History Franchise / YuGiOh

Unlike the Master Duel Era, this era of the franchise uses the new streamlined and [[Gateway series beginner-friendly]] "Rush Duel" format, completely separate from the on-going "Master Rules" format. This era also marks a monumental shake-up in the franchise through a [[ArtShift new art-style]], currently animated by [[Creator/{{Bridge}} Studio Bridge]].

Unlike the Master Duel Era, this era of the franchise uses the new streamlined and beginner-friendly "Rush Duel" format, completely separate from the on-going "Master Rules" format. This era also marks a monumental shake-up in the franchise through a [[ArtShift new art-style]], currently animated by [[Creator/{{Bridge}} Studio Bridge]].

Unlike the Master Duel Era, this era of the franchise uses the new streamlined "Rush Duel" format, separate from the on-going "Master Rules" format. This era also marks a monumental shake-up in the franchise through a [[ArtShift new art-style]], currently animated by [[Creator/{{Bridge}} Studio Bridge]].

This era of the franchise utilizes the "Master Rules" format of the real-life ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' OCG/TCG card game. By the conclusion of ''VRAINS'', the current format used is "Master Rules 5"[[note]]Released on April 1, 2020 (OCG), November 24, 2021 (TCG).[[/note]] With the exception of the first ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' anime, which was animated by Creator/ToeiAnimation, every animated media in this era is handled by Creator/StudioGallop, and features a more angular artstyle by Kazuki Takahashi himself.

This era of the franchise utilizes the "Master Rules" format of the real-life ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' OCG/TCG card game. By the conclusion of ''VRAINS'', the current format used is "Master Rules 5"[[note]]Released April 1, 2020 (OCG), November 24, 2021 (TCG).[[/note]] With the exception of the first ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' anime, which was animated by Creator/ToeiAnimation, every animated media in this era is handled by Creator/StudioGallop, and features a more angular artstyle by Kazuki Takahashi.

This era of the franchise utilizes the "Master Rules" format of the real-life ''Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG/TCG card game. By the conclusion of ''VRAINS'', the current format used is "Master Rules 5"[[note]]April 1, 2020 (OCG), November 24, 2021 (TCG).[[/note]] With the exception of the first ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' anime, which was animated by Creator/ToeiAnimation, every animated media in this era is handled by Creator/StudioGallop, and features a more angular artstyle by Kazuki Takahashi.

* ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'': Fourth anime spin-off, debuted spring 2014 and starring Yuya Sakaki and Action Duels. It introduces Pendulum Summoning, but unlike the other spin-offs, all advanced Special Summonings share the spotlight.

* ''[[Manga/YuGiOhOCGStructures Yu-Gi-Oh! [=OCG=] Structures]]'': A manga for newcomers teaching them how to play ''Duel Monsters''.

* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh Yu-Gi-Oh!'' (includes both TCG and OCG)

* ''[[TabletopGame/YuGiOh Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'': for the card game, TCG and OCG.

* ''[[TabletopGame/YuGiOhCarddasVersion Yu-Gi-Oh! (Carddas Version)]]'': the card game based on the [[/index]]''Anime/YuGiOhFirstAnimeSeries''[[index]], released by Bandai.

* AbusiveParents: Fathers must be the worst in the Yu-Gi-Oh universe since there is usually one abusive father in every franchise. If not they're usually InvisibleParents or dead. Out of the protagonists, Yuma and Yuya are lucky since both their parents are still alive and shown to be a loving family. Meanwhile, rivals usually tend to have an abusive father as an explanation for their {{Jerkass}} behavior.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

** The original's instrumental theme is very well known, going through one version for Season 1, then Seasons 2 and 3 used a different theme cut from later on in the full length version theme and then Season 4 and 5 went back to the season 1 version.

** ''SEVENS'' is also instrumental, but this time much more light hearted fitting the also light hearted theming of the series.
* AncientEgypt: The Toei anime and the manga states that Shadow Games in general, most notably ''Duel Monsters'', began in Ancient Egypt, with sorcerers and priests battling using monster spirits entombed in stone. The anime and spin-offs have ''Duel Monsters'' [[SequelEscalation existing before that and as central to the existence of the multiverse]].

* AnimeHair: The franchise can easily be considered the TropeCodifier, or at least, the first anime of the franchise is usually the first thing people think of when they think this trope. The original anime had Yugi's trademark hair style and a few others while ''GX'' generally had more toned down hairstyles by comparison. ''5Ds'' has an equal balance of crazy and reasonable, while ''ZEXAL'' has hair styles that are pretty crazy ''[[SerialEscalation even by the franchise's usual standard]]''. ''ARC-V'' takes the middle ground. The styles are generally more toned down compared to ''ZEXAL'', but [[WorldOfTechnicolorHair multi-color hair is all over the place]]. ''VRAINS'' seems to be shaping up to have largely normal styles, but compensating by giving this to the LINK VRAINS Avatars. ''SEVENS'' generally has normal hairstyles, but odd colours, while ''GO RUSH!!'' cranks the craziness up a bit again, though some of the characters have the excuse of being aliens.

