10 Free Collectible Card Games on Steam

Let’s be honest people, there are no free games on Steam, especially collectible card games. The ‘free’ ones technically don’t come with a price tag, but they are filled with microtransactions that not only slows down progression but make your grind through the ranks a living nightmare. However, not all in-game monetization is so unfair and in this list, we’ll be taking a look at a few of them.

1. Marvel Snap

PvP – Good

PvE – None

Spending – Required 

Playability and Fun – Decent

Grind – Grindy

The unique nature of Marvel Snap and combined quick match times have made it quite popular. Games can take somewhere between 5-10 minutes. However, playing feels frustrating since I don’t have the meta cards. There isn’t much to substitute in a 12-card deck and after reaching the higher ranks, most players spam the same deck, which makes it mundane. 

However, with new cards releasing every week in addition to a season pass exclusive card, Second Dinner has created quite a fun game. They even improved the f2p experience by actively listening to the community and although it’s not perfect, it’s better than many other games out there.

2. Minion Masters

PvP – Great

PvE – None

Spending – Definitely

Playability and Fun – Fun

Grind – Super Grindy

I am sure you’re aware of the famous mobile game Clash Royale by Supercell. Minion Masters is the PC version of the game, with mature graphics and a whole different art style. During my playthrough, I did find some cards that shared similar mechanics with the mobile game, but that didn’t lessen the fun in any way.

3. Magic the Gathering Arena

PvP – Great

PvE – None

Spending – Required 

Playability and Fun – Very Fun

Grind – Very Grindy

In terms of complexity, card pool, and variety, no other free CCG can compare to Magic. There are endless combos, decks, and different game modes that make for exciting games. Since I was used to the card game genre, the mechanics and gameplay came naturally to me, but the sheer number of decks was overwhelming. 

I have experienced a fair share of games where I was KO’ed before I set up by the board. For new players, I suggest learning the basics of the game, picking one deck, and sticking to it. It takes a while to learn the meta and even then, you never know what to expect.

4. Gwent

PvP – Good

PvE – Very Good

Spending – F2P friendly

Playability and Fun – Super fun

Grind – Decent

I have been playing Gwent since the open beta and have completed 100% achievements on Steam. It’s one of my favorite card games to date. The art style is exquisite, each card comes with unique voice lines and lore (based on the Witcher universe) and every deck has a unique playstyle.

I was able to get multiple meta decks with little to no grind and had an awesome time playing them. The only downside is that the game is not being focused on the developers and is mainly left to the community for support. Nonetheless, this is one game every CCG lover should try, especially if they’re a Witcher fan.

5. Shadowverse

PvP – Good

PvE – Excellent

Spending – Required

Playability and Fun – Super fun

Grind – Very Grindy

Shadowverse is perfect for anime lovers. The cards are very well designed both in terms of mechanics and art. The game also receives crossovers with famous IPs from time to time such as Spy X Family, Jujutsu Kaisen, etc. I was able to create a full meta deck by grinding PvE matches and other in-game events.

The game also hosts limited-time events that reward skill gameplay. Experienced players can take advantage of these events and can craft 2-3 meta decks in any given season. Overall Shadowverse is a fun game that showcases the anime flairs and aesthetics at their peak and every anime fan should give it a try.

6. Yu-Gi-OH Master Duel

PvP – Good

PvE – None

Spending – Definitely

Playability and Fun – Fun

Grind – Super Grindy

I have never played Yu-Gi-Oh because I’ve never liked the art style. But I wouldn’t discourage anyone from trying it. The game’s popularity is only rivaled by the likes of Magic and Pokemon and the digital game has a thriving online community.

However, I am used to a different genre of card games. Although I find the tribute mechanic quite interesting, the rest of the mechanics don’t appeal to my fancy. During my brief playthrough I was barely able to build one meta deck in a given season, so competing as a f2p in this game is hard but not impossible.

7. Eternal Card Game

PvP – Good

PvE – None

Spending – F2P friendly

Playability and Fun – Fun

Grind – Decent

The Eternal Card game is the love child of Hearthstone and Magic. I’ve only played it for a few hours. It’s a decent game with decent mechanics. During the digital card game boom, Eternal managed to catch the fancy of the niche ground of players and has been going strong ever since. The seasonal card updates keep the game interesting and demonstrate the faith of the developers in their game.

For a cheap Hearthstone clone, it has come a long way and I recommend trying the game as it’s miles ahead of some of the other free collectible card games on Steam out there.

8. The Elder Scrolls Legends

PvP – Bad

PvE – Great

Spending – Required 

Playability and Fun – Fun

Grind – Grindy

The Elder Scrolls Legends has one of the best artwork of any CCG ever created. Although it’s an old game with little to no PvP, there are campaigns and puzzles that I enjoy playing offline. It has mechanics similar to Hearthstone with a unique lane mechanic and is a nice way to pass time, especially when I feel burnt out after grinding ranked in some of the more competitive games. 

I recommend this game to anyone who is looking for a casual yet well-designed experience.

9. Phobies

PvP – Great

PvE – Great

Spending – F2P Friendly 

Playability and Fun – Super fun

Grind – Decent

Phobies is my next favorite collectible card game. It’s a very well-designed game with a detailed tutorial, and a unique concept, and offers loads of fun. The game manifests human fears into actual flesh and bone creatures that I can control and battle in an arena. But the thing that I like most is that I can start multiple matches with multiple opponents. They have three to three days to reply and the timer is reset every time someone makes a move.

Setting aside the unique mechanics of the game itself, this new matchmaking has got me hooked. I definitely recommend giving Phobies a try.

10. Infinity Wars – Animated Trading Card Game

PvP – Decent

PvE – None

Spending – Required

Playability and Fun – Decent

Grind – Grindy

Compared to the rest of the free CCGs on Steam, Animated Trading Card Game is somewhat better. It has an active community and a unique board system that makes games even more interesting. I was blown away by the ability to add my own card arts and flavor text effects to the in-game cards making this the ONLY game on Steam to offer this feature. It’s a truly unique feature and I would suggest this to anyone who likes to flex off artistic skills.