One of the buzzwords in education that has become quite popular over the past decade is gamification. The idea is if you can make lessons more engaging through games, or simply finding games that have educational value. This is without a doubt a good approach, as we are more effective at learning something when we are not aware that we are actually learning. So, if there is a more engaging way to convey the information and make it stick, we should all be up for it. One of the trends that are starting to resurface in the gaming world at least, is card games. According to eBay, card sales have surged and both kids and adults are jumping onto the hype train. The cards in question are collectible card games like Magic The Gathering, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh, and these have all been around for quite some time. So, let’s see what these games can teach us, or what skills they help us develop.

Deck Building and Data Analysis

Most of the decisions in the corporate world nowadays are data-driven. In order to create profit people rely on assets or strategies that were successful in the past, and of course modify them to fit modern standards. This is very similar to how players construct their decks for a competitive environment. In order for them to create the most viable strategy, they need to constantly analyze data, and modify their decks. Cards have different synergies and depending on how the current “meta” looks their value changes. Think of it as a chessboard and pieces. Each piece has its own value based on its potential, however, this value will change throughout the game, depending on where they are on the field. The same is with these cards, they might look powerful and impactful at the first glance, but in reality, they can turn out to be useless if it’s too difficult for players to consistently utilize their effects. So whenever someone is building a deck they take into consideration what other players will likely play, they think of the ways to counter their strategy, and also how to win the game.

Social Skills and Empathy

Another important thing to note is that these games often promote team play and collaboration. in Magic The Gathering there is a format called two-headed giant where two players share the same health pool and compete against two opponents. In other words, if you try to show off and think only of yourself, chances are your team will lose. So, you also need to communicate with each other, but in a way that your moves aren’t telegraphed for the opponents. Furthermore, the players need to learn how to bluff or notice if the other team is bluffing. This can come in handy if you decide to play on one of the fastest payout online casinos, as these sites are popular for swift money transfers and offer games like poker. In games like poker, reading other people is more important than the cards you get, and very often you can encounter similar situations in TCG. Therefore, trying to see the situation from their perspective can help you guess whether they are bluffing or baiting you to overextend.

Lots of Opportunities for Learning Different Facts

Finally, depending on the game you are playing you can learn different things. For starters, you get a better knowledge of the foreign language. Often cards have flavor text which can sometimes include fun facts, and players often read those. You also learn the importance of resource management and what aspects you need to consider when evaluating the utility of cards and things in life. Extensive play highwires your brain to think in this framework and teaches you the importance of efficiency and consistency. This is because the original rules make you think like the games are mostly random, but finding the right combination can reduce the RNG element and make your tool kit more consistent. This is a good life lesson, you should rely on luck as little as possible, and work on finding the ways that are more likely to lead to desired outcomes.