Brandwave

How popular isMagic: The Gathering?

In September 2026, people searched for Magic: The Gathering by name about 673,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 32.3% of all global trading card game searches, placing Magic: The Gathering second out of five games. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about trading card games, Magic: The Gathering appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the five.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Magic: The Gathering is the second most searched of 5 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Yu-Gi-Oh!Share of searches 39.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  2. Magic: The GatheringShare of searches 32.3%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. Pokémon TCGShare of searches 21.6%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  4. One Piece Card GameShare of searches 4.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. Disney LorcanaShare of searches 2.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

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Top trading card games in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Magic: The Gathering appeared in all five answers. Magic: The Gathering is the most recommended of the five.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Magic: The Gathering1st
  2. Pokémon TCG2nd
  3. Yu-Gi-Oh!3rd
  4. One Piece Card Game4th
  5. Disney Lorcana5th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Yu-Gi-Oh!5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Magic: The Gathering5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Disney Lorcana5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Pokémon TCG4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • One Piece Card Game4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about trading card games

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which trading card games compete with Magic: The Gathering?

Magic: The Gathering against trading card games worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon TCG, One Piece Card Game, Disney Lorcana. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthYu-Gi-Oh!Magic: The GatheringPokémon TCGOne Piece Card GameDisney Lorcana
Oct 202536.9%30.2%24.7%6.1%2.2%
Nov 202539.3%32.1%21.5%5.2%1.9%
Dec 202541%33.5%18.3%5.5%1.6%
Jan 202639.2%32.1%17.5%9.6%1.6%
Feb 202638.3%31.3%20.9%7.7%1.9%
Mar 202639.4%26.3%26.3%6.5%1.6%
Apr 202636.6%29.9%24.4%7.3%1.8%
May 202639.7%26.5%26.5%5.3%2%
Jun 202636.5%29.8%24.4%6%3.3%
Jul 202634.7%34.7%19%7%4.7%
Aug 202630.8%37.7%20.6%7.6%3.4%
Sep 202639.5%32.3%21.6%4.3%2.4%
  1. 1.Yu-Gi-Oh!

    39.5%

    Moved from 2nd to 1st. 823K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +8.7 points.

  2. Moved from 1st to 2nd. 673K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -5.4 points.

  3. Held 3rd. 450K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  4. Held 4th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, -45.2% vs prior month. Share -3.2 points.

  5. Held 5th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, -33.1% vs prior month. Share -1 points.

Compare popularity between Magic: The Gathering and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Magic: The Gathering

4 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Magic: The Gathering changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Magic: The Gathering worldwide held steady at 673K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Magic: The Gathering’s share of searches among trading card games worldwide increased from 30.2% to 32.3%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Magic: The Gathering’s share of searches among trading card games worldwide peaked at 37.7% in August 2026 and was lowest at 26.3% in March 2026.

How did search popularity change for trading card games worldwide in September 2026?

5 changes
  1. In September 2026, Yu-Gi-Oh! overtook Magic: The Gathering to become the leader among trading card games worldwide, with 39.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Pokémon TCG gained share of searches among trading card games worldwide, from 20.6% to 21.6%.

  3. In September 2026, Magic: The Gathering lost share of searches among trading card games worldwide, from 37.7% to 32.3%.

  4. In September 2026, One Piece Card Game lost share of searches among trading card games worldwide, from 7.6% to 4.3%.

  5. In September 2026, Disney Lorcana lost share of searches among trading card games worldwide, from 3.4% to 2.4%.

How are Magic: The Gathering’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Magic: The Gathering’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • magic the gathering

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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Is Magic: The Gathering your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.