Dark MagicianNormal · Lv7Dark Magician GirlEffect · Lv6Slifer the Sky DragonEgyptian God · Lv10
Apr 2000 – Sep 2004
Duel Monsters
Tribute & FusionNormal and Tribute Summons, with Fusion and Ritual on the side. The three Egyptian God cards are the endgame.
Seto Kaiba
RivalJoey Wheeler
Best friend · Katsuya JonouchiMaximillion Pegasus
Game creator · Pegasus J. CrawfordMarik Ishtar
Villain
Oct 2004 – Mar 2008
GX
FusionFusion takes over, led by the Elemental HEROes. Set at Duel Academy, a boarding school for duelists.
Jaden Yuki
Protagonist · Judai YukiZane Truesdale
The Kaiser · Ryo MarufujiChazz Princeton
Rival · Jun ManjoumeAster Phoenix
Pro duelist · Edo PhoenixAlexis Rhodes
Friend · Asuka Tenjoin
Apr 2008 – Mar 2011
5D's
SynchroSynchro Summoning: add a Tuner's Level to your other monsters to call one from the Extra Deck. Most duels are Turbo Duels on motorbikes.
Yusei Fudo
ProtagonistJack Atlas
RivalCrow Hogan
TeammateAkiza Izinski
Signer · Aki IzayoiLuna
Signer · Ruka
Apr 2011 – Mar 2014
ZEXAL
XyzXyz Summoning: stack monsters of the same Level to make one with a Rank. The plot runs on collecting Number cards.
Yuma Tsukumo
ProtagonistShark
Rival · Reginald KastleKite Tenjo
Number HunterVector
Barian EmperorQuattro
Asia Champion · IV
Apr 2014 – Mar 2017
ARC-V
PendulumPendulum Summoning: set two Pendulum Scales and summon several monsters at once. The story hops across Fusion, Synchro and Xyz dimensions too.
Yuya Sakaki
ProtagonistDeclan Akaba
Rival · Reiji AkabaYuto
AllyYugo
Turbo DuelistYuri
Villain
May 2017 – Sep 2019
VRAINS
LinkLink Summoning: monsters with arrows and a Link Rating instead of a Level. Duels happen inside the network LINK VRAINS, often as Speed Duels.
Yusaku Fujiki
Protagonist · PlaymakerRyoken Kogami
Rival · RevolverTakeru Homura
Ally · SoulburnerAi
PartnerSkye Zaizen
Charisma Duelist · Blue Angel
Apr 2020 – Mar 2022
SEVENS
Rush DuelRush Duels: a faster spin-off ruleset where you draw up to five cards every turn. Maximum Summons fuse three cards into one giant monster, and Fusion arrives in season 2.
Yuga Ohdo
ProtagonistLuke
Rival · Lucidien KallisterGavin Sogetsu
Friend · Gakuto SogetsuRomin Kassidy
Classmate · Romin KirishimaRoa Kassidy
Rival · Roa Kirishima
Apr 2022 – Mar 2025
GO RUSH!!
Rush DuelStill Rush Duels, now with alien Galaxy monsters, Equip-heavy decks, Contact Fusion and Ritual Summons.