Magic: The Gathering vs Yu-Gi-Oh!:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Yu-Gi-Oh! had more branded searches than Magic: The Gathering among trading card games worldwide. Yu-Gi-Oh! had about 823,000 branded searches, while Magic: The Gathering had 673,000. Yu-Gi-Oh! made up 39.5% of all trading card game searches we track, and Magic: The Gathering accounted for 32.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about trading card games, both Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! appeared in all five answers. Magic: The Gathering was mentioned before Yu-Gi-Oh! in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Yu-Gi-Oh!, about 22% more searches than Magic: The Gathering
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Magic: The Gathering, named ahead of Yu-Gi-Oh! in every answer
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Top trading card games in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! showed up in all five answers. Magic: The Gathering was listed before Yu-Gi-Oh! in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which trading card game should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best trading card game brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best trading card game for a collector?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“trading card games”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“collectible card game”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Magic: The Gathering or Yu-Gi-Oh! more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five trading card games we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Yu-Gi-Oh! | Magic: The Gathering | Pokémon TCG | One Piece Card Game | Disney Lorcana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 36.9% | 30.2% | 24.7% | 6.1% | 2.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 39.3% | 32.1% | 21.5% | 5.2% | 1.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 41% | 33.5% | 18.3% | 5.5% | 1.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 39.2% | 32.1% | 17.5% | 9.6% | 1.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 38.3% | 31.3% | 20.9% | 7.7% | 1.9% |
| Mar 2026 | 39.4% | 26.3% | 26.3% | 6.5% | 1.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 36.6% | 29.9% | 24.4% | 7.3% | 1.8% |
| May 2026 | 39.7% | 26.5% | 26.5% | 5.3% | 2% |
| Jun 2026 | 36.5% | 29.8% | 24.4% | 6% | 3.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 34.7% | 34.7% | 19% | 7% | 4.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 30.8% | 37.7% | 20.6% | 7.6% | 3.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.5% | 32.3% | 21.6% | 4.3% | 2.4% |
How has the Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Magic: The Gathering took it in August 2026, Yu-Gi-Oh! took it in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Magic: The Gathering’s share of searches among trading card games worldwide moved from 30.2% to 32.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 673K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Yu-Gi-Oh!’s share of searches among trading card games worldwide moved from 36.9% to 39.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 823K.
How did search popularity change for trading card games worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
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.
In September 2026, Magic: The Gathering lost share of searches among trading card games worldwide, from 37.7% to 32.3%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Magic: The Gathering’s and Yu-Gi-Oh!’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Magic: The Gathering
1 branded search term
- magic the gathering
Yu-Gi-Oh!
1 branded search term
- yu gi oh
Other head-to-heads among trading card games
- Yu-Gi-Oh! vs Pokémon TCG: compare popularity
- Yu-Gi-Oh! vs One Piece Card Game: compare popularity
- Yu-Gi-Oh! vs Disney Lorcana: compare popularity
- Magic: The Gathering vs Pokémon TCG: compare popularity
- Magic: The Gathering vs One Piece Card Game: compare popularity
- Magic: The Gathering vs Disney Lorcana: compare popularity
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.