Yu-Gi-Oh! turned 25 last year, stirring nostalgia among its longtime followers. To commemorate this milestone, Konami is extending the celebrations with their “Quarter Century” tribute to the legendary card game. Enter “Yu-Gi-Oh! The Early Days Collection”—the only video game offering to mark this occasion. This compilation features roughly 14 games from the early days of the card game series and includes titles from the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance eras. As a dedicated Yu-Gi-Oh! player, my curiosity about this collection was piqued. Although I hadn’t played all of these titles before diving in for this review, I recalled them being more about sensationalizing the anime than following the card game’s mechanics. My premonition was accurate, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn’t a complete letdown. Revisiting these classics might only be a curious journey for some, but true fans of the franchise will find hidden charm—albeit buried deep.
Let’s tackle the big picture first. Yes, this collection packs in 14 complete Yu-Gi-Oh! games released from 1998 to 2005. It starts with the inaugural Yu-Gi-Oh! games on the DMG Game Boy, exclusively available in Japan and inspired by the manga. Now, these games are fully localized in English for the first time. The lineup extends to the Game Boy Advance world championship series, touting itself as a more accurate battle simulator, with some intriguing experimental designs sprinkled in. Although the sheer number of games might initially seem impressive, there are a few catches. Firstly, the early Game Boy titles are essentially incremental updates, refining the card game rules that were still evolving. For example, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters II: Dark Duel Stories introduced new rules and cards for better deck balance. Meanwhile, the Western adaptation, Dark Duel Stories (known as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4 in Japan), added only a single trap card zone. This offers a historical glimpse into the rapid evolution of the game, driven by hardware constraints and card game growth, especially in Japan. Yet, playing these back-to-back can feel repetitive. The evolution of game design, particularly in UI and UX, is intriguing, but after one match, I often found myself seeking the more accessible games in the collection.
The real standout for me was Duel Monsters 3. Previously a Japan-exclusive, this title delves into the Monster World arc where Yugi’s friends are trapped as monsters in a tabletop RPG, with villains playing Dungeon Masters. Trading cards are absent here. Instead, you place monsters on a grid similar to a simple turn-based strategy game like Fire Emblem. Monsters have unique attack patterns and receive buffs based on terrain and proximity to allies. Consequently, each battle becomes a miniature puzzle. Dice rolls determine attack success, introducing randomness that extends to encounter rates during boss fights. This innovative approach makes it a memorable entry in the collection. The same can’t be said for Dungeon Dice Monsters and Destiny Board Traveler. These spin-offs adopt a board game-like format. Dungeon Dice Monsters digitizes a largely forgotten spin-off game, featuring an isometric grid where players unfold cubes to cross to the opponent’s dice master. Although intriguing in theory, the lack of tutorials is frustrating. Players are left fumbling through a dense manual each time they play until mastering the game. Herein lies a major gripe: the collection’s quality of life features fall short. Opening the game manuals constantly resets you to page one, posing a challenge with games that have complex rules (looking at you, Dungeon Dice Monsters). This is doubly true for the type chart utilized in early games and RPG titles. Monsters can be instantly defeated by opposing types; however, the chart isn’t straightforward, with types like ‘dreams’ and ‘shadow’ absent from the card game. The ability to rewind up to a minute is helpful, but the lack of a fast-forward feature is glaring, especially in GBA duel simulators where CPU turns drag on.
As for online support—or the lack thereof—only Duel Monsters 4 offers duels and card trading. Curiously, this game was another Japan-exclusive. Strangely enough, despite all games featuring cheat menus for unlocking cards and bypassing duelist point limits, Duel Monsters 4 is divided into three versions (Yugi, Kaiba, and Joey’s decks). While dueling between versions is feasible, the draw is limited. Games such as Stairway to the Destined Duel or World Tournament 2004, which remain beloved by classic players, would benefit more from online support. There’s hope for future updates, but currently, online functionality feels like a missed opportunity for enhancing the collection’s appeal.
This lack of consistency is highlighted by the peculiar inclusion of Duel Monsters 6: Expert 2. Marketed as a highly popular GBA title during Yu-Gi-Oh!’s golden era in Japan, its presence in the collection is understandable. However, unlike the rest of the games, it’s presented only in Japanese. While its ruleset later influenced the Western version, Stairway to the Destined Duel, it’s odd to single out this title. Previous Japanese exclusives are translated, and players can usually select their preferred language in the main menu. This inconsistency is perplexing.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s a fascinating journey back to Yu-Gi-Oh!’s eccentric roots before it became an iconic card game and before newer games followed animated series or purely embraced duel simulations. The volume of games appears impressive, yet care and attention to detail in the collection are lacking. It’s an anniversary collection that’s half-realized, with quality of life features falling short, some challenging games without manual guidance, a Japanese-only title, and limited online play for specific games. The absence of additional content like artworks, concepts, and design documents is a missed opportunity to enhance its value for dedicated fans. Among the collection, highlights include The Sacred Cards, Duel Monsters 3, The Eternal Duelist Soul, and 7 Trials to Glory, but many feel like slight refinements rather than groundbreaking titles, straying far from the card game’s essence. It’s a historical artifact subtly lacking in love for its legacy.
Who is Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection aimed at? Those nostalgic for Yu-Gi-Oh!’s prime might find some enjoyment here. On paper, the game roster seems impressive, but in practice, maintaining interest is challenging. I revisited a few as casual picks. Crafting new decks and revising strategies for modified yet familiar card games lost my attention by the time I reached the later GBA titles. It could have been fun with a friend, but with only one game supporting online play, recommending it to even the die-hard Yu-Gi-Oh! fans is difficult. However, managing expectations and diving into its quirks—especially the odder entries—could still offer some fun. Just be prepared to appreciate how far the series has come by the time you emerge from these early days.
