Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013

 Xbox 360
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. ZTGD
    Jun 27, 2012
    96
    If you're looking to get into MTG for the first time, or if you want to rekindle your love for the game, 2013 is a must own. The game explains everything in detail, and the amount of content and modes are robust enough to keep players going for hours. This is the best Magic video game that is on the market today, and its all yours for 10 dollars. That is a great deal for what you get. I can not suggest Duels of the Plainswalker 2013 enough.
  2. NZGamer
    Jun 26, 2012
    95
    If you've played last year's version, the new decks make it exciting enough to warrant the purchase, and if you have generally held off but enjoy Magic: The Gathering, it's a no brainer.
  3. Worth Playing
    Jul 11, 2012
    90
    All in all, I'm pretty happy with what Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 has to offer.
  5. Gamestyle
    Jun 25, 2012
    90
    What really stands out about Magic 2013 though, is that whilst it is great entry into the genre for new players, with pop up help and a fine tutorial, it doesn't trade that off by dumbing down the experience for veterans. Literally the only thing missing is the feel of having a physical deck in your hands. We dare you not to become hooked.
  6. Eurogamer
    Jun 21, 2012
    90
    An amazing game, easily one of the best I've played in any medium. Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is its best video game translation yet, a perfectly pitched blend of hard strategy and endless tinkering with unlocks that just keep on coming.
  7. Joystiq
    Jun 20, 2012
    90
    The care and attention that went into this year's installment is obvious, and it's overall a fantastic product boasting several improvements over its previous incarnations. Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is the benchmark in the franchise and easily recommended to new and veteran Magic: The Gathering players alike.
  8. Official Xbox Magazine
    Jun 22, 2012
    85
    The puzzle-like challenges are a great way for seasoned players to test their mettle. So is multiplayer, especially the new four-player Planechase mode, in which the rules of the game change at random through a specialized deck of cards.
  9. GamingXP
    Jul 23, 2012
    82
    Magic fans get their money's worth and beginners are led into this world through a well done tutorial.
  10. GameTrailers
    Jul 5, 2012
    82
    Thanks to a wealth of content, solid presentation, and overall playability, the new Duels of the Planeswalkers is an excellent way to enjoy a game of Magic.
  11. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Aug 12, 2012
    80
    A better way to learn how to play. [Sept 2012, p.102]
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  12. The Escapist
    Jul 3, 2012
    80
    Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is, for the most part, a carbon copy of Duels 2012. The Encounters and Planechase mode are welcome additions, but the lack of diversity in the deck options seems like a bit of a step backwards in an otherwise static continuation of the series.
  13. Destructoid
    Jun 29, 2012
    80
    Overall, new features like the stat boards, the Lord of the Rings-esque music, and the ability to tap mana have won me over, making this third edition a charm.
  14. Meristation
    Jun 27, 2012
    80
    This year's edition has significant improvements like multiplayer mode Planechase or improving the making of decks and uses of mana. Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 remains indispensable for the expert Magic player and for the beginner.
  15. Quarter to Three
    Jun 20, 2012
    80
    The overall effect is like taking a broom or a flamethrower to the rules, completely undermining the game as designed. Which is something I couldn't be happier to see, because the game as designed is in dire need of undermining. If there's anything that can breathe life into Magic the Gathering, it's a shake-up like planechasing.
  16. 3DJuegos
    Jun 28, 2012
    79
    Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is easily recommended to new and veteran Magic: The Gathering players alike.
  17. Impulsegamer
    Jul 25, 2012
    78
    With that being said, the game is good, it is very good and would be a perfect start to a player's introduction into a cards battle game, and the world of Magic the Gathering. It has plenty of challenges to throw at experienced players and enough here to teach newbies to defend themselves in deck combat.
  18. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Aug 18, 2012
    70
    Another fun installment, but it's all starting to feel a little too predictable. [Issue#88, p.82]
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  19. Game Informer
    Jun 28, 2012
    70
    Despite all of these complaints, the core game is strong. Everything works as expected, the cards are translated perfectly, and the AI can play at the level of an average human. Beginners – who are the target audience here, to be fair – should have a fine time. I'd recommend playing either of the previous two games before this one, though.
  20. Cheat Code Central
    Jun 26, 2012
    70
    Does an acceptable job of bringing Magic into the world of video games and upgrading the 2012 version. However, there are enough hiccups in the implementation that most Magic fans will prefer to stick with the paper product-and those of us who no longer play Magic aren't missing anything by skipping it.
  21. GamesRadar+
    Jun 22, 2012
    70
    Veteran Magic players will enjoy the new decks and challenging puzzles here, and the game is a great way for potential planeswalkers to learn the ropes of this classic geek gaming staple.
  22. Gameblog.fr
    Jun 25, 2012
    40
    Too bad. This 2013 edition does indeed solve one of the two main issues of the series by giving the players the possibility of choosing what lands to tap in critical situations, but the 10 decks are considerably less interesting to play than the ones of the 2012 edition, and it's still impossible to simply craft your own decks with the provided cards. Those two shortcomings would be easy to solve, but it seems the developers don't want to, either by stupidity or laziness.

Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2012
83
#83 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2012

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 57 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 57
  3. Negative: 11 out of 57
  1. DyingDevilsCry
    Jun 20, 2012
    8
    I have to say after playing the last two year's Duels of the planeswalkers this was a must buy for me and i haven't been disappointed. The newI have to say after playing the last two year's Duels of the planeswalkers this was a must buy for me and i haven't been disappointed. The new mode Planechaser is very interesting indeed and a much needed change very frustrating at times but very fun at the same time. An example of this was the 1st game against the computer in the new mode where the computer got up to 181 and i only had 7 life left and the only reason I won was because my last computer opponent run out of card's, If you like magic the gathering and have played the last two game's i would recommend this aswell the deck's are fun to play with and like the last game they will probably make some DLC deck's aswell.… Full Review »
  2. ChezNate
    Jul 2, 2012
    3
    Tap your wallet, cast "weak iteration". I liked the last two offerings of the MTG series, and like the game in general. This year's offeringTap your wallet, cast "weak iteration". I liked the last two offerings of the MTG series, and like the game in general. This year's offering is slowly turning this series into the Tiger Woods of arcade games. It takes out the content that was enjoyable in the previous offerings, adds new features that a boring/repetitve/broken and does nothing to address the failings of the previous iteration. Gone is most mutli-colored decks and artifact decks. They even have less decks available than in the previous game. The decks they do offer are fairly vanilla mono color decks (mostly) that harp on one trick and one trick only for making them usable. Dooming them against any deck that counters that trick. Plane chase is horrible. Repeat HORRIBLE. Even if you get your deck tuned up for playing well in this broken format, it still takes way to long to play a game. Every die roll, plane effect and plane change add tons of tedium to the game. Playing one duel for an hour just to have to play it again as the AI decides to join forces against you (which they almost ALWAYS do) is not frustrating, its broken. They never add a deck editor that is value adding, and they don't import decks from previous versions. You can't even tweak how many lands you get to put in your deck. Basically, each year this series takes a great concept and dumbs it down in hopes of suckering new players into buying real cards. If they wanted to truly showcase how good this game can be, they'd stop holding you back and let you experience the creativity and ingenuity that is the hallmark of this game. And they won't if we keep giving them money for brain-dead iterations. Vote with your wallet and abstain this year. Maybe they will hear us and make a better game next year.… Full Review »
  3. eridani
    Jun 23, 2012
    9
    A lot of people are griping about limited card selection and the absence of deck construction. Despite the lack of these, Duels of theA lot of people are griping about limited card selection and the absence of deck construction. Despite the lack of these, Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is a solid MTG game. The DotP series focuses more on accessibility and ease of play than "hardcore" strategy. There are tens of thousands of Magic cards, which makes it quite an undertaking to build a deck from scratch. Besides, DotP 2013 uses the new 2013 Core set. In case you didn't know, the Core set cards are chosen because they are the most interesting, fun to play, and provide ample strategy options. DotP is not trying to replace Magic Online; it is a different product. If you want to build your own deck with all the sets from Invasion onward, MO is the way to go, but it takes much longer to set up an account there. DotP 2013, as are its predecessors, is an actual Magic video game rather than a Magic network, as is MO. 2013 adds some new features: the Planechase format and the option to tap lands. Although it is eerily similar to last year's entry. However, if you missed any of the other games in the series, now is a great time to start playing. As long as these things are taken into consideration, newcomers and veterans alike should find Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 enjoyable.… Full Review »
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