Last year, Yu-Gi-Oh! celebrated its 25th anniversary, a milestone moment that might make long-time fans feel a tad older. Konami decided to extend the festivities with what they’re calling a ‘Quarter Century’ celebration of this iconic card game. The Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is the only video game marking this special occasion. This collection bundles around 14 games from the early days of the series, featuring titles from the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. As someone who still plays Yu-Gi-Oh! avidly, I was quite intrigued by this collection. I hadn’t played all these games before sitting down to review them, but my hazy recollection was that they were rather stiff, mainly appealing to fans who watched the anime rather than those who played the card game. My hunch was spot-on, though the experience wasn’t as jarring as I had anticipated. For most, this will be a trip down memory lane, a curiosity to indulge. However, true aficionados might find a spark of charm hidden within this package. Though, I must say, you’ll have to dig deep to uncover it.
First things first, let’s tackle the obvious. Yes, this collection houses 14 complete Yu-Gi-Oh! games released between 1998 and 2005. It kicks off with the very first Yu-Gi-Oh! games initially exclusive to Japan on the DMG Game Boy, based on the manga, and now finally localized in English, to the Game Boy Advance world championship series offering a slice of accurate battle simulation, and even some zany experiments in between. At first glance, this might seem like a ton of games, but there are caveats. The early Game Boy titles are essentially incremental updates, refining the card game rules which were still being developed. For instance, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters II: Dark Duel Stories mainly introduced new rules and cards to balance decks. Meanwhile, Dark Duel Stories in the West (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4 in Japan) only added a single trap card zone. It’s a fascinating retrospect on how the game adapted swiftly, considering both hardware limitations and the burgeoning card game scene in Japan. Nonetheless, playing them in succession can feel monotonous to many gamers. Watching the evolution in game design, especially in terms of UI and UX, intrigued me initially, but after a single match, I quickly moved on to the more accessible titles in the collection.
Duel Monsters 3, on the other hand, was a pleasant surprise. Previously only available in Japan, this game tracks the Monster World arc where Yugi’s friends morph into monsters, becoming pieces in a tabletop RPG, with antagonists fulfilling the Dungeon Master roles. Interestingly, this title features no trading cards; instead, players place monsters on a grid similar to turn-based strategy games like Fire Emblem. Every monster boasts its distinct attack pattern, receiving buffs depending on the terrain and proximity to friendly units, transforming every encounter into a strategic puzzle. Two D10 dice rolls determine the success of attacks, adding an unexpected twist to battles. The system is charming, and the dice roll even influences the enemy encounter rate during boss segments. Its distinctiveness makes it stand out within the collection.
However, the same cannot be said for Dungeon Dice Monsters and Destiny Board Traveler. These spin-offs veer towards a board game-focused approach to Yu-Gi-Oh!. Dungeon Dice Monsters attempts a digital transformation of a lesser-known spin-off game of the same name. Players duel on an isometric grid, placing cubes that unfold in varied directions. The objective is to create a path to attack the opponent’s dice master. While intriguing in theory, the absence of in-game tutorials makes the experience cumbersome. You’re left with an unattractive, overly complex manual that you need to refer back to consistently until you grasp the mechanics. This is where the collection begins to falter. Although the quality of life enhancements aren’t terrible, there are glaring omissions. For example, while you can access each game’s manual, reopening it resets to the first page, frustratingly complex in games with challenging rules like Dungeon Dice Monsters. This also applies to the type chart used in early games, which determines instant monster defeats against opposing types. This chart’s intricacy is unmatched in the actual card game, as it includes types like ‘dreams’ and ‘shadow.’ The ability to rewind gameplay up to one minute is a plus, but a fast-forward option would’ve been helpful, particularly in the GBA duel simulators where the CPU takes its time strategizing moves.
Lastly, there’s the online component, or rather the lack thereof. Only Duel Monsters 4 supports online dueling and card trading, an intriguing decision given this game never left Japan. Even stranger is the cheat menus across these games, unlocking cards and sidestepping duelist point limits. This wouldn’t be an issue if Duel Monsters 4 wasn’t divided into three separate versions—one each for Yugi, Kaiba, and Joey’s decks. While these versions can duel, there’s little reason for players to do so. More engaging would have been online support for popular titles like Stairway to the Destined Duel or World Tournament 2004—formats beloved by veteran players. Hopefully, this feature gets added later, but for now, the online experience feels like an afterthought, lacking compelling draw for curious collections seekers.
This well-intentioned homage to Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days is further marred by the puzzling inclusion of Duel Monsters 6: Expert 2. Marketed as a hit in Japan, naturally, it should be part of this collection. Yet, unlike all other games here, this entry remains in full Japanese. While it was adapted into the Western release, Stairway to the Destined Duel, with rule modifications for English audiences, including it as a standalone title feels odd. It’s strange that despite all other previously Japan-exclusive titles receiving translations, this one did not.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection reflects a dichotomy. On one hand, it’s compelling to dive into Yu-Gi-Oh!’s quirky past before it cemented its identity as a card game. But on the other, while the collection is hefty, there’s a lack of polishing and detailing that leaves it feeling half-baked. Quality of life features don’t quite reach their potential, rules in some games aren’t intuitive without consulting the manual repeatedly, one game remains in Japanese, and only a single set of games offer online play. Extras like concept art or design documents, which would delight hardcore Yugioh enthusiasts, are absent. Amid the games, standouts like The Sacred Cards, Duel Monsters 3, The Eternal Duelist Soul, and 7 Trials to Glory shine bright. Unfortunately, many others feel like iterative updates to the series, or abandon ties with the card game altogether. It serves as a historical record, yet seems to lack genuine reverence for its source material.
Who’s this collection truly for? Nostalgic Yu-Gi-Oh! enthusiasts might catch glimpses of enjoyment revisiting these games. While the volume of titles sounds appealing on paper, sustaining interest isn’t guaranteed. Few titles might warrant a re-visit as casual experiences, but as GBA titles unfolded, I found myself detached from reconstructing decks or reimagining strategies for these revisited card games. Multiplayer engagement could’ve spiced things up, but with only one title supporting online play, recommending it even to the most ardent fans becomes a challenge. However, approaching it without set expectations, with a curious spirit to explore its quirky offerings, could still yield some fun. Just don’t be surprised to feel thankful once you wrap up this early chapters journey.
