Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection

Released

Release Date: February 27, 2025

Puzzle, 2D, Manga and Anime, Card Games, Package, Remaster/remake, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Internet

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

7.6

Steam

Rate It!

Ratings

 Videos: 2 

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

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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:
CPU 3 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB, 12 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
CPU 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

ZTGD: 7.5 / 10 by Anthony Mann

It’s a good collection, but it could be even better. It could be great.

Full Review

Cloud Dosage: 3 / 5 by Jon Scarr

Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection pulls together 14 classic games, offering a nostalgic dive into the series’ early days. The duel simulators still hold up, but some mechanics feel outdated, and a lack of tutorials makes certain games frustrating. The spin-offs add variety, though they’re tough to get into without guides. Presentation stays true to the originals, with cool extras like box art and manuals, but don’t expect visual upgrades or major quality-of-life improvements. Longtime fans will appreciate the history, but for casual players, the uneven game selection and missing features make it a tougher sell.

Full Review

NintendoWorldReport: 6.5 / 10 by Willem Hilhorst

It could've been fun to explore this with a friend, but as only one game would support online play I'd find it hard to recommend to even the most dedicated of Yu-Gi-Oh! players. But lowering your expectations and going in blind, especially for some of the more unusual titles in the collection, could still be fun. Just know that there is a high likelihood that by the end you'll be happy that you've moved past those early days.

Full Review

76%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mostly Positive (388)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Nostalgia Factor: Many users appreciate the collection for bringing back classic Yu-Gi-Oh! games, allowing fans to relive their childhood experiences.
Diverse Game Selection: The collection includes 14 games, featuring titles that were previously Japan-exclusive and have now been translated for the first time.
Quality of Life Features: The inclusion of enhancements like rewind and save states makes the older, grindy games more bearable. Some users also appreciate the ability to unlock all cards or max out levels for a more relaxed experience.
Technical Performance: Most users report that the games run well without major issues, with some noting good performance on various hardware setups.

The main cons of the game

High Price Point: The $50 price tag is widely criticized as being too steep for the content provided, especially since many games are considered outdated and grindy.
Limited Multiplayer Options: At launch, only one game (Duel Monsters 4) features online play, leading to disappointment among users who expected more multiplayer functionality.
Outdated Mechanics: Many games in the collection are viewed as tedious and lacking modern gameplay mechanics, making them less enjoyable for new players or those accustomed to current Yu-Gi-Oh! games.
Poor AI: The artificial intelligence in many of the games is considered primitive, making the gameplay less challenging and engaging.

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

Fast Forward Function: Many users express disappointment that a fast-forward feature is not available in all games, which would help alleviate the slow pace of older titles.
Multiple Save Slots: Players would prefer the ability to have multiple save files rather than being limited to a single save state per game.
Additional Game Titles: Users frequently mention the absence of popular titles like Forbidden Memories and Duelist of the Roses, suggesting that these should have been included to justify the price.
Improved Online Play: There are calls for more games to support online multiplayer, as the current offerings feel insufficient for a collection of this nature.

Summary

Overall, while the Yu-Gi-Oh! EARLY DAYS COLLECTION has its merits, particularly for dedicated fans of the series, the high price and various shortcomings lead many users to recommend waiting for a sale or exploring other options.

Summary generated on: October 29, 2025

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