The best games where you can construct your deck of cards before the game starts 2024

In the immortal words of Stan Lee, "With great power, there must also come great responsibility." Enter the thrilling world of Marvel Champions: The Card Game, where Iron Man and Black Panther unite to thwart Rhino's rampage through New York, and Captain Marvel teams up with Spider-Man to face the looming threat of Ultron and global annihilation. Do you possess the mettle to stand alongside these legendary heroes and emerge as a true champion?

Summoner Wars (Second Edition) revitalizes the classic tactical dueling card game with new art, streamlined rules, and an expandable game system. Players take on the roles of summoners, commanding unique factions in a strategic battle to dominate the war-torn planet of Itharia. This edition not only updates fan-favorite factions but also introduces new ones to the fray, ensuring fresh and engaging gameplay for newcomers and veterans alike.

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a standalone adventure game that serves as a prequel to the highly acclaimed Gloomhaven. It's designed to be more accessible to a broader audience, with streamlined rules and an integrated tutorial.

Gloomhaven is a Euro-inspired tactical combat game set in a persistent and evolving world. Players assume the roles of adventurers, each with unique skills and motives, as they explore dungeons, ruins, and engage in cooperative battles against automated monsters.

Challengers! offers a fresh and dynamic deck-management experience, where 1-8 players engage in a tournament-style battle that lasts around 45 minutes, regardless of the number of players. This game stands out by allowing players to encounter a new opponent in each round, pushing the excitement and strategic planning to new heights with every match.

Summoner Wars: Master Set is a tactical card game that combines elements of strategy and fantasy. Players take on the roles of powerful Summoners, each harnessing the power of mysterious stones to lead their factions to victory in the war-torn world of Itharia.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a Lovecraftian horror card game that blends role-playing and card game elements. Set in the eerie town of Arkham, players face mysterious, monstrous, and maddening challenges.

Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire stands as a distinctive tactical arena combat game set within the rich universe of Warhammer Age of Sigmar. Designed for both quick play and depth of strategy, this game caters to a wide audience, from newcomers to seasoned players looking for a competitive experience. The game emphasizes balanced, small-scale tactical battles that can be completed in less than 45 minutes, making it ideal for both casual sessions and competitive tournament play.

Android: Netrunner is an asymmetrical Living Card Game for two players, set in a cyberpunk future. It involves strategic card play, where one player controls a megacorporation and the other plays as a lone runner.

The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is a cooperative adventure game that immerses players in the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The game challenges players to complete scenarios using heroes, allies, and a deck of event and attachment cards.

Smash Up is a unique and engaging "shufflebuilding" game where players combine two distinct factions, each with a 20-card deck, into a single 40-card deck. The game is known for its quirky and diverse factions, each with its own unique mechanics and gameplay style.

Wiz-War (Eighth Edition), a reimagining of Tom Jolly's 1983 classic, is a chaotic and humorous board game for 2-4 players, where wizards duel in an underground labyrinth. This edition, enhanced by Kevin Wilson and Tom Jolly, focuses on faster gameplay and clearer card effects, staying true to the original's spirit.

Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is a highly influential collectible card game (CCG) that has shaped the genre since its inception. Players take on the roles of planeswalkers, powerful wizards engaging in strategic duels.

Blue Moon is a unique card game for two players, designed by Reiner Knizia, which stands out in the realm of strategy card games for its distinctive mechanics and setting. It differs significantly from games like Magic: The Gathering, primarily in that it is not a collectible card game (CCG) but rather a precursor to what is now known as a Living Card Game (LCG), with no random cards in its expansions.

Ashes Reborn: Rise of the Phoenixborn is an expandable card game set in a world where players assume the roles of Phoenixborns – demi-gods and saviors of human civilizations. These powerful beings once liberated humanity from monstrous creatures like chimeras, but now face a new challenge. A prophecy has sparked the War of Ashes, pitting Phoenixborns against each other in a struggle for ultimate power and godhood. Players engage in this conflict, determining the fate of these mighty heroes.

Pokémon Trading Card Game is a dynamic collectible card game that brings the beloved Pokémon universe to life. Players take on the role of Pokémon trainers, using their Pokémon to battle against each other. The goal is to be the first to "knock out" six opposing Pokémon, using a strategic mix of Pokémon, Trainer, and Energy cards. This game, a competitor to Magic: The Gathering, offers not only engaging gameplay but also appeals to collectors who enjoy amassing cards featuring their favorite Pokémon characters.

Mage Wars Arena is a tactical board game that brings to life the fantasy of mages from different schools of magic battling in an arena. The game, previously known as Mage Wars, was renamed Mage Wars Arena in 2015 to distinguish it from Mage Wars Academy.