Players become Cepters, wielding cards in intense battles where luck and strategy collide. After ten years, a brand-new story begins once again.

Culdcept Begins unfolds an original story depicting the prequel to the series' first installment, “Culdcept”. Under the full supervision of Omiya Soft, all designs—from cards (stone tablets) and maps to the world setting—have been completely revamped. Character and creature designs are by Satoshi Matsuura, renowned for his work on numerous popular titles. His distinctive art vividly brings to life the stage of this game, the continent of Bavrashka, where diverse races coexist and varied cultures and values thrive.

Long ago, in a world where Culdcept was scattered due to a dispute among the gods...

The People of the Landmass and the People of the Deep Lake coexist in peace. Their continent is called Bavrashka. It's the land created by the gods. However, within the faith that governs the People of the Deep Lake, a certain faction watches from the shadows with growing suspicion. They are secretly plotting the resurrection of a sealed god...

The protagonist, who lives on the surface, is a student at Royal Cept Academy , an academy that trains so called “Cepter”. There, he spends his days working hard with his classmates to develop his abilities. One day, the protagonist receives news that a port town has been attacked and learns that the evil forces of the pagan sect have begun to move. Soon after, in a battle that threatens the entire world, he awakens to his true power as a Cepter.

The game features over 400 distinct cards. The diverse combinations of these cards generate infinite strategies that sway the tide of battle. Furthermore, the UI has been thoroughly redesigned for easier grasp of the battle situation and advantage. This design ensures intuitive enjoyment not only for series fans but also for new players.  

Alongside the single-player “Story Mode,” the game features a “Versus Mode” where you hone your skills against AI opponents. The “Online Versus” mode lets you battle players worldwide. It includes the ability to create and join custom “Versus Rooms” for specific matches, plus a new “Quick Match” feature for finding opponents more easily. This ensures smooth multiplayer enjoyment for everyone from beginners to veterans. 

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition now supports “GameShare”* and “Mouse Function.” Using the “GameShare” feature, you can play cooperatively or competitively with up to four players, including Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch users who don't own this game. Additionally, support for mouse function enables more intuitive and smoother gameplay.

Since its development by Omiya Soft Co., Ltd. (hereafter 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, blending the accessibility of board games with the strategic depth of card games, has captivated a passionate fanbase for over a quarter-century. 

The same gameplay experience, but an evolved Culdcept.

Culdcept Begins is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch on July 16, 2026, followed by a PC (Steam) version at a later time.