Magic Duels: Origins isn't coming to Android - so here are some alternatives
Cards! Cards! Er, cards!
A new Magic: The Gathering game just came out. It's called Magic Duels: Origins, and it's pretty darn good.
But unfortunately if you're the proud owner of an Android device, you're not going to be able to play it. Which is a bit rubbish, really.
But fear not, because here at Pocket Gamer we hate it when anyone gets sad. We don't deal with emotions well.
So we've made you a list of the best Android alternatives to Magic. One of which is a Magic game. We bow to no conventions.
If you've got your own recommendations to make, chuck them into the comments. After all, it's nice to share and mean to shout.
Hearthstone - download on Android
Well obviously this was going to be first. A lot of the changes we've seen in Magic Duels: Origins have come about thanks to the juggernaut that is Hearthstone.
It's as slick as you'd expect from a Blizzard game, and as hideously addictive too. If you love cards, and you're not already playing Hearthstone, you probably don't love cards that much.
Magic 2015 - download on Android
Curve ball! Well, not really. If you're desperate to play Magic on your Google-powered blower, then your best bet is Magic 2015.
It's not perfect, and its not as well thought out as the new version. But beggars can't be choosers. And neither can Android gamers who want to play Magic.
Card City Nights - buy on Android
Part adventure, part card game, all really rather good. Card City Nights is a clever mixture of ideas that's not quite like any of the other games you've played before.
It might not have the pedigree of the first couple of games on this list, but this is a wonderfully engaging premium experience that's well worth a look.
Ascension - download on Android
Another game based on a physical card 'em up. This one has been around for a good long while now, but it's chock full of upgrades and updates, and it's still well supported.
It also, if I'm honest, looks far more interesting than the slightly glum looking Magic games. All shiny art and bright colours.
Summoner Wars - download on Android
This one's from the same dev as Ascension, it's based on a physical game too, and if anything it's even better. Clever deck building and grid-based battles make up the core of the experience.
There's dice-rolling involved as well, and the different armies all have different strengths and weaknesses you need to uncover if you want to win.
Star Realms - download on Android
If you fancy a card game with a sci-fi feel rather than fantasy trappings, Star Realms is definitely going to be up your space lane.
Like the best games in the genre it's easy to pick up and ridiculously deep if you're willing to dig into it. And you should be willing.
Order & Chaos Duels - download on Android
Gameloft's take on the TCG. It's as swish and shiny as you'd expect, and while it's not super-duper original, there's still something to it.
There are 300 cards to collect, and some reasonably deep PvP battles to sink your teeth into. If you like biting PvP battles, that is.
Heavenstrike Rivals - download on Android
This one might look closer to a strategy game than a TCG, but scratch the surface and you'll find a lot of mechanics that wouldn't be out of place in a card game.
It looks gorgeous, it's got some really interesting ideas, and there's a fizz and a pop to proceedings that sets it apart from your more standard entries in the genre.
Calculords - buy on Android
Another slightly left-field choice. But hey, I'm doing the choosing and I live in left-field. This one blends puzzling, maths, and card collecting into a heady brew.
It's got a distinct style, a set of distinct mechanics, and a very distinct feel. You could say, if you were that way inclined, that is was pretty distinct. Bosh.
