Mistbound marks the first, free-to-play, collectible card game (CCG) spin-off set within the Guild Wars universe.

Mistbound is an all-new experience which bridges the gap between Guild Wars’ MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) legacy and the immensely popular deckbuilding strategy genre. Mistbound will draw upon the franchise’s deep lore, iconic characters, and beautiful art and music, while simultaneously introducing new strategic depth, and community-driven content in both single-player and multiplayer modes. 

In Mistbound, players will step into the boots of a commander, becoming one with the battlefield as they select cards to deploy onto a dynamic 5 x 3 tactical grid and crucially reposition them turn-by-turn in response to enemy movements. This feature dubbed ‘Dynamic Movement Gameplay’ allows each card to move in multiple directions per turn, ensuring exciting and unpredictable moment-to-moment gameplay.

For Mistbound, this means development is guided not only by proven technical capability but also by direct, high-quality player input, particularly critical in the CCG space where meta evolution, community-driven events, and content creation shape a sustainable and engaging card game experience for players.

"We felt it was time to give Guild Wars fans a new way to play together, inspired by the card game roots of the franchise, where they could compete in a competitive PvP arena in a CCG game space. Having all those experiences they love of the characters and creatures and the sounds of the world of Tyria brought to life in CCG," said Colin Johanson, Studio Head at ArenaNet.  

"One challenge with pursuing deep strategic combinations in card games is that the cards themselves can easily become overly complex,” said Hwang Sunwoo, Producer of Mistbound at NC. "Rather than placing that complexity on individual cards, we wanted to express it through the battlefield. Our goal is to create a CCG that, over time, continues to offer more choices and gameplay possibilities, and one that players can enjoy for the long term."

“At first, the game is approachable. Placing units on a battlefield and engaging in combat is intuitive, allowing new players to learn quickly. But as you continue playing, you begin focusing on the significance of every turn and every decision. Eventually, you discover the satisfaction of reading and controlling the entire board,” said Baek Hakjun, Game Designer of Mistbound, better known as “Kranich,” a former professional Hearthstone player and World Championship competitor. 

Key Features:

• Dynamic movement-driven gameplay: Unlike traditional static battlefield systems, Mistbound brings battles to life through a dynamic 5x3 tactical grid where both commanders and units can freely move, reposition, and outmaneuver opponents. This creates fast-paced, interactive matches that feel fresh, engaging, and full of tactical possibilities.  
• Deep yet accessible gameplay experience: Mistbound’s movement system introduces exciting mechanics such as knockbacks, pulls, flanking opportunities, and shifting offense-defense positioning, adding meaningful strategic depth while remaining intuitive and easy to pick up. Commanders are no longer passive support characters standing in the backline, they actively join the fight as powerful playmakers capable of turning the tide of battle in dramatic ways.
• Commander × Profession System: Iconic Guild Wars characters step onto the battlefield as commanders, each bringing unique abilities, traits, and tactical identity. Drawing direct inspiration from Guild Wars 2’s long-standing nine professions, the system faithfully preserves the franchise’s signature combat styles while opening up new strategic combinations. By freely pairing commanders and professions, Mistbound unlocks rich tactical diversity and reinforces the series’ depth and class expression. 
• Signature Guild Wars Audiovisual Identity: Mistbound continues the expressive fantasy visual legacy of the Guild Wars franchise. Beloved characters return with a refreshed presentation that blends epic scale with refined detail, delivering a visually rich experience that both honors the original aesthetic and reimagines it for a new strategic battlefield. Players are invited to rediscover the world of Guild Wars through a fresh yet familiar lens. With contributions from original music creators and character-driven voice performances, Mistbound delivers an immersive soundscape designed to evoke nostalgia while elevating emotional engagement for long-time fans and new players alike.

Mistbound development for PC and mobile.