The article reviews advanced hydrogels for cartilage tissue engineering, highlighting their potential in addressing the challenges of traditional treatment methods such as microfracture surgery, Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI), and Mosaicplasty. Hydrogels, particularly injectable hydrogels, are favored for their ability to adapt to irregular tissue defects, minimize secondary damage, and promote cartilage regeneration. The review covers various types of biomaterials used in hydrogel fabrication, including natural polymers (collagen, gelatin, chitosan, heparin, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid) and synthetic polymers (polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, poly-L-glutamic acid). It also discusses manufacturing methods such as chemical, physical, and microgel approaches, including Schiff-based cross-linking, click chemistry, enzymatic cross-linking, and hydrogel microparticle production. Additionally, the article explores the use of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) hydrogels and magnetic hydrogels (MHs) for cartilage tissue engineering, emphasizing their unique properties and applications. Finally, it touches on the potential of conductive hydrogels in electrical stimulation for enhancing cartilage regeneration.The article reviews advanced hydrogels for cartilage tissue engineering, highlighting their potential in addressing the challenges of traditional treatment methods such as microfracture surgery, Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI), and Mosaicplasty. Hydrogels, particularly injectable hydrogels, are favored for their ability to adapt to irregular tissue defects, minimize secondary damage, and promote cartilage regeneration. The review covers various types of biomaterials used in hydrogel fabrication, including natural polymers (collagen, gelatin, chitosan, heparin, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid) and synthetic polymers (polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, poly-L-glutamic acid). It also discusses manufacturing methods such as chemical, physical, and microgel approaches, including Schiff-based cross-linking, click chemistry, enzymatic cross-linking, and hydrogel microparticle production. Additionally, the article explores the use of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) hydrogels and magnetic hydrogels (MHs) for cartilage tissue engineering, emphasizing their unique properties and applications. Finally, it touches on the potential of conductive hydrogels in electrical stimulation for enhancing cartilage regeneration.