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Japanese media franchise From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Duel Masters (デュエル・マスターズ, Dyueru Masutāzu) is a multimedia franchise consisting of multiple manga and anime series, a trading card game, and several video games. It began as a manga adaptation of Magic: The Gathering before branching off in 2002.
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2020) |
Duel Masters | |
デュエル・マスターズ (Dyueru Masutāzu) | |
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Genre | Fantasy[1] |
Manga | |
Written by | Shigenobu Matsumoto |
Published by | Shogakukan |
Magazine | CoroCoro Comic |
Demographic | Children |
Original run | May 1999 – present |
Volumes | 85 |
Series titles | |
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Anime television series | |
Directed by | Waruo Suzuki |
Written by | Satoru Nishizono |
Music by | Jun'ichi Igarashi |
Studio |
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Licensed by | |
Original network | TV Tokyo, Kids Station |
English network | |
Original run | October 21, 2002 – March 27, 2006 |
Episodes | 78 |
Seasons
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Anime television series | |
Duel Masters (#27-52; episodes not broadcast in Japan) | |
Produced by |
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Written by |
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Music by |
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Studio |
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Licensed by |
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English network |
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Original run | March 26, 2005 – January 28, 2006 |
Episodes | 26 |
Anime film | |
Curse of the Death Phoenix | |
Directed by | Waruo Suzuki |
Written by | Satoru Nishizono |
Music by | Jun'ichi Igarashi |
Studio | Studio Hibari |
Released | March 12, 2005 |
Runtime | 50 minutes |
Anime television series | |
Shinseiki: Duel Masters Flash | |
Directed by | Waruo Suzuki |
Written by | Koji Ueda |
Music by | Yasuharu Takanashi |
Studio | |
Original network | TV Tokyo |
Original run | April 10, 2006 – March 23, 2007 |
Episodes | 24 |
Anime television series | |
Zero/Cross series | |
Directed by |
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Written by |
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Music by | Jun'ichi Igarashi |
Studio |
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Original network | TV Tokyo, Kids Station |
Original run | April 9, 2007 – March 26, 2011 |
Episodes | 187 |
Seasons
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Anime film | |
Lunatic God Saga | |
Directed by | Keidai Hattori |
Written by | Hideyuki Nishimori |
Music by | Jun'ichi Igarashi |
Studio | Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment |
Released | September 19, 2009 |
Runtime | 75 minutes |
Anime film | |
Blazing Bonds XX | |
Directed by | Keida Hattori |
Written by | Katsuro Hidaka |
Music by | Jun'ichi Igarashi |
Studio | Studio Hibari |
Released | August 21, 2010 |
Runtime | 75 minutes |
Anime television series | |
Victory/Versus series | |
Directed by |
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Written by |
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Music by | Jun'ichi Igarashi |
Studio |
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Original network | TV Tokyo |
Original run | April 2, 2011 – March 26, 2017 |
Episodes | 305 |
Seasons
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Anime television series | |
King series | |
Directed by | Shinobu Sasaki |
Written by | Yoichi Kato |
Music by | Jun'ichi Igarashi |
Studio |
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Original network | TV Tokyo |
Original run | April 2, 2017 – August 28, 2022 |
Episodes | 259 |
Seasons
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Anime television series | |
Win series | |
Studio | Brain's Base |
Original network | TV Tokyo |
Original run | September 4, 2022 – March 31, 2024 |
Episodes | 78 |
Seasons
| |
Original net animation | |
Duel Masters Lost: Tsuioku no Suishō | |
Directed by | Riki Fukushima |
Written by | Yoichi Kato |
Studio | J.C.Staff |
Released | October 4, 2024 – present |
Episodes | 1 |
Anime | |
Duel Masters Lost: Gekka no Shinigami | |
Released | Q1 2025 – scheduled |
The story centers around the card game Duel Masters, which revolves around five civilizations consisting of Fire, Water, Light, Darkness and Nature. The original storyline follows Shobu Kirifuda, a young boy who likes to play Duel Masters. He and a few duelists are known to bring the monsters on the cards to life in their duels. Shobu engages in this card game so that he can be the best duelist like his father was.
