Karlstad, Sweden – July 16, 2026 – Clear River Games, a video game publisher specialising in classic and retro games, and Neos Corporation. a subsidiary of Tecmira Holdings, announced Today that cult classic Culdcept BEGINS is available for digital download on Nintendo® Switch™2 / Nintendo® Switch™ starting Today.
Adored by fans in the know, the Culdcept series is widely regarded as a hidden gem for the ages, a classic fusion of card and board game, beloved for its fantasy worldbuilding and highly engrossing gameplay.
Culdcept BEGINS centres around The Book of Creation, a powerful tome created by the goddess Culdra. Those who wield its fragments, mystical tablets known as ‘Culds’ are named Cepters. The Royal Cept Academy is a prestigious place where Cepters from across the realm gather, and our story evolves when a young boy named Kamru, recognized for his exceptional potential, is selected to join the kingdom’s Royal Cepter Guard Regiment. Join Kamruas we follow his journey in the midst of a fierce conflict threatening the entire continent as he grows as a Cepter and undergoes a true awakening.
In Culdcept BEGINS a simple set of rules allows players to move around the board by rolling dice and expanding their territories using playing cards. Collect tolls from rivals, or seize their lands through battle, the choice is yours! Develop territories and accumulate the required amount of magic power to claim victory, as players dive into a uniquely deep experience that blends the luck of the dice with the strategy of card play, a hallmark of this highly-regarded title.
View the announcement trailer here
Culdcept BEGINS is the first full-fledged new entry in the popular Culdcept series in a decade. Since its inception by Omiya Soft Co., Ltd. (Omiya Soft) in 1997, the series has expanded across multiple platforms and surpassed cumulative shipments of 1 million units (including download versions). Its unique game system, which blends the accessibility of board games with the strategic depth of card games, has captivated a passionate fanbase for over a quarter-century.
Culdcept BEGINS features approximately 400 different cards to explore in the game. Choose 40 cards from the three categories to create your own Book (deck) tailored to your preferences and individual strategy, and discover your favorite combinations as you build your ultimate Book. The three categories available are as follows:
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Creature Cards
Cards that summon creatures. These can be used to expand your own territories or capture your opponent’s lands. Each creature belongs to one of five attributes and possesses unique abilities.
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Item Cards
Cards that support your creatures in battle. These do more than simply enhance attack or defense, by making use of their special abilities gamers can turn the tide even in unfavorable situations.
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Spell Cards
Cards that shape the flow of the game and sometimes corner your opponents. When used skillfully, these cards can dramatically shift the course of a match and are indispensable for achieving victory.
Culdcept BEGINS allows gamers to play solo or with friends. Alongside the single-player Story Mode, the game features a Versus Mode where players are invited to hone their skills against AI opponents. The Online Versus mode allows brave battlers to challenge players worldwide, including the ability to create and join custom Versus Rooms for specific matches, as well as take part in the new Quick Match feature, allowing gamers to easily find opponents from across the world.
Unique to Nintendo Switch 2, gamers can enjoy the benefits of GameShare, as well as utilize the innovative Mouse Function of the console. Using the GameShare feature, gamers can play cooperatively or competitively with up to four players, across both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 platforms, even if they do not own the game themselves. Additionally, mouse function support allows for smooth gameplay for users more comfortable with mouse control.
There’s some exciting news for Culdcept fans who are keen to get their hands on the game early on. These superfans will benefit from an exclusive Early Purchase Bonus, where players who buy the game before September 17th will receive exclusive legacy character avatars from the series’ history plus some specially created book covers, allowing players to truly feel the legacy of the Culdcept franchise.
Master the Culdcept and claim the power of the Gods!
Culdcept BEGINS is available for digital download on Nintendo Switch 2 / Nintendo Switch starting Today.
Culdcept BEGINS official website：
https://game.neoscorp.jp/culdcept_begins/index_en.html
For more information on Culdcept BEGINS physical version, please visit: https://clearrivergames.com/culdcept-begins.html
Press Contact:
Overload PR on behalf of Clear River Games
All copyrights, trademarks, logos and brands are property of their respective owners.
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About Clear River Games
Clear River Games is a publisher with love for classic retro games. We are a small team in Karlstad, Sweden, and part of the THQ Nordic family and Embracer Group. Our vision is to bring the joy of experiencing vintage retro games and revived classic game franchises to players all over the world. We focus on publishing high-quality classic game franchises, modern retro and pixel art games and indie games that inspire gamers and bring back great memories of the past or discover new great games. With physical editions distributed online and in retail stores, we want to make great and unique games accessible to retro game fans around the world.
©Clear River Games.
About NEOS
Company Name: Neos Corporation
Headquarters: Sumitomo Fudosan Kanda Building No. 2, 1-23-1 Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Masashi Ikeda
Business Description: Information and communications services, software, and content development
【日本語機械翻訳】
そして、すべてはここから始まる。名作『カルドセプト』の原点 『―― Culdcept BEGINS』が本日
Nintendo Switch™ 2 / Nintendo Switch 向けにデジタル配信開始