Collectible Games

Collectible or 'living' games are a subset of tabletop games.  They differ from standard games in two ways:

- Distribution: You can't buy the entire game in one package.  Rather, you purchase randomized packs (or known individual units) to add to your collection.
- Preparation: You must assemble a squad (or a deck) before a game can occur.

The preparation aspect means customization- you can make it your own- which is a big reason why the genre is so popular.  It's addicting, and people often build monster collections (here's how to store/organize your collection).  If you're interested in an overview, here's the transcript of a five-minute talk I did on these games and their value.  Scrye magazine was a nice resource for the myriad games that have been produced (this checklist book has a comprehensive list).  I have many fond memories playing this genre of games.

I group collectible and living games together, because they share the aforementioned traits.  Living games, produced by Fantasy Flight, are similar in spirit but eliminate the blind buy/randomized aspect.  Instead, living games are sold in known units- when you purchase [x], you know exactly what you're getting.

I've reviewed the below collectible/living games, presented in no real order (click on an image for the associated review).  Those new to but interested in the genre would do well to play with a friend's collection before you make an investment.  Magic: The Gathering is probably the most well-known game of this sort, and a good place to start (it's also the best collectible game out there).  Speaking of Magic, I've done a number of posts on just that game:

Building a Magic deck (and lessons from a failed attempt)
Important Magic cards and online resources and formats
This history of Magic was a good read; this Netflix documentary is less so but mildly interesting