The Four Temple Guardians (四天衆, Shi Tenshū) are the elite members of the White Soldiers that work under Hakuoh.
Short for Powerful Loyal Order of Princes, P.L.O.O.P. is an evil organization that plot to use monsters from the Civilizations of the Creature World to take over Earth. This organization appears only in the 26 episodes which were never broadcast in Japan. Their original names are unknown.
The Black Soldiers are a group of duelists that are the opposite form of Hakuoh's White Soldiers. Most of the Black Soldiers consists of duelists that were unable to defeat Hakuoh when wanting to become a member of the White Soldiers. They entered the Battle Arena Tournament to beat all of its players. After the defeat of most of the Black Soldier, most of the unnamed members left the group.
While brainwashed, her trump cards are Cruel Naga, Avatar of Fate and Super Necrodragon Abzo Dolba. In Duel Masters Cross her deck contains all 5 civilizations and is focused on creatures who have the following effect: "If this card is discarded during your opponent's turn, you may put this card into the Battle Zone instead of the Graveyard". Afterwards, she changes her deck into a Light, Water and Darkness civilization deck based on the Knight race using Brunhilde, Ghost Knight and Nero Gryphis, Mystic Light Emperor as her trump cards.
He uses a combination of Fire, Darkness and Water cards (most of his creatures are Zombie Dragons) with his deck being focused on sending cards to the graveyard (his and his opponent's), sometimes outright destroying them, and benefiting from it. Later in the series he changes his deck to a Darkness/Light Knight deck, his main trump cards being Romanoff the 1st, Lord of the Demonic Eye, Death Romanoff the 5th, General of the Demonic Eye, King Balcry, Demonic Eye Lord and Supernova Death Dragerion.
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2019) |
The card game first originated in Japan in May 2002 and was marketed by Takara (later Takara Tomy following the merger). It was produced in English by Wizards of the Coast, who purchased the rights to the name Duel Masters from Reality Simulations, Inc., which ran a play-by-mail gladiator game called Duelmasters, now known as Duel2. The English-language printing of the TCG ran from DM-01 Base Set (May 5, 2004) until DM-12 Thrash of the Hybrid Megacreatures (November 2006). It was the twelfth and final expansion released by Wizards of the Coast for the English-language game before it was discontinued in 2006.
The spin-off product, Kaijudo, was announced by Wizards of the Coast in February 2012.[23] A relaunch of the TCG product line with Wizards of the Coast working along with its parent company Hasbro. It was released on June 26, 2012 and was incompatible with previous Duel Master cards.[citation needed] Wizards of the Coast discontinued Kaijudo in 2014.[24]
In Japan, the card game is an ongoing commercial success. As of 2024, there are over 90 mainline sets, with new booster sets, starter decks, promotional cards, and more released alongside them. Notable innovations Cross Gear and Omega Aura equip cards; the Hyperspatial Zone and Gacharange side decks; Castle and Field continuous effects; Forbidden and Zero unlockable cards; and other varieties of double-sided and unfoldable cards.
The Duel Masters manga series is written by Shigenobu Matsumoto, and published by Shogakukan in the CoroCoro Comic magazine. While none of manga series have been licensed in English, there was a North American-created comic book by Dreamwave Productions.[25]
The original manga series ran from 1999 to 2005 and was compiled into 17 tankōbon volumes. It was followed by Duel Masters: Fighting Edge from 2005 to 2008 and Duel Masters Star Cross from 2008 to 2011, along with several side story tankōbon. The first 40 volumes of the manga sold approximately 4.5 million copies in Japan.[26]
There have been numerous spinoff manga by different authors. These include gag manga, background lore stories, and card playing guides.
