Besides utterly gorgeous artwork that provides a unique spin on iconic characters, those cards don't appear anywhere else these versions are exclusive. While the former is a welcome change (last year's official MTG starter set was oddly vague), it's the latter that makes this a contender for inclusion with the best card games. To be honest, it's not even a contest the instructions are much clearer, the theme is an easy elevator pitch (everyone has some understanding of Tolkien's story at the very least), and the decks are more coherent because they bring together the Free Peoples or Sauron's armies. That's why MTG's Lord of the Rings starter kit is the one we'd recommend getting first. The official beginner boxes aren't easy to get your head around, and they often feel rather hodgepodge as well – each deck is made up of cards drawn from across the last few sets.
However, it's got something of a starter set problem. It's arguably one of the best, too the old timer's blend of strategy and worldbuilding has earned it a dedicated fanbase since the 1990s. With more than 30 years under its belt, Magic: The Gathering (or MTG) is practically a household name when it comes to trading card games.
