Trading card arcade games for kids

Do you like the trading card arcade games (TCAG) you can find at most super markets and arcades all over Japan? You just insert a coin and out comes a card! They debuted in the 2000s and have garnered a lot of fans, and titles like "Mushiking: The King of Beetles" and "Love and Berry: Dress Up and Dance!" became a huge phenomenon among kids. Even as adults, we treasure the memories of trading colorfully illustrated cards with our friends.

This time, we'll be featuring TCAG you've been missing from you childhood. Have fun basking in the nostalgia. Enjoy.

Mushiking: The King of Beetles (2003)

王者　帰還

by しろひろし

Mushiking: The King of Beetles was in operation from 2003 to 2010. Known simply as "Mushiking," this title was highly popular among boys. Not only as a TCAG, but also as a manga, anime and movie. You could play the game with just the cards, so many boys brought their decks to school.

In 2010, the sequel, Mushiking Battle Gacchu Guts, debuted. And in 2015, New Mushiking: The King of Beetles began operating.

ムシキング

by 瑠騎

Love and Berry: Dress Up and Dance! (2004)

ラブandベリー

by ちぃやん

This TCAG for girls operated from 2004 to 2008.

Players gathered cards of clothing, shoes, hairstyles and more to level up their "fashion power." Then, they could compete for high scores in a dancing game.

There was a manga and film adaptation. No doubt there were tons of girls begging their moms for clothes just like the fashion seen in the game. This was one of the premiere TCAG marketed to girls.

オシャレ魔女

by 明政

Dinosaur King (2005)

最終回記念

by 支倉

Made as a follow up to Mushiking: The King of Beetles, Dinosaur King began operation in 2005. You could customize your dinosaur and skill cards in order to do battle.

In 2007, it was made into an anime and console game, and the nationwide competition "DKidz Grand Prix" was also held. Cards made in collaboration with museums all across Japan were also created.

DinoKing log

by Vraqui

Lilpri Yubipuru Hime Chen! (2009)

ひめチェンしよ♪

by 🍑

Lilpri Yubipuru Hime Chen! debuted one year after Love and Berry: Dress Up and Dance! finished operation, and was also marketed to girls. Whereas Love and Berry had one cathode-ray tube screen, Lilpri featured two LCD screens and was controlled completely by touch screens. An anime starting in 2010 aired for a year, so this title is probably well known to many.

リルぷりっ

by 湿った星夜

Hyakujuu Taisen Animal Kaiser (2007)

アニマルカイザー！

by トラ猫

Hyakujuu Taisen Animal Kaiser began operating in 2007.

The cards were categorized into three groups: animal cards, strong cards, and miracle cards. The high quality CG models and animation were more than just for kids. Translated versions operated not only in Japan, but in Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and many other Asian countries.

めざせ！動物王者！

by 桜豆カカヲ

Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream (2011)

バトポン

by 惑星破壊男

Part of the second generation in the Pretty Rhythm series began operation in 2011. Players would combine ice skating and dancing to create a "Pretty Rhythm Show." This series is known for using heart shaped gems called "Pretty Stones" in place of cards. Of course, it was also made into an anime and manga.

MARsでございマーズ♡

by くちばし。

Aikatsu! Idol Katsudou! (2012)

ここからはじまるキラメくミライへ

by Hitoto*

The first entry in the Aikatsu series. It started in 2012 and centers around becoming an idol. It wasn't only popular with young girls, but also became a big hit with adults and boys. It ended operation in 2016, but its successors "Aikatsu Stars!" and "Aikatsu Friends!" have since debuted.

SHINING LINE

by くろでこ@お仕事募集中

Monster Retsuden Oreca Battle (2012)

Still in operation, Monster Retsuden Oreca Battle started in 2012. Nicknamed "Oreca." The player summons monsters with cards in order to do battle. It was originally marketed to elementary school students, but due to the high level of strategy involved, it became popular with adults as well.

Pretty Rhythm: Dear My Future (2012)

4人の原点

by \\\

Part of the second generation in the Pretty Rhythm series, Pretty Rhythm: Dear My Future began operation in 2012. It took most of it's game play from the previous title, Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream, but added the new appeal points system called "Pretty Rhythm Act." It ended operation in 2013, but the new series "Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live" began after that.

うぇるかむ！

by 赤坂択

Pretty Rhythm: Rainbow Live (2013)

プリズムライブ♬

by もにかにこ

Pretty Rhythm: Rainbow Live began operating in 2013, and was the last installment in the Pretty Rhythm series. It developed a completely different world from Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream and Pretty Rhythm: Dear My Future. It was made into an anime, and the spin off series, "KING OF PRISM" became quite the topic of discussion when it debuted.