Title | Serialization dates | Volumes | Protagonist |
---|---|---|---|
Duel Masters | April 1999 - February 2005 | 17 | Shobu Kirifuda |
Duel Masters Fighting Edge | March 2005 - May 2008 | 12 | |
Duel Masters Star Cross | June 2008 - February 2011 | 9 | |
Duel Masters Victory | March 2011 - February 2014 | 10 | Katta Kirifuda |
Duel Masters Versus | March 2014 - January 2017 | 12 | |
Duel Masters (2017) | March 2017 - January 2020 | 11 | Joe Kirifuda |
Duel Masters King | February 2020 - July 2022 | 8 | |
Duel Masters WIN | August 2022 - present | 6 (as of October 2024) | Win Kirifuda |
Duel Masters LOST art by Yoh Kanebayashi |
February 2024 - present | 1 (as of October 2024) |
The first television series originally premiered in Japan on October 21, 2002, and ran until December 22, 2003. There are a total of six seasons with Shobu Kirifuda as the protagonist. Duel Masters was followed by Duel Masters Charge, which is mostly based on the manga; Zero Duel Masters and its sequel Duel Masters Zero, which are an alternate sequel to the first season and ignores the events of Charge; Duel Masters Cross and Duel Masters Cross Shock. From Duel Masters Zero until Duel Masters Victory V, the series was broadcast in a 12-minute format instead of 24-minute format.
A spin-off series, Shinseiki: Duel Masters Flash aired from April 10, 2006, to March 23, 2007. The series follows Teru Yumemi, who must protect the ARC pendant from the antagonistic Nest organization.
Duel Masters Victory premiered on April 2, 2011, and introduced a new protagonist named Katta Kirifuda, the younger brother of Shobu. Its storyline follows from the events of the Duel Masters: Star Cross manga series. Victory was followed by Duel Masters Victory V, Duel Masters Victory V3, Duel Masters Versus, Duel Masters Versus Revolution, and Duel Masters Versus Revolution Final.[27]
The 2017 Duel Masters anime introduced Joe Kirifuda, the son of Katta and focused on his adventures in the Creature World.[28] It was followed by Duel Masters!, Duel Masters!!, Duel Masters King, Duel Masters King!, and Duel Masters King MAX. In April 2020, Duel Masters King was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[29] The anime returned on May 31, 2020.[30]
A new series titled Duel Masters Win premiered on September 4, 2022[31] and introduced the protagonist Win Kirifuda. Unlike the previous Kirifuda protagonists who use the kanji 切札, his name uses the kanji 斬札, and therefore he is not related to them. The series is followed by Duel Masters Win: Duel Wars[32] and Duel Masters Lost: Tsuioku no Suishō.[33][34] An adaptation of the Duel Masters Lost: Gekka no Shinigami manga series is set to premiere in Q1 2025.[35] [36]
A spin-off anime animated by Plott titled Dragon musume ni naritaku nai! began streaming on YouTube in October 2023. The channel reached over 100,000 subscribers within its first three months.[37]
No. | Title | Air dates | Episodes | Protagonist | Animation studio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Duel Masters | October 21, 2002 – December 22, 2003 | 26 | Shobu Kirifuda | Studio Hibari A.C.G.T. |
1.5 | Duel Masters (not broadcast in Japan) |
March 26, 2005 – June 17, 2006 | 26 | ||
2 | Duel Masters Charge | April 19, 2004 – March 27, 2006 | 52 | Studio Hibari | |
3 | Shinseiki: Duel Masters Flash | April 10, 2006 – March 23, 2007 | 24 | Teru Yumemi | SynergySP G&G Entertainment |
4 | Zero Duel Masters | April 9, 2007 – September 28, 2007 | 12 | Shobu Kirifuda | SynergySP |
