Heavenstrike Rivals by Mediatonic and Square Enix

Heavenstrike Rivals is a tactical Card Collecting RPG from Square Enix. Players collect a deck of cards that determine what units are brought onto the battlefield. Battles take place either in story mode or through PvP on a tactics-based 7×3 grid. There are a variety of unit types to collect from each with their own skills and spaces. It’s perhaps the most in-depth CCG on mobile, with gorgeous art and a Final Fantasy like pedigree.

Platform: iOS, Android

Type: Free

Cards and Castles by Bit Mass

I’m not going to lie, Cards and Castles takes a lot of its inspiration from Blizzard’s Hearthstone in almost all aspects but instead of lanes players have the option of adding a unit’s field movement. It’s a refreshing change to Hearthstone’s static cards; the mechanic also adds an extra layer of strategy so you’re less beholden to the luck of the draw from a deck. Also did I mention that the drawings are absolutely adorable?

Platform: iOS, Android

Type: Free

Card City Nights by Ludosity

Unlike most CCGs, Card City Nights is strictly a single player affair. The game doesn’t even have in-app purchases — you simply earn cards throughout the campaign by walking around town and initiating card battles. The game mechanics are very similar to that of Final Fantasy IX’s Tetra Master.

For a cheap single-player game, Card City Nights not only has impressive visuals and a fun story, but also has surprisingly deep, fairly unique gameplay. Best of all, you don’t need to have an Internet connection available to play unlike almost any other mobile CCG.

Platform: iOS, Android

Type: USD $1.99

Earthcore: Shattered Elements by Tequila Games

The main method of determining combat in Earthcore: Shattered Elements eschews numbers in favor of colors — water, fire, earth — presented as elements in a rock-paper-scissors format. Each round, players place a card in one of three slots in their respective rows, and at the end of each phase, the elements of the cards directly across from one another are compared. The game has a few modes you’d expect and want in a CCG, like a single-player campaign, PvP, special events and tournaments. 

Platform: iOS, Android

Type: Free

Mavenfall by Blue Tea Games

Mavenfall is a fairly unique CCG as you play the game with two decks of cards. One deck is composed of your Mavens or Hero characters, while the second consists of action cards. The game has an appealing hand-drawn art style, and considering the amount of mavens you can use and encounter (each with their own unique set of cards), the game is pretty deep.

Platform: iOS, Android

Type: Free