MetaZoo is an out-of-print tabletop

collectible card game A collectible card game (CCG), also called a trading card game (TCG) among other names, is a type of card game that mixes strategy game, strategic deck building elements with features of trading cards, introduced with ''Magic: The Gathering'' in ...

based on

cryptozoology Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience and subculture that searches for and studies unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated, particularly those popular in folklore, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness ...

folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...

and the paranormal first published by ''MetaZoo Games LLC.'' in 2020. MetaZoo centers around creatures known as ''Beasties'' who are inspired by cryptids and other figures from mythology and folklore such as

Bigfoot Bigfoot, also commonly referred to as Sasquatch, is a purported ape-like creature said to inhabit the forest of North America. Many dubious articles have been offered in attempts to prove the existence of Bigfoot, including anecdotal claims o ...

, Mothman,

Piasa Bird The Piasa ( ) or Piasa Bird is a creature from Native American mythology depicted in one of two murals painted by Native Americans on cliffsides above the Mississippi River. Its original location was at the end of a chain of limestone bluffs i ...

, the

Chupacabra The chupacabra or chupacabras (, literally 'goat-sucker'; from es, chupar, 'to suck', and , 'goats') is a legendary creature in the folklore of parts of the Americas, with its first purported sightings reported in Puerto Rico in 1995. The na ...

and other fearsome critters. The card game is also notable for including a

fourth wall The fourth wall is a performance convention in which an invisible, imaginary wall separates actors from the audience. While the audience can see through this ''wall'', the convention assumes the actors act as if they cannot. From the 16th cen ...

mechanic where the real-life surroundings, such as the location of the player, can affect the gameplay and the outcome of the game. On April 1st, 2024, MetaZoo Games founder Michael Waddell wrote on the company's Discord it was shutting down production effective immediately.

History

After a successful crowdfunding campaign during the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

that raised $18,249 through

Kickstarter Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative projects to life". As of July 2021, ...

, MetaZoo was first officially launched with the release of ''MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation'', the first full set of the game. In 2021 DJ and music producer

Steve Aoki Steven Hiroyuki Aoki (, ; born November 30, 1977), best known as Steve Aoki, is an American DJ, record producer, music programmer, and record executive.

became full equity partner and a designated cofounder while ''Game Kastle'' and ''Hobby Games Distribution, Inc.'' founder Shaw Mead was named

COO COO or coo may refer to: Business * Certificate of origin, used in international trade * Chief operating officer or chief operations officer, high-ranking corporate official * Concept of operations, used in Systems Engineering Management Process ...

of the company. Highly sought-after cards and items that skyrocketed in the

secondary market The secondary market, also called the aftermarket and follow on public offering, is the financial market in which previously issued financial instruments such as stock, bonds, options, and futures are bought and sold. The initial sale of the s ...

helped MetaZoo grow quickly during 2021 and, by the end of the year, many of its cards were among the top 10 most submitted items to the

Collectors Universe Collectors Universe Inc. is an American company formed in 1986, now based in Santa Ana, California, which provides third-party authentication and grading services to collectors, retail buyers and sellers of collectibles. Its authentication servic ...

card grader

Professional Sports Authenticator Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), is a US based sports card and trading card grading company. History PSA was launched in July 1991 by David Hall, owner of the coin grading company Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), to serve c ...

(PSA) within a two-month period.

Gameplay

Although MetaZoo is often compared to Pokémon due to its cartoon-like aesthetics, the gameplay resembles more that of games such as Magic: The Gathering. Like many trading card games, the goal of MetaZoo is to reduce the Life Points of all opponents from 1000 to 0.