5 | Duel Masters Zero | October 6, 2007 – March 29, 2008 | 25 | Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment | |
6 | Duel Masters Cross | April 5, 2008 – March 27, 2010 | 100 | ||
7 | Duel Masters Cross Shock | April 3, 2010 – March 26, 2011 | 50 | ||
8 | Duel Masters Victory | April 2, 2011 – March 31, 2012 | 52 | Katta Kirifuda | |
9 | Duel Masters Victory V | April 7, 2012 – March 30, 2013 | 51 | ||
10 | Duel Masters Victory V3 | April 6, 2013 – March 29, 2014 | 51 | ||
11 | Duel Masters Versus | April 5, 2014 – March 28, 2015 | 49 | Ascension Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment | |
12 | Duel Masters Versus Revolution | April 5, 2015 – March 27, 2016 | 51 | ||
13 | Duel Masters Versus Revolution Final | April 3, 2016 – March 26, 2017 | 51 | ||
14 | Duel Masters (2017) | April 2, 2017 – March 25, 2018 | 51 | Joe Kirifuda | |
15 | Duel Masters! | April 1, 2018 – March 31, 2019 | 51 | ||
16 | Duel Masters!! | April 7, 2019 – March 29, 2020 | 51 | Brain's Base Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment | |
17 | Duel Masters King | April 5, 2020 – March 28, 2021 | 47 | ||
18 | Duel Masters King! | April 4, 2021 – March 27, 2022 | 43 | ||
19 | Duel Masters King MAX | April 3, 2022 – August 28, 2022 | 17 | ||
20 | Duel Masters Win | September 4, 2022 – March 26, 2023 | 29 | Win Kirifuda | |
21 | Duel Masters Win: Duel Wars | April 2, 2023 – March 31, 2024 | 49 | ||
22 | Duel Masters Lost: Tsuioku no Suishō | October 4, 2024 - present | J.C.Staff Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment | ||
23 | Duel Masters Lost: Gekka no Shinigami | Scheduled |
# | Title | Original airdate (Japan)[38][39] | Original airdate (US) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "This is a duel!" ("Playing with a Full Deck") Transliteration: "Kore ga Dyueru da!" (Japanese: これがデュエルだ!) | October 21, 2002 | March 13, 2004 |
2 | "A Stealthy Shadow" ("It's Not Easy Being Green") Transliteration: "Shinobi Yoru Kage" (Japanese: 忍びよる影) | October 28, 2002 | March 20, 2004 |
3 | "The Dark Challenger" ("Toru, Toru, Toru, Part 1") Transliteration: "Ankoku no Chōsen-sha" (Japanese: 暗黒の挑戦者) | November 4, 2002 | March 27, 2004 |
4 | "Aim for Victory!" ("Toru, Toru, Toru, Part 2") Transliteration: "Shōri wo Mezase!" (Japanese: 勝利を目指せ!) | November 11, 2002 | April 3, 2004 |
5 | "At the Battle Arena" ("I'll Be a Monkey's Brother") Transliteration: "Batoru Arīna e" (Japanese: バトルアリーナへ) | November 18, 2002 | April 10, 2004 |
6 | "Hakuoh, Miracle Duel" ("Wok on the Wildside") Transliteration: "Hakuō, Kiseki no Deyueru" (Japanese: 白凰、奇跡のデュエル) | November 25, 2002 | April 17, 2004 |
7 | "The Beautiful Snake's Trap" ("White Boys Can't Charm") Transliteration: "Hebi Bira no Wana" (Japanese: 蛇美羅の罠) | December 2, 2002 | April 24, 2004 |
8 | "Fierce Battle! Evolution Creature" ("Duels of the Futures Past") Transliteration: "Gekitō! Shinka Kurīchā" (Japanese: 激闘!進化クリーチャー) | December 9, 2002 | May 1, 2004 |
9 | "At the Temple" ("A Goblin Shall Lead Them") Transliteration: "Shinden e" (Japanese: 神殿へ) | December 16, 2002 | May 8, 2004 |
10 | "A New Trump Card" ("Shobu Gets Decked") Transliteration: "Arata Naru Kirifuda" (Japanese: 新たなる切り札) | December 23, 2002 | May 15, 2004 |
11 | "Mana the Man Manipulator" ("Ballad of Kintaro, Part One") Transliteration: "Mana wo Ayatsuru Otoko" (Japanese: マナをあやつる男) | January 6, 2002 | May 22, 2004 |
12 | "They're Name is The Imperial Four!" ("Ballad of Kintaro, Part Two") Transliteration: "Sono Na wa Shitenshū!" (Japanese: その名は四天衆!) | January 13, 2003 | May 29, 2004 |
