When going over iconic anime franchises, there is a good chance Yu-Gi-Oh! is one of the first that comes to mind. For decades, the adventures of the so-called King of Games have brought hours of joy and entertainment to fans across the globe. During its prime, Yu-Gi-Oh! reigned supreme thanks to its wild action and colorful duels. While the show may not be as popular as it was in the '00s, it is time to set the record straight for anime critics.

Despite its legacy, some netizens claim Yu-Gi-Oh! has only been going down in quality with each new series. Critics equate the show's dip in popularity to a dip in quality, but you shouldn't get ahead of yourself. While no Yu-Gi-Oh! anime has seen the success of the original, the quality of the series has not necessarily gone down. Nostalgia blinds fans for better and for worse. So if we're being honest, the reason behind Yu-Gi-Oh!’s decline is much more complex than most fans realize.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Never Ever Follows the Same Formula

Each Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime Is Unique in Many Ways

While Yu-Gi-Oh! has a number of hit anime series on hand franchise, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters still stands as its ultimate mascot. Yugi Muto's time as the protagonist is revered by fans. Back in the '90s, every anime fan in the world knew the duelist, and fans grew up with Yugi in kind. The hero's impact on anime culture is undeniable, so you can see why fans are unwilling to move on. Pokémon byed this issue for decades as the anime kept its original protagonist Ash Ketchum on call, but Yu-Gi-Oh! branched out. It ushered out Yugi in due time, and we have since been greeted by dozens of new leads.

Perhaps one reason why no other Yu-Gi-Oh! series has been as successful as the first comes from the franchise's varying leads. For instance, Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx retained many elements that made Duel Monsters a massive hit, but it did quietly branch out. The anime introduced ancient cosmic beings and even an evolved version of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG which helped it step out of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monster’s shadow.

As for the anime's next entry, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds, it marked an era that drove away viewers. The series was very different from what fans were used to. The protagonist Yusei has since become one of the best and most beloved heroes of the franchise, but when he was first introduced, fans were reluctant to give him a chance. Yusei's serious personality and intense duelist style did not resemble Yugi in the slightest. The anime's next three leads had a similar issue as each of them was designed to stand out on their own, ensuring they would not stand in the shadow of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters for better (or worse).

The Anime's Card Game Has Become Way More Convoluted

Each New Summoning Mechanic Has Made Things Harder To Understand

With changing protagonists and volatile story lines on hand, you can see why Yu-Gi-Oh! declined over the years. Its original fans felt abandoned by what they knew, and to make things worse, the anime's key component changed along with its story beats. Back when Yusei was introduced to the anime, he brought with him an entirely new summoning mechanism known as Synchro to the Duel Masters TCG. Over time, these monsters and their innovative requirements have become a staple of the game as many of Yusei’s best cards are used to this day.

However, this shift was not always popular. To be frank, plenty of fans cite the introduction of Synchro Monsters as the reason why they abandoned the anime and the TCG game years ago. After the mechanic was introduced, each new season of Yu-Gi-Oh! debuted a new type of creature that was more difficult to summon than the ones before. By the time Link Monsters was released, Yu-Gi-Oh! was a completely new game from the monsters used to the mechanics incorporated. For series like Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, even with its solid cast of characters, it brought in a fraction of Duel Monster’s success because of its focus on new monster types.

The Anime's Change in Format and Studios

Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens and Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! Have Unique Issues

In December 2019, Konami - the company that owns the rights to the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime - announced the show was going to undergo a major update. Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens, the seventh series in the anime, was given to a new animation studio and put specific focus on the TCG's new format, Rush Duel. Konami was eager to bring back simple and quick matches, changing the rules of Duel Monsters iin hopes of expanding the fandom. While the TCG audience flourished, anime fans were left isolated. Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens was received poorly by fans not just for its art style but for its unpopular game tweaks.

As a kids' show, Yu-Gi-Oh! must find new ways to adapt and appeal to new generations. With its game tweaks and studio shift, Konami tried to appeal to a new audience by becoming more family-friendly than ever before. As for the gameplay changes, it all became extremely simple and lacked the intensity of the original game Yugi helped older fans fall for. While younger fans were enticed by this series' colorful art, Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens was ultimately canceled, becoming the shortest anime introduced to the franchise. The next iteration, Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! followed a similar formula: it focused on a younger audience but tried to add storylines that would appeal to the original fans. But by that point, a majority of the OG fans had lost hope in the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime despite the positive changes Go Rush!! ushered in.

Nostalgia Has Greatly Hurt the Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime

Yu-Gi-Oh! Fans Yearn to Relive the Golden Age

Throughout its lifespan, the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime franchise has a number of legitimate issues which pushed fans away. However, the most unfounded concern comes with nostalgia bias. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monster is by far the most successful season of the franchise, and it is synonymous with the IP itself. Characters like Yugi and Kaiba are considered series' mascot as their callings cards are still given decades after their release.

No matter how much the following seasons tried, suring the popularity of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! anime is an impossible task, and it is because of the anime's nostalgic grip. For fans who grew up onYu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monster, if the anime doesn't concern Joey, it is not worth their time. The other seasons have many great qualities, but be that as it may, they will never be able to recreate something precious to fans. You never forget your first, so for old-school fans, they can never forget the rush Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters brought and anything that tries to compare is a cheap imitation of their past.

Even with its ups and downs, the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise continues to be a pillar of the anime fandom, and it will for years to come. As time es, we have seen the once-lambasted seasons of Yu-Gi-Oh! gain popularity as the kids who grew up on them began to express their love. Nostalgia only lasts so long, and Yu-Gi-Oh! is tough enough to wait out the clock.