Deck construction

Decks in MetaZoo are officially referred to as ''Spellbooks''. They have a minimum of 40 and no designated maximum of cards as long as players are able to be shuffle them with two hands and no additional or external assistance. Individual cards in MetaZoo are officially referred to as ''Pages'', and consist of ''Beasties'' (creature cards), ''Spells'', ''Artifacts'', ''Potions'', ''Terra'' cards, and ''Aura'' cards. As with games such as the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, MetaZoo follows an eternal format, which means there is no set rotation of cards that are permitted or prohibited in deck building as there is in other games such as Magic: The Gathering or the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Cards from preconstructed decks and other special releases are also allowed to be included in all constructed decks.

''Aura'' types

''Fourth-wall'' effects

MetaZoo is notable among trading card games for its

effects. Certain cards reference objects, geographical features or circumstances in the text such as "dirt", "pants", "a volcano", or "a national park", and other items that influence the effects of cards on the gameplay. Any of these mechanics are referred to as ''4th Wall Effects''. Certain ''Terra'' cards can be used instead of these physical out-of-game items whenever they are not available or accessible to the player in order to gain the benefits of these effects.

Organized play

''MetaZoology''

''MetaZoology'' refers to the official body of tournament rules, policies, guidelines, sanctions and best-practices that are implemented in organized play. ''MetaZoology'' was created as a means to maintain order and communication on both official and local sanctioned game matches in coordination with tournament organizers and the MetaZoo PlayNetwork. ''MetaZoology'' is managed, arbitered and enacted by ''MetaZoologists'', individuals who work hard on the local level to arbiter matches in addition to ensure a safe, friendly and fun in-person experience. The three levels of ''MetaZoologist'' are: ''Apprentice MetaZoologist'', corresponding to either the ''Head MetaZoologist'' at a local game store night or a Floor Judge at a major event, ''Master MetaZoologist'', corresponding to either ''Head MetaZoologists'' with more seniority at all levels of events, and ''Grandmaster MetaZoologist'', a MetaZoologist with seniority in all events with the ability to facilitate or revise key documentations and rulings. All MetaZoologists must be at least 18 years-old and pass a 20-question exam.

Tournaments

''Caster's Cup'' Championships

The ''Caster's Cup'' is intended to be an annual tournament that was first held on May 28, 2022, at the Dallas Collect-A-Con⁠. The second edition of the event was intended to take place on Thursday, October 12, 2023, during the

New York Comic Con The New York Comic Con is an annual New York City fan convention dedicated to Western comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, cosplay, toys, movies, and television. It was first held in 2006. History The New York Comic Con is a f ...

but was canceled due to logistical issues.

''Towers''

''Towers'' are special multi-day tournaments that focus on a single specific ''Aura'' type. The winners of these type of tournaments are known as ''Tower Casters'', a title that distinguishes the champion as the best player of said ''Aura'' type and the winner of a cash prize pool of at least $50,000 and over $75,000 in MetaZoo products, in addition to other perks such as VIP access to special events and sponsorships. The first event of this type to take place was the ''Water Tower'' tournament which took place during the 2023 Frogman Festival at the Great Wolf Lodge Conference Center in Mason, Ohio, on March 4, 2023. The ''Earth Tower'' was the second event of this type, and it took place on April 14, 2023, at the Chelsea Music Hall in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

during the Native Release Event and the 2023 MetaZoo Foundation Gala. The third event was the ''Flame Tower'' which took place at the Fairmont Hotel Regency Ballroom in

Dallas, Texas Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County w ...

, on Saturday, July 29, 2023. The next event will be the ''Dark Tower'' which will take place in September during the 2023

Mothman Festival In American folklore, West Virginia folklore, the Mothman is a humanoid creature reportedly seen in the Point Pleasant, West Virginia, Point Pleasant area from November 15, 1966, to December 15, 1967. The first newspaper report was pu ...

in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

Development and releases

Artwork

The artwork of MetaZoo recalls the nostalgia of late nineties games, particularly the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and like the original designs of Ken Sugimori they encapsulate the characteristics and even personalities of the wide array of cryptids called ''Beasties'' that feature in the game and story. The first ''Beasties'' to be featured are based on paranormal sightings, folktales, indigenous mythologies and pop culture from North America, particularly

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, the United States and its territories.