13 | "Speed VS Speed" ("Looney Mikuni, Part One") Transliteration: "Sokkō Tai Sokkō" (Japanese: 速攻VS速攻) | January 20, 2003 | June 5, 2004 |
14 | "A Blazing Turnaround" ("Looney Mikuni, Part Two") Transliteration: "Honō no Dai Gyakuten" (Japanese: 炎の大逆転) | January 27, 2003 | June 12, 2004 |
15 | "Tasogare of the Imperial Four" ("A Strange Twist of Fate") Transliteration: "Tasogare no Shitenshū" (Japanese: 黄昏の四天衆) | February 3, 2003 | June 19, 2004 |
16 | "Mimi's Decision" ("Yes, Master") Transliteration: "Mimi no Ketsui" (Japanese: ミミの決意) | February 10, 2003 | June 26, 2004 |
17 | "The Worst Duelist Ever" ("Oh Brother, Where Art Thou") Transliteration: "Saitei no Deyuerisuto" (Japanese: 最低のデュエリスト) | March 10, 2003 | July 3, 2004 |
18 | "An Approaching Shadow" ("Cable Guy") Transliteration: "Semari Kuru Kage" (Japanese: 迫り来る影) | March 17, 2003 | July 10, 2004 |
19 | "Laughing Death" ("Once More With Feeling") Transliteration: "Warau Shinigami" (Japanese: 笑う死神) | December 11, 2003 | July 17, 2004 |
20 | "Activate! Duel of Truth" ("Kokujo Fights Back") Transliteration: "Hatsudō! Shin no Deyueru" (Japanese: 発動!真のデュエル) | December 12, 2003 | July 24, 2004 |
21 | "Showdown!" ("The One Where Shobu Duels Hakuoh") Transliteration: "Kessen!" (Japanese: 決戦!) | December 15, 2003 | July 31, 2004 |
22 | "Final Trump Card" ("Just Duel It") Transliteration: "Saigo no Kirifuda" (Japanese: 最後の切り札) | December 16, 2003 | August 7, 2004 |
23 | "A New Challenger" ("The Crying Game") Transliteration: "Arata Naru Chōsen-sha" (Japanese: 新たなる挑戦者) | December 17, 2003 | August 14, 2004 |
24 | "Duelist Killer" ("Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?") Transliteration: "Deyuerisuto Kirā" (Japanese: デュエリストキラー) | December 18, 2003 | August 21, 2004 |
25 | "Shobu, Falls into the Sunset" ("Something Wacky This Way Comes") Transliteration: "Shōbu, Yūhi ni Chiru" (Japanese: 勝舞、夕日に散る) | December 19, 2003 | August 28, 2004 |
26 | "Revive, Shobu!" ("What's A Mana with You?") Transliteration: "Yomigaere, Shōbu!" (Japanese: よみがえれ、勝舞!) | December 22, 2003 | September 4, 2004 |
The English-language version of the series was produced by Hasbro Entertainment and Plastic Cow Productions. It made a truncated four-episode preview premiere on Cartoon Network's Toonami block on February 27, 2004. The series then made its official premiere on March 13, 2004, as part of the Saturday Video Entertainment System block, with fewer edits.[citation needed] When Toonami was moved to Saturdays, the block premiered the rest of the series. It was also aired in a 6:00 AM timeslot on early Weekday mornings, as part of Cartoon Network's Early Prime block, which was aimed at kids who were getting ready to go to school during this time on October 4 to December 31, 2004 and it returns once again on June 20 to December 30, 2005. [citation needed]
A second batch of 26 episodes was produced by Hasbro Studios and Elastic Media Corporation and premiered on Cartoon Network on March 26, 2005. Despite being aired some months later, these episodes were considered part of the first season[40] and featured an original storyline not adapted from the manga. While the original animation studio and staff remained the same as the first season, these episodes were never broadcast or acknowledged in Japan.
Duel Masters 2.0[41] was later produced by Hasbro and Howling Cat Studios. It was adapted from the first half of Duel Masters Charge, compressing 26 episodes into 13. The final three episodes were scheduled but never aired.
