Sometimes it can be very difficult to identify the core gameplay amidst the complexity of a gaming system. In the card game Magic: The Gathering, for instance, there are numerous possibilities that arise from combining multiple effects from cards that have been released since 1993. Each new card collection adds new mechanics to the game. However, the core gameplay has remained the same since the beginning: you start the game with 7 cards in your hand, play a "land" card of a specific color, "tap" the card to generate a type of "mana," and use that mana to cast various effect cards such as creatures, spells, enchantments, etc., with the goal of reducing your opponent's life from 20 to 0.
To better understand the subject, check the example below: 1) Player 1 starts the game with seven cards in his hand, he has a mountain (a red energy card) in their hand and puts it on the table; 2) He taps the card to indicate that it has been used and this action generates one mana at that moment; 3) He plays a "Lightning Bolt" card that costs one red mana and has the following effect: "Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature or player". In the end, Player 1 chooses Player 2 as the target and deals 3 points of damage (Player 2 now has 17 life points).
There are more subtleties to the system, but, essentially, this is one of many ways to describe the game's core gameplay.
An important exercise to always practice is analyzing a game that you really enjoy, trying to identify the main components that make the system function and, of course, make it enjoyable for multiple playthroughs.
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