Storyline

MetaZoo follows a storyline centered around the character of ''Sam Sinclair'', a prodigious ''Caster'' from Point Pleasant, West Virginia, who is on a quest across North America to restore order to the world that has been thrown into chaos after the rupture of the ''Great Veil'' by the villainous Indrid Cold.

Sets

''Cryptid Nation''

''Cryptid Nation'' is the name of the first MetaZoo block set which consists of a base set and at least five expansion sets. The full ''Cryptid Nation'' base set was officially released on June 30, 2021. The first MetaZoo set features the most famous cryptids and characters from American urban legends, fearsome critters, indigenous legends and small-town lore, such as Bigfoot, the Chupacabra and the Mothman, in addition to figures from American folklore, such as Uncle Sam. The set also introduces the main characters from the MetaZoo storyline such as Sam Sinclair and Indrid Cold. Some of the Beasties featured in Cryptid Nation base set include: the

Beast of Busco In Indiana folklore, the Beast of Busco is an enormous snapping turtle which citizens claimed to have seen in 1949. Despite a month-long hunt that briefly gained national attention, the "Beast of Busco" was never found. History In 1898, a farmer ...

, the

Bunny Man The Bunny Man is an urban legend that originated from two incidents in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 1970, but has been spread throughout the Washington, D.C., and Maryland areas. The legend has many variations; most involve a man wearing a ...

Chessie Chessie may refer to: *Chessie (sea monster), a legendary monster supposedly living in Chesapeake Bay, US *Chessie System, a former holding company of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) *Chessie (mascot), a kitten mascot of the C&O *Chessie (tr ...

, the

Enfield Monster The Enfield Monster refers to reports of an unidentified creature around Enfield, Illinois, United States in April 1973. The reports were covered by the news media at the time, with some suggesting they may have been caused by a wild ape or escape ...

, the Flatwoods Monster, the Jersey Devil, the

Lake Worth Monster In Texan folklore, the Lake Worth Monster is a legendary creature said to inhabit Lake Worth at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, just outside Fort Worth. The creature is often described as a "part-man, part-goat" with scales and long clawed ...

, the

Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp In the folklore of Lee County, South Carolina, the Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp (also known as the Lizard Man of Lee County) is an entity said to inhabit the swampland of the region. First mentioned in the late 1980s, the purported sightings and ...

, the Loveland Frogman, the

Menehune Menehune are a mythological race of dwarf people in Hawaiian tradition who are said to live in the deep forests and hidden valleys of the Hawaiian Islands, hidden and far away from human settlements. The Menehune are described as superb craft ...

Moon-Eyed People The moon-eyed people are a legendary group of short, bearded white-skinned people who are said to have lived in Appalachia until the Cherokee expelled them. Stories about them, attributed to Cherokee tradition, are mentioned by early European se ...

Piasa The Piasa ( ) or Piasa Bird is a creature from Native American mythology depicted in one of two murals painted by Native Americans on cliffsides above the Mississippi River. Its original location was at the end of a chain of limestone bluffs in ...

sewer alligators Sewer alligator stories date back to the late 1920s and early 1930s; in most instances they are part of contemporary legend. They are based upon reports of alligator sightings in rather unorthodox locations, in particular New York City. ''The ...

Shadow People A shadow person (also known as a shadow figure or black mass) is the perception of a patch of shadow as a living, humanoid figure, and interpreted as the presence of a spirit or other entity by believers in the paranormal or supernatural. His ...

, the

Squonk The squonk is a mythical creature that is reputed to live in the hemlock forests of northern Pennsylvania in the United States. Origins Although the earliest written account of the squonk was from the 1910 book '' Fearsome Creatures of the Lumb ...

, the

Snallygaster In American folklore, the snallygaster is a bird-reptile chimera originating in the superstitions of early German immigrants later combined with sensationalistic newspaper reports of the monster. Early sightings associate the snallygaster wit ...

Tizheruk In Inuit religion, the Tizheruk is a mythical large serpent-like creature that is said to inhabit the waters near Key Island, Alaska. It is said to have a two-metre (6.6 ft) head and a tail with a flipper. The local Inuit claim that it has snatche ...

, and the witches of Salem.

''Cryptid Nation: Nightfall''

Officially titled ''Cryptid Nation: Nightfall'', the set was released in October 2021. The expansion set focuses on ''Dark Aura'' type ''Beasties'', and it introduces original characters such as ''Adam Ackler''. Some of the Beasties featured in ''Cryptid Nation: Nightfall'' are the

Beast of Bladenboro The Beast of Bladenboro refers to a creature responsible for a string of deaths amongst Bladenboro, North Carolina animals in the winter of 1953–54. According to witnesses and trackers, it was likely a wildcat, but its identity was ultimatel ...

, the

Bell Witch The Bell Witch or Bell Witch Haunting is a legend from Southern United States folklore, centered on the 19th-century Bell family of northwest Robertson County, Tennessee. Farmer John Bell Sr. resided with his family along the Red River in an ...

, the

Black-Eyed Children Black-eyed children or black-eyed kids, in American contemporary legend, are paranormal creatures that resemble children between ages 6 and 16, with pale skin and black eyes, who are reportedly seen hitchhiking or begging, or are encountered on ...

, the

Boogeyman The Bogeyman (; also spelled boogeyman, bogyman, bogieman, boogie monster, boogieman, or boogie woogie) is a type of mythic creature used by adults to frighten children into good behavior. Bogeymen have no specific appearance and conceptions var ...

, the

Dark Watchers The Dark Watchers (also known by early Spanish settlers as Los Vigilantes Oscuros) is a name given to a group of entities in California folklore purportedly seen observing travelers along the Santa Lucia Mountains. Description The Dark Watchers ...

, the Dover Demon, the Grim Reaper, the

Headless Horseman The Headless Horseman is a mythical figure who has appeared in folklore around the world since the Middle Ages. The figure is traditionally depicted as a rider upon horseback who is missing his head. Description Depending on the legend, the Hor ...

Robert the Doll Robert the Doll is an allegedly haunted doll exhibited at the East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. Robert was once owned by painter, author, and Key West resident Robert Eugene Otto. History The doll originally belonged to Robert Eugene ...

, and the Wendigo.

''Cryptid Nation: Wilderness''

Released on March 31, 2022, ''Cryptid Nation: Wilderness'' focuses on ''Forest Aura Beasties'' and introduces original characters such as ''Rosie Robinson''. Some of the ''Beasties'' featured in ''Cryptid Nation: Wilderness'' include the Cumberland Dragon, the

Deer Woman Deer Woman, sometimes known as the Deer Lady, is a spirit in Native American mythology whose associations and qualities vary, depending on situation and relationships. To women, children, and men who are respectful of women and children, she is a ...

, the

Fur-bearing Trout The fur-bearing trout (or furry trout) is a legendary creature purportedly found in American folklore and Icelandic folklore. According to folklore, the trout has created a thick coat of fur to maintain its body heat. Tales of furry fish date ...

, the

Honey Island Swamp Monster The Honey Island Swamp Monster, also known as the Cajun Sasquatch and in frc, La Bête Noire, is an ape-like humanoid cryptozoology, cryptid creature, similar to descriptions of Bigfoot, purported to inhabit the Honey Island Swamp in St. Tammany P ...

, the

Hugag In American folklore, the hugag is a fearsome critter resembling a hippopotamus with an extensive upper-lip, preventing it from grazing, and joint-less legs preventing it from lying down. Name usage The word hugag well predates its usage as a te ...

, the

Jackalope The jackalope is a mythical animal of North American folklore described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns. The word ''jackalope'' is a portmanteau of ''jackrabbit'' and ''antelope''. Many jackalope taxidermy mounts, including the original, ...

, Lizard People, the Mogollon Monster, the Nightmarchers, the Ozark Howler, the Pascagoula Aliens, the

Pope Lick Monster The Pope Lick Monster (more commonly, colloquially, the Goat Man) is a legendary part-man, part-goat and part-sheep creature reported to live beneath a railroad trestle bridge over Pope Lick Creek, in the Fisherville neighborhood of Louisville, ...

, the Skunk Ape, the

Snipe A snipe is any of about 26 wading bird species in three genera in the family Scolopacidae. They are characterized by a very long, slender bill, eyes placed high on the head, and cryptic/camouflaging plumage. The ''Gallinago'' snipes have a near ...

, Spooklights, Unicorns, and the Wampus Cat.

''Cryptid Nation: UFO''

Released on July 29, 2022, ''Cryptid Nation: UFO'' was the third expansion set of the ''Cryptid Nation'' block. The expansion set focuses on ''Cosmic Aura'' type ''Beasties'', and as such it features

aliens Alien primarily refers to: * Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country ** Enemy alien, the above in times of war * Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth ** Specifically, intelligent extrate ...

and

UFO An unidentified flying object (UFO), more recently renamed by US officials as a UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon), is any perceived aerial phenomenon that cannot be immediately identified or explained. On investigation, most UFOs are id ...

-related figures. Some of the ''Beasties'' featured in the expansion set include the

Crawfordsville Monster The Crawfordsville monster refers to an alleged creature reported by residents of Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1891 and subsequently identified as a flock of killdeer. The story, "among the most fantastic of all UFO reports," contributed to early t ...

, Energy Beings, the Flatwoods Monster,

Foo Fighters Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Foo Fighters was initially formed as a one-man project by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl. Following the success of the eponymous debut album, Grohl (lead vocals, guitar) re ...

, Grays, Green Fireballs, the Levelland Rocket, the

Lubbock Lights The Lubbock Lights were an unusual formation of lights seen over the city of Lubbock, Texas in August and September 1951. The Lubbock Lights incident received national publicity in the United States as a UFO sighting, and was investigated by the ...

Men in Black In popular culture and UFO conspiracy theories, men in black (MIB) are purported men dressed in black suits who claim to be quasi-government agents, who harass, threaten, or sometimes even assassinate unidentified flying object (UFO) witnesses t ...

, Phantom Kangaroos, USOs and the

Van Meter Visitor A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. There is some varying in the scope of the word across th ...

''Cryptid Nation: Seance''

''Cryptid Nation: Seance'' is the fourth ''Cryptid Nation'' block expansion set. Released in October 2022, it focused on ''Spirit Aura'' type ''Beasties'' and psychic séance-themed ''Spells''. It also incorporates cards based on the

Major Arcana The Major Arcana are the named or numbered cards in a cartomantic tarot pack, the name being originally given by occultists to the trump cards of a normal tarot pack used for playing card games. There are usually 22 such cards in a standard 78-car ...

of the

Tarot The tarot (, first known as '' trionfi'' and later as ''tarocchi'' or ''tarocks'') is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play card games such as Tarocchini. From their Italian roots, ...

. Some of the ''Beasties'' featured in the expansion set include Black Aggie, the Black Dog of the Hanging Hills, the Chaleur Bay Ghost Ship, the

Chasse-Galerie ''La Chasse-galerie'' also known as "The Bewitched Canoe" or "The Flying Canoe" is a popular French-Canadian tale of lumberjacks from camps working around the river of Gatineau who make a deal with the devil, a variant of the Wild Hunt. Its best-k ...

, D.C. the Demon Cat,

Edgar Cayce Edgar Cayce (; 18 March 1877 – 3 January 1945) was an American clairvoyant who claimed to channel his higher self while in a trance-like state. His words were recorded by his friend, Al Layne; his wife, Gertrude Evans, and later by his s ...

, the Ghosts of the Sloss Furnaces, and the Sentry Box Devil.

''Cryptid Nation: Native''

''Cryptid Nation: Native'', released in April 2023, is the name of the fifth ''Cryptid Nation'' expansion set. Rather than focusing on any specific ''Aura'' type, this set pays homage to the rich folklore and diverse mythology of numerous indigenous American tribes and ethnic groups across

, the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

Greenland Greenland ( kl, Kalaallit Nunaat, ; da, Grønland, ) is an island country in North America that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Greenland is t ...

and

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

. This expansion set also has the distinction of spotlighting the numerous

indigenous languages An indigenous language, or autochthonous language, is a language that is native to a region and spoken by indigenous peoples. This language is from a linguistically distinct community that originated in the area. Indigenous languages are not neces ...

, most of which are classified as

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inva ...

, that originate and inspire many of the names of the ''Beasties'' and indigenous characters that appear across the MetaZoo universe. Some of the featured Beasties include Achiyalabopa,

Ahkiyyini The Ahkiyyini is a skeleton spirit in Inuit folklore. He is the ghost of Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western Uni ...

, the

Akhlut In Inuit folklore, the kăk-whăn’-û-ghăt kǐg-û-lu’-nǐk or akh’lut is an orca-like composite animal that takes the form of a wolf when on land, and is sometimes depicted as a wolf-orca hybrid. Inuit folklore In 1900, the American natura ...

Ask-wee-da-eed Ask-wee-da-eed is a Native American mythological figure of the Algonquin Abenaki people. It is an embodiment of fire associated with comets and meteor A meteoroid () is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space. Meteoroids are defined as ...

Atabey Atabey is a town and district of Isparta Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on ...

, the Awakkule, Azeban, the Canotila, the Chepi, Djieien, the

Dzoavits Dzoavits was a demon or ogre from Shoshonean mythology who stole the sun and kidnapped children. He is associated with volcanism and cannibalism. In most legends he confronts several mythological animals before being trapped in a cave, the most c ...

, the Haakapainiži, the Haietlik,

Hé-no Hé-no is a thunder spirit of the Iroquois and Seneca people, Seneca people. He is also known as Heno, Hino, Hinu or Hinun. Hé-no lives in the cloud of the far west, and has rainbow as his wife, and is accompanied by the eagles Keneu and Oshadag ...

, Iktomi, Issitoq, the

Jogah Jogah (Drum Dancers) are the mythical " little people" in Iroquois lore. Usually invisible, there are ways of telling if they are around. For example, drumming with no visible drummers around. They also leave rings of bare earth and "bowls" in s ...

, the Mannegishi, Nanook,

Nun'Yunu'Wi The Nun'Yunu'Wi (Cherokee: "dressed in stone") is a monster of Cherokee mythology. It is described as a human-like being with a skin as hard as stone, which no weapon can pierce. It carries a magical cane which points out victims and has other m ...

Odziozo Odziozo, also called Oodzee-hozo, is a giant in Algonquin (specifically Abenaki) legend. His name means "He who Created Himself," or "Transformer." He is attributed with the creation of Lake Champlain, Tuxis Island and Pond, Rock Dunder, and Sams ...

, Ogopogo, the Raven Mocker, Sedna,

Skookum Skookum is a Chinook Jargon word that has historical use in the Pacific Northwest. It has a range of meanings, commonly associated with an English translation of "strong" or "monstrous". The word can mean "strong", "greatest", "powerful", "ultima ...

Tupilaq In Greenlandic Inuit religion, a (, , or in Inuktitut syllabics) was an avenging monster fabricated by a practitioner of witchcraft or shamanism by using various objects such as animal parts (bone, skin, hair, sinew, etc.) and even parts taken ...

, the Uktena, the Wendigo, Yehashuri, and Yokahu.

