Yu-Gi-Oh! Images

Yu-Gi-Oh! is a popular Japanese anime and manga franchise from Kazuki Takahashi that mainly involves characters who play a card game called Duel Monsters (originally called Magic & Wizards in the manga. See the section "Card game" below for different names of the game) wherein each player purchases and assembles a Deck of Monster, Spell, and Trap Cards in order to defeat one another and gain victory.

It began as a manga in Japan in 1996, the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise has since grown to an immensely successful global brand, spawning various manga and anime series, a real-life version of the card game featured in the story, video games, toys, and many other products.

0. Yu-Gi-Oh! Season Zero
Yuugi is a somewhat frail young boy who happens to be a big fan of gaming of any kind. But when he solves an ancient egyptian puzzle he is granted all the powers of darkness. Now when confronted with danger and injustice, he transforms into a much darker and dangerous form, and proceeds to dish out the justice and punishment for those who so richly deserve it.

1. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
Legend says that the enigmatic Millennium Puzzle will grant one wish to whoever deciphers its ancient secrets. Upon solving it, high school student Yuugi Mutou unleashes "another Yuugi," a peculiar presence contained inside. Now, whenever he is faced with a dilemma, this mysterious alter ego makes an appearance and aids him in his troubles.

2. Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
Set a few years following the events of the previous series, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (known as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX in Japan) follows a boy named Juudai Yuuki as he attends Duel Academy in the hopes of becoming the new Duel King.

3. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's is another anime spin-off of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, with a new protagonist (Yusei Fudo) and a new plotline revolving on five dragon cards which when brought together, will revive a beast called the Crimson Dragon. The main difference between this and other "Yu-Gi-Oh!" shows is that they duel on motorcycles in stadiums using duel disks called Duel Runners, and a new breed of monsters called Synchro Monsters are introduced.

4. Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL
A new Yu-Gi-Oh! series is to be announced at the Japanese encore screening of Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D Bonds Beyond Time on February 20, 2011. It is to be called Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL. In the near future, the main character's name is Yuma Tsukumo as he is encountered by a spirit named Astral. They are working together to gather the scattered and dangerous "Number" cards. They are the missing pieces of Astral's memory. This series also introduces a new type of monsters called "Xyz Monsters"

5. Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V
Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-Ⅴ is a Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series, the fourth main spin-off series, which began airing in Japan on April 6, 2014, following the end of Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL. The series focuses on a new protagonist, Yuya Sakaki. As with the previous spin-offs, it focuses on (and introduces) a new type of Summoning - this time, Pendulum Summon, as well as Pendulum Monsters and the mechanic in general, though it also has previous Summoning methods retain importance to the plot.

6. Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS
Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS is the fifth main spin-off of the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series. It is scheduled to air in Japan in May 2017, following the end of Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V. It features a new main protagonist, Yuusaku Fujiki. As with the previous spin-offs, it focuses on (and introduces) a new type of Summoning - this time, "Link Summon".

7. Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS is the seventh Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series succeeding Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, and the sixth main spin-off series which began airing in Japan on April 4, 2020. As with all Yu-Gi-Oh! spin-offs, Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS introduces a new protagonist, Oudou Yuuga and a new mechanic called Rush Duel, which uses a new version of a traditional Yu-Gi-Oh card as its counterpart. A trademark for the English adaption was filed on June 1st.