History Main / FightLikeACardPlayer

* [[UnexpectedGameplayChange Delivery Missions]], in ''BillyVsSNAKEMAN''.

* Not involving cards, but ''PuzzleQuest'' has the same idea; you and your enemies do damage and collect mana by matching stones on a puzzle board, even though you're just fighting monsters according to the storyline.

* ''MetalGear Ac!d''

* Inverted in the SNES game Arcana/Cardmaster; cards figure heavily into the backstory and plot of the game, but when it comes to gameplay has almost nothing to do with cards other than a visual motif.
* Averted in one the strangest ways possible in the Twisted Tales of Spike McFang. The main character fights using a variety of cards and said use of cards affects the progression of plot and puzzles. However, the actual gameplay is a top-down action game, the game has little to do with the traditional aspects of a collectible card game, functioning more like a glorified inventory.

** And the sequel series ''MegaManStarForce'' even moreso, since the "Battle Chip" cards of ''Battle Network'' are swapped out for actual cards.

* The ''Etherlords'' series. Made a little weird when one of the playable characters in ''Etherlords II'' has [[RedEyesTakeWarning glowing red eyes]] and holds a [[BigFancySword very large sword]], yet battles are handled ''entirely'' through cards.
* The SNES port of PrincessMaker.
* YggdraUnion

* [[ChainOfMemories Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories]] sort of qualifies; even though the tutorial character explicitly says that the castle you enter is governed by cards, battles still appear to be fought normally.

* SigmaHarmonics, in a way similar to the above.

* Not cards, but ''PuzzleQuest'' has the same idea; you and your enemies do damage and collect mana by matching stones on a puzzle board, even though you're just fighting monsters according to the storyline.

* The entire [[NoExportForYou Wrestle Angels]] series has you controlling female wrestlers with cards.
* In SecondLife there is a popular card game called ''En Garde'', which emulates a swordfight (complete with animations): only the players see the cards, spectators see a (slow-motion) duel.
* [[CastlevaniaCircleOfTheMoon Castlevania:CotM]] certainly counts, as you combine the various action and attribute cards to do special attacks.

* [[CastlevaniaCircleOfTheMoon]] certainly counts, as you combine the various action and attribute cards to do special attacks.

** And the sequel series ''MegaManStarForce'' even moreso, since the "Battle Chip" cards of ''Battle Network'' are swapped out for actual cards.
*** Justified in both, all the battles are virtual and the "cards" have attack data for you to use.

** Except that for every move you make in battle, you must have the requisite card, except jumping. Either an interesting twist or a {{ScrappyMechanic}}; [[YourMileageMayVary it depends on the player]].

* The entire [[NoImportForYou Wrestle Angels]] series has you controlling female wrestlers with cards.

* David Sirlin's card game [[http://www.sirlin.net/articles/designing-yomi.html Yomi]].

* ''Culdcept''

* ''BatenKaitos''

* [[UnexpectedGameplayChange Delivery Missions]], in ''BillyVsSNANKEMAN''.

* ''[[SonicTheHedgehog Sonic Battle]]'' used a card system to edit stats while playing like a typical fighter.

* KingdomHearts: Chain of Memories sort of qualifies; even though the tutorial character explicitly says that the castle you enter is governed by cards, battles still appear to be fought normally.

''KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' and Yu-Gi-Oh! are the absolute opposite of this trope, as their storylines actually do heavily focus on card battles, recognized by the characters in on-screen dialogue as card battles.

* ''KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories''