The Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is a focused nostalgia trip that brings together several of the franchise's earliest digital entries, including many that were previously exclusive to Japan. It serves more as a playable archive than a modern gaming experience, preserving the series' roots for long-time fans.

Content and Variety The collection is notable for including titles like Duel Monsters 4: Battle of Great Duelists and The Eternal Duelist Soul. For fans who grew up with the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance titles, the variety is impressive. Having official localizations for previously unreleased Japanese titles is the biggest draw here, offering a "new" experience for Western players within a retro framework.

Performance and Quality of Life Konami has handled the emulation well. The games run smoothly, and the addition of modern quality-of-life features—specifically save states and a rewind function—is essential. The early Yu-Gi-Oh! games were notorious for brutal RNG and high difficulty spikes; being able to undo a devastating top-deck from the AI makes these games much more approachable by modern standards.

Visuals and Interface The presentation is functional but minimalist. The games are presented in their original aspect ratios with various border options. While the menus are clean and easy to navigate, they feel a bit sterile. However, the crispness of the sprite work on the Switch’s handheld screen looks excellent, capturing the original aesthetic perfectly.

The Experience It is important to note that these games use very different rulesets compared to the modern Master Duelor even the current TCG. Some early titles follow "Elemental" logic rather than official card effects. This makes for a fascinating history lesson, though players used to modern mechanics may find the simplicity (or the occasional unfairness) of the early rules frustrating.

Verdict The Early Days Collection is a must-have for Yu-Gi-Oh! historians and players who spent their childhood with a Game Boy Link Cable. It doesn't try to reinvent these classics, but rather presents them faithfully with just enough modern convenience to make them playable today.

Score: 4/5