Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection

Released

Release Date: February 27, 2025

A collection of 14 classic games from the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga universe. Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection primarily features various card games, however we can also find turn-based strategies or RPGs. This package also offers new features, including rewinding time, browsing manuals or having online multiplayer.

6.9

OpenCritic

7.3

Steam

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Images: 14 

Contents of the collection
New features
Game modes

Yu-Gi-Oh! The Early Days Collection is a compilation of fourteen classic games set in the universe created for the manga titled Yu-Gi-Oh!, which began in 1996. The compilation was developed by Digital Eclipse studio, known for refreshing older games, while its release was handled by Konami, the company overseeing the brand.

Contents of the collection

This compilation consists of the following games:

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters;
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters II: Dark Duel Stories;
Yu-Gi-Oh! Monster Capsule;
Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Duel Stories;
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4: Battle of Great Duelists;
Yu-Gi-Oh! Dungeon Dice Monsters;
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Eternal Duelist Soul;
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 6: Expert 2;
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards;
Yu-Gi-Oh! Reshef of Destruction;
Yu-Gi-Oh! Worldwide Edition: Stairway to the Destined Duel;
Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship Tournament 2004;
Yu-Gi-Oh! Destiny Board Traveler;
Yu-Gi-Oh! 7 Trials to Glory: World Championship Tournament 2005 (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist's Day: World Championship Tournament 2005).

In most cases, we are dealing with card games, in which we engage in duels, playing cards that represent specific monsters, spells, and traps, trying to reduce our opponents' life points to zero.

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There are exceptions, though. Yu-Gi-Oh! Monster Capsule and Yu-Gi-Oh! Dungeon Dice Monsters are turn-based strategies. Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards and Yu-Gi-Oh: Reshef of Destruction are RPGs. Yu-Gi-Oh! Destiny Board Traveler is a social board game.

As a standalone position, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 6: Expert 2 is available only in the Japanese language version. In other languages, we can check it out under the title Yu-Gi-Oh! Worldwide Edition: Stairway to the Destined Duel.

New features

Compared to the original versions, individual titles from Yu-Gi-Oh! The Early Days Collection stand out due to new features, led by the ability to fast forward or rewind time, as well as saving the game state at any moment.

Additionally, the package offers a range of options that allow us to customize the gameplay to individual preferences. We can unlock hidden characters and cards, remove the deck limit, remove the level of duel and cards from the list of banned or limited items, as well as remap original buttons.

There is also a digital gallery that allows us to take a close look at the packaging and instructions for each game.

Game modes

Although most of the games that make up the compilation can only be played locally, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4: Battle of Great Duelists also offers the possibility of conducting multiplayer duels over the Internet.

Platforms:

PC Windows

Nintendo Switch

Developer: Digital Eclipse

Publisher: Konami

Age restrictions: none

Similar Games:

UNO

The Elder Scrolls: Legends

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Game Series

12GAMES

Yu-Gi-Oh! Game Series

Features

System Requirements

System Requirements for Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection Video Game:

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
U 3 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB, 12 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommanded System Requirements:
U 3.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB, 12 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection Video Game.

6.9

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 37% of Critics. There are 27 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Nintendo Life: 7 / 10 by Jess Elizabeth Reed

The Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection stays true to its sources and brings a little piece of history into the modern age. Unfortunately, dull mechanics and often unwieldy UI plague many of the games in the collection just as they did on first release, although amidst 14 titles, it would be impossible not to have a couple of winners.For us, Monster Capsule and the two World Championship Tournament titles shone through beautifully. Although the included games are certainly imperfect, we recognise the intentionality behind the collection's curation and feel that it's an excellent time capsule of the origins of the iconic Yu-Gi-Oh! Series.

Full Review

TheGamer: 2 / 5 by Joe Parlock

For older fans wanting a hit of nostalgia, plenty of these games don’t hold up to revisits almost 25 years later. With none of the usual gubbins we’ve come to expect from retro anthologies, all you’re getting out of Early Days Collection is having your rose-tinted glasses stamped on.

Full Review

CGMagazine: 8 / 10 by Jordan Biordi

The Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is an incredibly robust collection that is sure to please long-time fans, but may be a bit too archaic for some newcomers.

Full Review

73%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mostly Positive (193)

STEAM

Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Nostalgia Factor: Many players appreciated the collection for bringing back memories of their childhood and allowing them to relive classic Yu-Gi-Oh! experiences.
Accessibility Features: The collection includes features like the ability to unlock all cards, rewind gameplay, and built-in cheats, making it easier for modern players to enjoy the games without excessive grinding.
Emulation Quality: s noted that the emulator runs smoothly and generally without issues, with some praising the upscale to 1080p and the inclusion of original game manuals.
Diverse Selection: The collection offers a variety of games, including some that were previously only available in Japan, which was welcomed by fans.
Presentation: The visual presentation was generally described as simple yet nostalgic, and the inclusion of online play for one of the games was seen as a positive step.

The main cons of the game

High Price Point: Many s felt that the $50 price tag was too steep for a collection of older games, especially considering they can be accessed through emulators for free.
Limited Online Features: Online multiplayer is only available for one game at launch, which disappointed s who expected more extensive online functionality.
Grindiness: Several reviews pointed out that many of the games are grind-heavy, requiring excessive repetition to unlock cards and progress, which can be tedious.
Technical Issues: Some players reported bugs, such as controls not functioning properly and the game freezing, leading to frustration.
Lack of Quality of Life Improvements: s noted that while there were some enhancements, many expected more significant updates and features that would improve the overall experience.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to s

More Games: Players expressed disappointment that popular titles like "Forbidden Memories" and "Duelists of the Roses" were not included in the collection.
Expanded Online Multiplayer: Many s hoped for additional games to online play, as currently, only one game offers this feature.
Improved Save Options: s wanted more flexible save options, such as multiple save states, instead of the current overwrite system.
Better Control Mapping: Some players found the control mapping to be inadequate, desiring more customization options for keyboard and controller settings.
Enhanced Speed Options: s noted that the fast-forward feature was not effective across all games, and there were requests for a more consistent speed-up function.

Summary

Overall, while the "Yu-Gi-Oh! EARLY DAYS COLLECTION" is celebrated for its nostalgic value and the inclusion of classic games, it faces criticism regarding its pricing, technical limitations, and the lack of certain beloved titles and features.

Summary generated on: March 24, 2025

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