Episodes of the English version are currently available for streaming on Tubi TV[42] and Amazon Prime.
# | Title | Original airdate (US) |
---|---|---|
27 | "Atta Boy, George" | March 26, 2005 |
28 | "Break On Through to the Other Side" | April 2, 2005 |
29 | "The Duel Goes Ever, Ever On" | April 9, 2005 |
30 | "Enemy, Mine" | April 16, 2005 |
31 | "Win, Lose, or Draw" | April 23, 2005 |
32 | "Go Towards the Light" | April 30, 2005 |
33 | "The Lights Are on But Nobody's Home" | May 7, 2005 |
34 | "If Ever A Quiz There Was" | May 21, 2005 |
35 | "Duel or Alive" | May 28, 2005 |
36 | "Water You Waiting For?" | June 4, 2005 |
37 | "Nature Calls, Part 1" | June 11, 2005 |
38 | "Nature Calls, Part 2" | June 18, 2005 |
40 | "Fear Itself" | August 12, 2005 |
41 | "Tournament Is Fair Play" | September 24, 2005 |
42 | "In Deep Duel-Duel" | October 8, 2005 |
43 | "Desert Storm" | October 15, 2005 |
44 | "Wonderfalls" | October 29, 2005 |
45 | "Creatures Of The Night" | November 5, 2005 |
46 | "Quest for Fire" | December 3, 2005 |
47 | "Deck Me Baby, One More Time" | December 10, 2005 |
48 | "One For The Mana, Duel For The Show" | December 17, 2005 |
49 | "Do That Duel You Duel So Well" | January 7, 2006 |
50 | "Boy Meets Duel" | January 14, 2006 |
51 | "Man In The Mirror" | January 21, 2006 |
52 | "Who Turned Out All The Lights" | January 28, 2006 |
# | Title | Original airdate (US) |
---|---|---|
1 | "SHOwdown!" | February 4, 2006 |
2 | "Babytalk" | February 11, 2006 |
3 | "Fourscore" | February 18, 2006 |
4 | "Frotime" | February 25, 2006 |
5 | "Duelusional" | March 4, 2006 |
6 | "Duel-ercise" | March 11, 2006 |
7 | "Triple-Threat" | April 29, 2006 |
8 | "Surprise!" | May 6, 2006 |
9 | "Cheatery" | May 13, 2006 |
10 | "Makeover" | May 20, 2006 |
11 | "Switcharoo" | May 27, 2006 |
12 | "Creeptastic" | June 10, 2006 |
13 | "Finalitousness" | June 17, 2006 |
Takara, Atari, and Kids Station each produced their own Duel Masters video games. The games by Takara and Kids Station were only released in Japan while Atari's were only released in North America and Europe. Some of Takara's games were published by Atlus.
Title | Details |
---|---|
Duel Masters Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2003—Game Boy Advance |
Notes:
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Duel Masters: Nettō! Battle Arena Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2003—GameCube |
Notes: | |
Duel Masters 2: Invincible Advance Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2004—Game Boy Advance |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2004—Game Boy Advance |
Notes:
| |
Duel Masters 2: Kirifuda Shōbu Ver. Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2004—Game Boy Advance |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2004—PlayStation 2 |
Notes:
| |
Duel Masters: Kaijudo Showdown Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2004—Game Boy Advance |
Notes:
| |
Duel Masters 3 Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2004—Game Boy Advance |
Notes:
| |
Duel Masters: Birth of Super Dragon Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2005—PlayStation 2 |
Notes:
| |
Duel Masters: Shadow of the Code Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2005—Game Boy Advance |
Notes:
| |
Duel Masters Play's Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2019—iOS, Android, PC |
Notes:
| |
Duel Masters de Asobo Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2021—Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android |
Notes:
| |
Duel Masters de Asobo 2022 Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2022—Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android |
Notes:
|
Along with The Magic of Chocolate, Duel Masters won the 66th Shogakukan Manga Award for Best Children's Manga in 2021.[44][45][46]
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