Cancelled sets

Several sets were planned before the company shut down. They include ''War'', a wartime-themed set dedicated to expand the main storyline of ''MetaZoo''; ''7 Seas'', a set dedicated to marine cryptids and maritime lore; ''Yokai Island'', a set that takes place in an alternate

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

that will feature yōkai and Japanese cryptids; ''Grimm's Kingdom'', a set dedicated to the

Grimm fairy tales Grimm may refer to: People * Grimm (surname) * Brothers Grimm, German linguists ** Jacob Grimm (1785–1863), German philologist, jurist and mythologist ** Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859), German author, the younger of the Brothers Grimm * Christian ...

and European folklore; and two other storyline-centric sets titled ''Center Earth'' and ''Cryptid World''.

Promotional crossovers

In addition to the main set releases, MetaZoo has released special sets in collaboration with other intellectual properties and external companies. The trading card company

Topps The Topps Company, Inc. is an American company that manufactures chewing gum, candy, and collectibles. Formerly based in New York City, Topps is best known as a leading producer of American Football Card, American football, Baseball card, baseb ...

also released a special set of collector cards inspired by and depicting art from ''MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation'' in October 2021.

''Hiroquest: Genesis''

''Hiroquest: Genesis'' (stylized as HiROQUEST: Genesis) is a promotional crossover set released together with the concept album of the same name by

Steve Aoki Steven Hiroyuki Aoki (, ; born November 30, 1977), best known as Steve Aoki, is an American DJ, record producer, music programmer, and record executive.

on September 16, 2022. Although the set takes place in the same MetaZoo universe the story features different characters such as Hiro, the protagonist of the story who is on a journey to find the magical rings that are mentioned in the ''

Black Pullet The ''Black Pullet'' (original French: La poule noire) also known in French as “la poule aux œufs d’or” (the hen that lays golden eggs) is a grimoire that proposes to teach the "science of magical talismans and rings", including the art of ...

,'' an 18th-century French grimoire. The cards of this set feature Hiro and other characters belonging to five factions called ''melodias'' which correspond to the five musical interludes in which the album is divided into. Kuromi's Cryptid Carnival Announced during the 2023

San Diego Comic-Con San Diego Comic-Con International is a comic book convention and nonprofit multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California since 1970. The name, as given on its website, is Comic-Con International: San Diego; but it is co ...

, MetaZoo released their promotional crossover with

Sanrio is a Japanese entertainment company. It designs, licenses, and produces products focusing on the ''kawaii'' ("cute") segment of Japanese popular culture. Their products include stationery, school supplies, gifts, and accessories which are sold ...

titled ''Kuromi's Cryptid Carnival'' on November 17, 2023. It features

Hello Kitty , also known by her full name , is a fictional Character (arts), character created by Yuko Shimizu, currently designed by Yuko Yamaguchi, and owned by the Japanese company Sanrio. Sanrio depicts Hello Kitty as an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphi ...

and other related characters. The set was sold in a promotional bundle on tcgplayer that included two booster boxes, three promo cards and several ancillary products. It was also sold in retail stores like Walmart and Hot Topic.

Cancelled crossovers

''Cryptid Nation: SCP'' is another future crossover promotional set that will feature characters and stories from the

SCP Foundation The SCP Foundation is a fictional secret organization documented by the collaborative-writing wiki project of the same name. Within the website's shared universe, the Foundation is responsible for capturing, containing, and studying various p ...

universe, a collaborative-writing

wiki A wiki ( ) is an online hypertext publication collaboratively edited and managed by its own audience, using a web browser. A typical wiki contains multiple pages for the subjects or scope of the project, and could be either open to the pu ...

project and shared universe.

References

{{Reflist

External links

MetaZoo Games (Official site)

MetaZoo Games (YouTube)
American card games Collectible card games Cryptozoology Cryptozoology in fiction Fiction about tarot Games about extraterrestrial life Games based on myths and legends Games of mental skill Nerd culture Fiction about parallel universes Card games introduced in 2020