Yu-Gi-Oh!'s latest anime series, Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens and Yu-Gi-Oh! GO RUSH!!, have altered the rules of the original Duel Monsters card game. Despite possible resistance from long-time fans who are attached to the game they grew up with, this change actually benefits the new anime by making it more accessible to a wider audience. This is especially important considering the increasing complexity of the game introduced in the franchise's sixth series, Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS.
Following the second series, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, each new anime introduced a fresh summoning mechanic. Initially, these additions did not overly complicate the gameplay due to the new series taking time to explain the new rules. Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, the fourth anime, simplified matters further by disregarding the Synchro summoning mechanic from the previous series, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, and focusing solely on Xyz Summoning. The subsequent series, Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V, brought together all the previous summoning mechanics in a crossover event, while introducing its own new mechanic. The complexity of the game continued to escalate when the following series, Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, introduced Link Summoning.
Rush Duels Completely Change How Yu-Gi-Oh! Is Played
Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens revolutionized the game by simplifying it rather than making it more complicated. The series' protagonist, Yuga, becomes frustrated with the current state of the original game and decides to create his own rule set called Rush Duels. These new rules eliminate the summoning mechanics introduced in previous anime series, sticking to the mechanics of the original game. Additionally, Rush Duels significantly increase the speed of the game, allowing duelists to summon as many monsters as they want each turn and replenish their hands fully when they draw. This results in thrilling and fast-paced games that are easy to understand.
The introduction of Rush Duels makes the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise more accessible to new fans who might find the various rules overwhelming. While the complex duels in Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS were highly regarded within the franchise, they could be challenging for viewers unfamiliar with the game's older rules to follow. In order for the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise to continue to thrive, it must be able to attract new, young fans to the anime. Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens clearly aimed to achieve this goal, evidenced by the show's main characters being younger and attending elementary school.
Yu-Gi-Oh!'s Rules Changes Are The Best For The Franchise's Future
While the most recent two Yu-Gi-Oh! anime have heavily emphasized Rush Duels, there is a possibility that future series may revisit the original version of the game. The Yu-Gi-Oh! card game continues to be immensely popular, and there is an ongoing manga called Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG Structures that still revolves around it. Moreover, Rush Duels have featured monsters from older Yu-Gi-Oh! series, indicating that the original game remains relevant. However, at present, the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime primarily focuses on Rush Duels, which is expected to attract new fans to the franchise.
