For decades, Yu-Gi-Oh! video games have been the duel disks of digital nostalgia, letting players across generations experience the heart-pounding thrill of drawing the right card at the right moment.
From the pixelated GBA battles to complex simulations on modern consoles, the franchise has carved a legacy as enduring as Exodia himself. So, when Konami dropped the surprise announcement of the Yu-Gi-Oh Early Days Collection, fans collectively shouted, “It’s time to d-d-d-duel!” once again.
The trailer alone was enough to ignite forums, light up YouTube reaction videos, and bring back that childhood urge to slap down a Trap Card with dramatic flair.
Released on February 27, 2025, Yu-Gi-Oh Early Days Collection landed on the Nintendo Switch and PC with the weight of fan expectations resting on every kilobyte. The collection bundled 14 classic Yu-Gi-Oh video games including two legendary classics: Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4: Battle of Great Duelists (previously Japan-exclusive) and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 6: Expert 2. The Monster Capsule spin-off series were also added for everyone to experience a different Yu-Gi-Oh flavor.
Each game was lovingly ported with enhanced save states, multilingual options, and an updated online dueling feature. Retailing at $49.99, the game included a limited edition physical copy of the exceedingly strong card, Harpie's Feather Duster.
What made the Early Days Collection sparkle like a freshly summoned Blue-Eyes White Dragon was its concentrated dose of nostalgia. For older fans, it was like opening a pack of memories—complete with classic sound effects, original card artworks, and the same menus they memorized in childhood.
Quality of life upgrades like instant saves, rewind options, and smoother online matchmaking modernized the experience without distorting its retro charm.
Among the hidden gems of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection, the spin-offs stood out as nostalgic treasures that players embraced with surprising enthusiasm. Titles like Dungeon Dice Monsters and Capsule Monster weren’t just side experiments—they were bold re-imaginings that let fans experience the thrill of summoning and strategy through an entirely new lens.
Players reveled in the chance to master unfamiliar mechanics while still feeling deeply rooted in the world they loved. These spin-offs became cult favorites, remembered not just for their innovation, but for how they captured the adventurous spirit of Yu-Gi-Oh!'s golden era.
The multiplayer mode, now boasting global matchmaking and ranked ladders, brought an edge to the old-school duels and made reliving the past surprisingly competitive.
But the wait wasn’t entirely worth the tribute. Despite the remaster treatment, the game still felt painfully slow at times, especially during drawn-out AI turns. The graphics, preserved for authenticity, now seemed more dated than timeless.
Most controversially, the $49.99 price tag felt steep for what essentially amounted to glorified ports with some polish. Just see what Retro Rebound has to say with his YouTube video where according to his own words, the game is "mixed bag"
In the end, Yu-Gi-Oh Early Days Collection is a paradox wrapped in a booster pack. For veterans of the franchise, it's a heartfelt love letter—a playable time machine that delivers all the feels of 2000s-era dueling with a modern twist.
For newcomers, it's more of an acquired taste, one that may require the patience of a thousand Life Points. The experience is enjoyable, but not without its cracks—just like that one friend who always ran a deck full of banned cards and swore they were “totally legit and legal.” As Nintendo World Report puts it on their review video, there's barely any heart in the game.
So, was it worth the wait? For die-hard fans, absolutely—just having these relics localized and accessible is a rare treat. For everyone else, it’s a decent collection that’s more about reminiscing than revolutionizing.
Either way, it's proof that no matter how many years pass, we all still dream of drawing the perfect hand and declaring victory with the confidence of a Pharaoh.