* UnreliableCanon: All that is known for sure is that the anime of ''Duel Monsters'', ''GX'', and ''5Ds'', all take place in the same timeline, thanks to the 10th anniversary movie where their protagonists time travel into the past and meet each other. Everything else is very blurry. Confusing things further is that time travel exists and characters have used it to change the future, and it is well established that alternate dimensions are a thing, and either could be used to sort the various parts of the franchise into connected but separate continuities.

* MonsAsCharcterization: Yugioh is particularly fond of this trope, to the point where it's become the norm throughout the entire card battle anime genre. Some particularly notable examples:

*** Aporia uses a "Machine Emperor/[[DubNameChange Meklord]]" deck, full of machines which have effects that counter Synchro Monsters. This is reflective of his belief that [[spoiler:Synchro Monsters were the cause of humanity's downfall in his group's BadFuture]].
** ''Anime/YuGiOhZEXAL'': Yuma's final ace after [[spoiler:he and Astral go their separate ways in the final episode, ''Future Number 0: King of the Future, Hope/[[DubNameChange Utopic Future]]'', is an Xyz Monster with 0 ATK Points, but which cannot be destroyed in battle, nullifies any damage Yuma sustains from its battles, and its effect causes Yuma to gain control of the monster it battled]]. This is representative of Yuma's true strength, which lies in his ability to make anyone his friend through dueling, even his most bitter enemies. It even ''looks'' like him.

*** Shingo/[[DubNameChange Sylvio]] Sawatari switches decks rather frequently in Season one, but eventually settles on an "Abyss Actor" deck, which are a group of dark-fiend type monsters themed around the medium of Theatre. This is reflective of his status as the {{Foil}} to [[TheHero Yuya]] and how he seeks to entertain others purely for the praise and admiration he receives as a result.

The original [[Manga/YuGiOh manga series]], written by Creator/KazukiTakahashi in 1996, tells the story of Yugi Mutou, a put-upon teenager who is pulled into a world of intrigue and high-stakes gaming after solving the mysterious and ancient Millennium Puzzle. The puzzle, an artifact from ancient Egypt, grants Yugi a mysterious alter ego, an ancient gambler who spends much of the early series facing evildoers who threaten his friends in "Shadow Games," where mystic forces punish the wicked if they lose.

* SadlyMythtaken: All over the place. For instance, did you know the Nazca Lines are actually the markings left from when ancient {{Eldritch Abomination}}s that manifested as giant animals were sealed in the earth? A mildly hilarious example happened with Scar-Red Nova, an Immortal from a then-non-existent serpent line, but a serpent line was later discovered.

** ''Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Wheelie Breakers''

* ''[[Anime/YuGiOhVRAINS Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS]]'': Fifth anime spin-off, it debuted [[/index]][[Spring2017Anime Spring 2017]][[index]] starring Yusaku Fujiki and Duels on hoverboards within virtual reality. It introduces Link Summoning.

* SlidingBikeStop:
** The CrisisCrossover movie ''Anime/YuGiOhBondsBeyondTime'' has one scene where [[Anime/YuGiOh5Ds Yusei Fudo]] makes a rescue in his CoolBike and escapes from the shadow realm to make this slide in a rooftop.
** There's a scene in the first chapters of ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'' where Yuya makes this bike slide ([[https://ravegrl.wordpress.com/2017/02/27/yugioh-arc-v-scale-19-their-whereabouts/ at least in the manga]]).

and there's simply no way that all the previous spin-offs occurred before it in a single linear timeline, given how drastically technology and society change between each one.

** ''ZEXAL'', ''ARC-V'', and ''VRAINS'' have {{Mythology Gag}} references to the first three spin-offs, but it's otherwise ambiguous if they take place in the same universe. ''ARC-V'' has parallel dimensions which are not only based on the past spin-offs ''GX'', ''5Ds'', and ''ZEXAL'', but alternate versions of characters from those shows appear in it; there is no explanation given for how this is possible or what it means. ''VRAINS'' was stated to take place during 2027, and there's simply no way that all the previous spin-offs occurred before it in a single linear timeline, given how drastically technology and society change between each one.

** Aki Izayoi becomes this after her CharacterDevelopment however. Before she was very insecure and sadistic.

* NiceGuy: It;s almost a requirement that each Franchise/YuGiOh protagonist is a kind-hearted, passionate person who is very protective of his friends.

* NiceGuy: Its almost a requirement that each Franchise/YuGiOh protagonist is a kind-hearted, passionate person who is very protective of his friends.

* ''[[TabletopGame.YuGiOh Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'': for the card game, TCG and OCG.

** Yusei's Synchrons. While a few of them are gimmicky, overall it's proven to be a pretty solid archetype in its own right, even in today's PowerCreep, with a few Synchrons being staples of many Synchro heavy decks, especially Junk Synchron.