Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 PC
User Score
6.5 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 71 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 71
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 71
  3. Negative: 19 out of 71

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  1. ludd_gang
    Jun 21, 2012
    10
    So happy to have an end step and pick which lands I tap. This is a great intro to the game or way for vets to get a quick MTG fix. IMO it's a lot of fun for the price.
  2. Mudget
    Feb 4, 2013
    9
    I think they've finally perfected a PC layout for Magic: The Gathering. Ideally, I'd love to see Magic: The Gathering Online switched to this clean format, but for now, the single-player campaign and multiplayer (using only pre-built decks) is a good start. It goes without saying that this incarnation is superior to its 2012 predecessor, but what's more exciting is looking ahead to future incarnations. These are fun decks, but the desire to build one's own deck is something that should be addressed first and foremost in future editions. The vast amount of number-crunching this program does is staggering, and at times it can miss (computer opponent AI occasionally does goofy things no live player ever would). But bottom-line is that there are a lot of moving parts here and Wizards of the Coast has created one of the most faithful computer representations of the card game. If you are a fan of MTG at all, this should be in your collection.… Expand
  3. vandana
    Jul 15, 2012
    10
    There is only one MTG game better than DotP 2012 and it's called DotP 2013 :) More manual options, new inetersting decks. A must have for anyone who loves MTG and plays it only casually. If you want to see what MTG is all about this is also the place to start. For £7 it's a steal. The only thing I would add at this point is ability to lower lands number to 20, but that is a minor flaw. Love the equal chances the game gives to all casual fans.… Expand
  4. ShivanDarkeyes
    Jun 25, 2012
    9
    MtG- Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 has several improved features from previous years while retaining the charm and elegance of the core product. Duels is an excellent game to introduce new players to the world of Magic the Gathering. It slowly, but enjoyably teaches players the core concepts of the game. Learning Magic can be a daunting experience because of the depth and breadth of the rules but Duels 2013 makes the process simple by introducing concepts one at a time. Duels 2013 also does an excellent job of showing different strategies players can use when building decks. Every player should be able to find a deck that suits his or her individual play style. There are controlling decks and aggressive decks. There are mill-based decks and burn based decks. Creatures decks and removal decks. One problem with the game is that it lacks full customization options for its decks. Players can substitute a few cards, but experienced Magic players that want a digital version of the game will want more options than what Duels 2013 will provide. Especially after the Campaign mode is completed the game could have more repeatability if players could have more options for constructing decks of their own for multiplayer.

    The puzzles are much more difficult than last year but still easy enough to finish without using spoilers. The multiplayer section of the game offers the brand new "Planechase" that mirrors the non-digital release of the product and offers a high variance, but very fun alternative to two-headed giant and free-for-all play. Ultimately, just the campaign mode will give hours of fun for the low price of $10.

    The biggest problem with the game is the instability of the multiplayer games. They are difficult to get started and have a lot of connection problems causing players to drop frequently. Ultimately, even with these flaws this is an easy buy. The game should provide significant value to new and old magic players and is a steal at $10.    … Expand
  5. deltraeus
    Jul 2, 2012
    9
    As compared to the two previous versions, Duels 2013 stands above the others. The additions of both the end step and manual mana tapping (albeit through a clunky procedure) are great features and bring the game ever closer to traditional paper Magic. While there may not be true deck customization, there are certainly plenty of options available. From an unlockable pool of 30 cards (with more to come, surely) one can create a good variety of different strategies all with one central idea for each of the 10 initial decks (once again, more will definitely be added). The campaign actually feels as though it has a purpose and the Planechase campaign is very fun (albeit quite excruciating in certain circumstances). The challenges are definitely difficult in some places and make you think differently than you would expect.

    The only real downside I've seen is that the initial decks don't feel as ingenious and creative as those from Duels 2012. However, even if you have the first two iterations of the Duels franchise, 2013 is a must and at $10, how can you go wrong?

    Also you get a free 6 card booster in the real world, if that helps at all.    … Collapse

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Aug 31, 2012
    75
    Definitely superior to its predecessors. The, admittedly few, improvements are more than welcome, as is the case with the new Planechase mode ('Archenemy' will be missed, however). [August 2012]
  2. Eurogamer Italy
    Aug 12, 2012
    70
    New year, same problems. Without deck customization, Magic: Duels of Planeswalker 2013 couldn't be a masterpiece, just a good game.
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  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Aug 10, 2012
    80
    Extremely catchy strategy based on the classic trading card game Magic the Gathering. Nothing more nothing less. [Issue#220]
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