dust or attacking life-points – it’s simply a best-out-of-three bout to have a bigger number than your opponent at the end of the round.
This simple concept can inspire a surprising amount of cunning and card combos, with card advantage being a very important concept. As a free-to-play game there are IAPS and micro-transactions, but it’s very tame and you can still get access to cards through gameplay. If you want some tips to up your game, have a look at our Gwent guide.
Legends of Runeterra
Considered by many as Riot Game’s challenge to Hearthstone’s supremacy over the mobile deck builder genre, Legends of Runeterra changes up the formula just enough. Using a new spell system for excess mana, and featuring attack, and block phases, the tactical depth of the game outstrips many of its genre rivals, and definitely makes it one of the best card games on Android.
Legends of Runeterra is set in the same world as League of Legends, and the quality and quantity of the artwork in the game is pretty astonishing, not only fleshing out the world, but utilising its many characters as in-game Champions too. Check out our guide for Legends of Runeterra decks, if you’re looking to get started.
Hearthstone
A weary party of adventurers stumble into a strange tavern in the woods. The paladin walks up to the bar, where the innkeeper is polishing a tankard, and says “My good sir, pray grant me one of your finest pints of ale, for our road has been long and weary!” The innkeeper looks up in puzzlement: “We only serve cards here laddie.” The paladin is taken aback. “Then we shall find another establishment!” But as he tries to leave he finds the door is locked. “Oh you can’t ever leave now. Come and warm yourself by the fire… I’ve got a little game to show you.”
That is the story of how Hearthstone came to be, and how it basically defined this whole generation of mobile deck builders. Based on the Warcraft universe, players battle with a selection of heroes and minions, using a gradually increasing stock of mana to play cards, and escalate the battle. The game also introduced an auto chess mode, Battlegrounds, to much approval. If you want to give it a look, our tips for Hearthstone Battlegrounds on mobile can help you get started.
Exploding Kittens
A game of hot potato with a nitroglycerine-infused feline escalates until every player save one has met their maker. Exploding Kittens combines fiery cat death and simple humour, to create a game with hostility and sabotage at its centre. Each player only has one life to live, and one defuse card to keep that hairball from becoming a fireball, so quickly players will find they are at each other’s throats. The game is a childish, cartoonish pastiche of obvious joked made too often, but it remains one of the best guilty pleasures around.
Thronebreaker
This is a fantastic deck building RPG set in the world of The Witcher, and is undoubtedly one of the best card games on Android. Following Queen Meve and her plucky bad of guerilla fighters, you muster an army to take back your usurped throne. Thronebreaker itself is a wonderful combination of RPG overworld elements, and deck building synergy as you build your force. Check out our Thronebreaker review if you want to know more. We also spoke to the game’s director about building an RPG world with cards!
Slay the Spire
Though we had to wait a long time, Slay the Spire finally arrived on mobile. The game is a testament to all that is good in roguelike deck building, as you construct synergies on the fly in a bid to climb the eponymous tower. It’s so good, we even have a dedicated guide of games like Slay the Spire on mobile.
Those are all the games we have for now! If you’re still looking for further recommendations, have a glance at our best android games and best iOS games lists. Also if you enjoy tabletop ports, our guide to the best digital board games might be for you!
