MTG Arena

updated_at: February 25, 2025 05:01

published_at: February 25, 2025 05:01

Magic: The Gathering Arena
Release Date	Gameplay & Story	Pre-Order & DLC	Review

Release Date
September 26, 2019 (PC) June 25, 2020 (macOS) March 24, 2021 (iOS, Android) More Details
Genre
Card, Strategy
Platforms	Price (MSRP)
MTG Arena Launcher	Free-to-Play
Developer	Publisher
Wizards Game Studio	Wizards of the Coast
Number of Players	Age Rating
1-2 (Online PvP)	ESRB Teen
Time to Finish	Cross Platform Play
15-40 Minutes (per Game)	Yes
Official Website	Official Website for Magic: The Gathering Arena

Magic: The Gathering Arena Latest News

　⚫︎　Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy sets will tell the stories of the games (The Verge)
　⚫︎　Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy crossover first cards revealed (Eurogamer)

Magic: The Gathering Arena Overview

Magic: The Gathering Arena (MTG Arena) is an online strategy collectible card game developed by Wizards of the Coast. Originally launched for Windows via its proprietary launcher on September 26, 2019, the game later expanded to macOS on June 25, 2020, and to iOS and Android devices on March 24, 2021.

Designed to faithfully replicate the experience of the physical Magic: The Gathering trading card game, MTG Arena offers cross-platform play, allowing players to craft custom decks, collect cards, and compete in tactical duels across various game modes and formats.

MTG Arena Launcher
App Store		Google Play
Price	Free-to-Play

Magic: The Gathering Arena Gameplay

MTG Arena is primarily a turn-based PvP experience, allowing players to engage in strategic card battles across a variety of formats and game modes based on the real-life Magic: The Gathering trading card game. The game faithfully replicates Magic's core mechanics, including card types, mana generation, and seasonal expansions, while providing players with multiple ways to acquire new cards—either by earning card packs through missions or purchasing them from the in-game store.

Depending on the game mode, players can bring their own constructed decks into battle or use pre-built decks provided for specific formats. Matches follow Magic's standard flow: players spend mana from Land cards, cast spells, summon creatures, equip artifacts and equipment, and work to reduce their opponent’s health to zero or fulfill another win condition.

What sets MTG Arena apart from other online card games like Hearthstone and Legends of Runeterra is its direct connection to the physical TCG, giving it an established player base and deep card pool right from the start. Supported by Wizards of the Coast’s ongoing expansions and balance updates, MTG Arena has a solid foundation that ensures it remains a staple in the digital card game space.

Read more: Magic: The Gathering Arena Gameplay and Story

Magic: The Gathering Arena Reviews

Freemium Gone Wrong

MTG Arena was initially well-received for delivering the authentic Magic: The Gathering experience in a digital format. Early monetization models made it feel like a fair and accessible way to play the game on the go, without being significantly more expensive than its physical counterpart. However, as newer expansions rolled out, player sentiment began to shift, with more recent reviews highlighting concerns over the game's increasingly aggressive monetization.

At launch, MTG Arena held a Metascore of 84/100 on Metacritic, based on critic reviews praising its faithful adaptation and accessibility. However, user reviews paint a different picture, with many players criticizing the game’s shift towards a more predatory freemium model. Over time, the grind for cards has become steeper, making MTG Arena feel less rewarding for free-to-play players. Now, it's often compared to the monetization practices of other heavily monetized games like Hearthstone or League of Legends, making competitive play feel increasingly pay-to-win.