When going over iconic anime franchises, there is a good chanceYu-Gi-Oh!is one of the first that comes to mind. For decades, the adventures of the so-called King of Games have brought hours of joy and entertainment to fans across the globe. During its prime,Yu-Gi-Oh!reigned supreme thanks to its wild action and colorful duels. While the show may not be as popular as it was in the ’00s, it is time to set the record straight for anime critics.
Despite its legacy, some netizens claimYu-Gi-Oh!has only been going down in quality with each new series. Critics equate the show’s dip in popularity to a dip in quality, but you shouldn’t get ahead of yourself. While noYu-Gi-Oh!anime has seen the success of the original, the quality of the series has not necessarily gone down. Nostalgia blinds fans for better and for worse. So if we’re being honest, the reason behindYu-Gi-Oh!’s decline is much more complex than most fans realize.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Never Ever Follows the Same Formula
Each Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime Is Unique in Many Ways
WhileYu-Gi-Oh!has a number of hit anime series on hand franchise,Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monstersstill stands as its ultimate mascot. Yugi Muto’s time as the protagonist is revered by fans. Back in the ’90s, every anime fan in the world knew the duelist, and fans grew up with Yugi in kind. The hero’s impact on anime culture is undeniable, so you may see why fans are unwilling to move on.Pokémonbypassed this issue for decades as the anime kept its original protagonist Ash Ketchum on call, butYu-Gi-Oh!branched out. It ushered out Yugi in due time, and we have since been greeted by dozens of new leads.
Perhaps one reason why no otherYu-Gi-Oh!series has been as successful as the first comes from the franchise’s varying leads. For instance,Yu-Gi-Oh!Gxretained many elements that madeDuel Monstersa massive hit, but it did quietly branch out. The anime introduced ancient cosmic beings and even an evolved version of theYu-Gi-Oh!TCG which helped it step out ofYu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monster’s shadow.
Yu-Gi-Oh Announces New 2025 Anime, And It Looks Like Its Best Show In Ages
The Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise caused massive hype among fans with the announcement of a new show focusing on the story behind the cards.
As for the anime’s next entry,Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds, it marked an era that drove away viewers. The series was very different from what fans were used to. The protagonist Yusei has since becomeone of the best and most beloved heroesof the franchise, but when he was first introduced, fans were reluctant to give him a chance. Yusei’s serious personality and intense duelist style did not resemble Yugi in the slightest. The anime’s next three leads had a similar issue as each of them was designed to stand out on their own, ensuring they would not stand in the shadow ofYu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monstersfor better (or worse).
The Anime’s Card Game Has Become Way More Convoluted
Each New Summoning Mechanic Has Made Things Harder To Understand
With changing protagonists and volatile story lines on hand, you can see whyYu-Gi-Oh!declined over the years. Its original fans felt abandoned by what they knew, and to make things worse, the anime’s key component changed along with its story beats. Back when Yusei was introduced to the anime, he brought with him an entirely new summoning mechanism known as Synchro to the Duel Masters TCG. Over time, these monsters and their innovative requirements have become a staple of the game as many ofYusei’s best cardsare used to this day.
However, this shift was not always popular. To be frank, plenty of fans cite the introduction of Synchro Monsters as the reason why they abandoned the anime and the TCG game years ago. After the mechanic was introduced, each new season ofYu-Gi-Oh!debuted a new type of creature that was more difficult to summon than the ones before. By the time Link Monsters was released,Yu-Gi-Oh!was a completely new game from the monsters used to the mechanics incorporated. For series likeYu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, even with its solid cast of characters, it brought in a fraction ofDuel Monster’s success because of its focus onnew monster types.
The Anime’s Change in Format and Studios
Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens and Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! Have Unique Issues
In December 2019, Konami - the company that owns the rights to theYu-Gi-Oh!anime - announced the show was going to undergo a major update.Yu-Gi-Oh!Sevens, the seventh series in the anime, was given to a new animation studio and put specific focus on the TCG’s new format, Rush Duel. Konami was eager to bring back simple and quick matches,changing the rulesof Duel Monsters iin hopes of expanding the fandom. While the TCG audience flourished, anime fans were left isolated.Yu-Gi-Oh!Sevenswas received poorly by fans not just for its art style but for its unpopular game tweaks.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Has an Iconic Anime Dub But It Completely Butchered Yugi’s Best Arc
Yu-Gi-Oh!’s English dub is infamous for the many liberties it took with the script, and in one case, it completely butchered Yugi’s best arc.
As a kids' show,Yu-Gi-Oh!must find new ways to adapt and appeal to new generations. With its game tweaks and studio shift, Konami tried to appeal to a new audience by becoming more family-friendly than ever before. As for the gameplay changes, it all became extremely simple and lacked the intensity of the original game Yugi helped older fans fall for. While younger fans were enticed by this series' colorful art,Yu-Gi-Oh!Sevenswas ultimately canceled, becoming the shortest anime introduced to the franchise. The next iteration,Yu-Gi-Oh!Go Rush!!followed a similar formula: it focused on a younger audience but tried to add storylines that would appeal to the original fans. But by that point, a majority of the OG fans had lost hope in theYu-Gi-Oh!anime despite the positive changesGo Rush!!ushered in.
Nostalgia Has Greatly Hurt theYu-Gi-Oh!Anime
Yu-Gi-Oh!Fans Yearn to Relive the Golden Age
Throughout its lifespan, theYu-Gi-Oh!anime franchise has a number of legitimate issues which pushed fans away. However, the most unfounded concern comes with nostalgia bias.Yu-Gi-Oh!Duel Monsteris by far the most successful season of the franchise, and it is synonymous with the IP itself. Characters like Yugi and Kaiba are considered series' mascot astheir callings cardsare still given support decades after their release.
No matter how much the following seasons tried, surpassing the popularity of the originalYu-Gi-Oh!anime is an impossible task, and it is because of the anime’s nostalgic grip. For fans who grew up onYu-Gi-Oh!Duel Monster, if the anime doesn’t concern Joey, it is not worth their time. The other seasons have many great qualities, but be that as it may, they will never be able to recreate something precious to fans. You never forget your first, so for old-school fans, they can never forget the rushYu-Gi-Oh!Duel Monstersbrought and anything that tries to compare is a cheap imitation of their past.
Even with its ups and downs, theYu-Gi-Oh!franchise continues to be a pillar of the anime fandom, and it will for years to come. As time passes, we have seen the once-lambasted seasons ofYu-Gi-Oh!gain popularity as the kids who grew up on them began to express their love. Nostalgia only lasts so long, andYu-Gi-Oh!is tough enough to wait out the clock.
