Magic: The Gathering Arena
Strategy
Free To Play
Multi-player
PvP
Online PvP
Cross-Platform Multiplayer
In-App Purchases

Magic: The Gathering Arena empowers you to discover your strategy, meet the planeswalkers, explore the multiverse, and battle friends around the world. Start playing for free, challenge your friends, unlock cards, and feel the magic of the original fantasy CCG!

Developers: Wizards of the Coast LLC
Publishers: Wizards of the Coast LLC
Release Date: May 23, 2023
Price (USD): Free
Current Players: 4.5k

Links:  Steam Store  SteamDB

Mixed(60%)
core mechanics
user-friendly interface
convenient play
variety of formats
digital vs physical
starter decks
social interaction
pay-to-win
rigged matchmaking
technical issues
unfriendly economy
The general sentiment among reviewers is a mix of frustration with the game's monetization model, satisfaction with the core mechanics of Magic: The Gathering, and disappointment with technical issues and matchmaking. While the game is praised for being a convenient way to play the beloved card game digitally, many players feel that it is plagued by aggressive monetization, causing a challenging and sometimes unrewarding experience for free-to-play players.

Positive Points

  • Magic: The Gathering Arena captures the core mechanics of the physical game well.
  • The interface is sleek, user-friendly, and a good tool for new players to learn the game.
  • The game offers various formats like Standard, Draft, and Historic to keep gameplay diverse.
  • The digital format allows for matches at any time, providing accessibility and convenience for fans.
  • Negative Points

  • The game is heavily criticized for its pay-to-win elements and aggressive monetization.
  • Many players complain about rigged matchmaking and manipulated card draws.
  • There are frequent technical issues such as crashes and connectivity problems.
  • The economy is unfriendly to free-to-play players, requiring significant time or money investment.
  • Mixed Points

  • While some find the starter decks and tutorials helpful for beginners, others feel the progression to competitive play is too steep.
  • Many players appreciate the digital gameplay for its convenience but miss the social interaction of physical cards.
  • The card pool is large and includes exclusives, which some players enjoy, but others miss having the full range of physical cards.
  • Common Themes

  • The theme of pay-to-win is prevalent, with players expressing frustration over the expense required to remain competitive.
  • The game's matchmaking and shuffling algorithms are a frequent point of dissatisfaction, with many players feeling it's rigged.
  • The digital version lacks the community feel of physical card play, although it offers a convenient way to play online.
  • Updated 9/24/2025, 12:01:58 AM UTC