Arena of the Planeswalkers review: spell-slinging combat taken to a new dimension

Magic: the Gathering's 'Arena of the Planeswalkers' may be the best tabletop game of 2015, even if it does come with woefully poor components.

When news broke that the publishers of fantasy card game Magic: The Gathering were working on a board game set in the series' fictional universe, fans reacted with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. In the 22 years since it was first released, the game has hooked an estimated 20m players with its blend of compelling storylines and strategic gameplay. A poorly-executed adaptation would leave a lot of people disappointed.

Fortunately, Arena of the Planeswalkers may be the best tabletop game released this year.