Culdcept Begins marks the first new entry in the Culdcept series in a decade, arriving on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on July 16, 2026.
Developed under the supervision of Omiya Soft, the title returns the hybrid board-and-card gameplay that the series is known for and introduces a reworked presentation and new content aimed at both longtime fans and newcomers.
Pre-orders for both digital versions are now live on the Nintendo eShop, with a launch discount available through July 15, 2026.
Pre-order details and pricing
Pre-orders for Culdcept Begins opened this week on the Nintendo eShop for the Switch and Switch 2 editions.
A 10% pre-order discount runs until July 15, 2026.
That reduces the Nintendo Switch edition from $44.99/£35.99 to $40.49/£32.39, and the Switch 2 edition from $54.99/£44.99 to $49.49/£40.49 (or regional equivalents).
The digital upgrade pack is also discounted by 10%, dropping from $10.00/£8.99 to $9.00/£8.09.
Physical editions and extras
Physical pre-orders went on sale earlier in the year.
The standard physical edition retails for $54.99/£43.00 and includes the game and a booklet.
A steelbook limited edition is available for $89.99/£68.00, and contains a folding box, steelbook, soundtrack CD, 10 cards and a copy of the game.
Art direction, card pool and design
Omiya Soft oversaw a comprehensive redesign of Culdcept Begins' assets, with cards, maps and world settings fully revamped for this installment.
Character and creature designs were created by Satoshi Matsuura, whose art is used to portray the continent of Bavrashka, a setting where diverse races and cultures coexist.
The release features over 400 distinct cards, with varied combinations intended to create deep strategic possibilities while maintaining the series' signature blend of dice-based board movement and card-driven combat.
Story and game systems
Culdcept Begins presents an original story that serves as a prequel to the series' first installment.
In the game's narrative, the Book of Creation called Culdcept was forged by the goddess Culdra, and those who wield its fragments—mystic tablets known as Culds—are called Cepters.
Players follow Kamur, a young transfer student to the Royal Cept Academy who is selected for the kingdom’s Royal Cepter Guard Regiment and comes of age amid a continent-spanning conflict.
On the gameplay side, rules remain approachable: players roll dice to move on boards, play cards to claim and develop territories, collect tolls and resolve battles.
The title offers a single-play Story Mode and online versus options, including room creation and quick matches.
The Switch 2 version adds GameShare support for local co-op or competitive play with up to four players and includes a mouse function.
Culdcept Begins arrives July 16, 2026 on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
Pre-orders and the temporary 10% digital discount are available now on the Nintendo eShop.
Developed under the supervision of Omiya Soft, the title returns the hybrid board-and-card gameplay that the series is known for and introduces a reworked presentation and new content aimed at both longtime fans and newcomers.
Pre-orders for both digital versions are now live on the Nintendo eShop, with a launch discount available through July 15, 2026.
Pre-order details and pricing
Pre-orders for Culdcept Begins opened this week on the Nintendo eShop for the Switch and Switch 2 editions.
A 10% pre-order discount runs until July 15, 2026.
That reduces the Nintendo Switch edition from $44.99/£35.99 to $40.49/£32.39, and the Switch 2 edition from $54.99/£44.99 to $49.49/£40.49 (or regional equivalents).
The digital upgrade pack is also discounted by 10%, dropping from $10.00/£8.99 to $9.00/£8.09.
Physical editions and extras
Physical pre-orders went on sale earlier in the year.
The standard physical edition retails for $54.99/£43.00 and includes the game and a booklet.
A steelbook limited edition is available for $89.99/£68.00, and contains a folding box, steelbook, soundtrack CD, 10 cards and a copy of the game.
Art direction, card pool and design
Omiya Soft oversaw a comprehensive redesign of Culdcept Begins' assets, with cards, maps and world settings fully revamped for this installment.
Character and creature designs were created by Satoshi Matsuura, whose art is used to portray the continent of Bavrashka, a setting where diverse races and cultures coexist.
The release features over 400 distinct cards, with varied combinations intended to create deep strategic possibilities while maintaining the series' signature blend of dice-based board movement and card-driven combat.
Story and game systems
Culdcept Begins presents an original story that serves as a prequel to the series' first installment.
In the game's narrative, the Book of Creation called Culdcept was forged by the goddess Culdra, and those who wield its fragments—mystic tablets known as Culds—are called Cepters.
Players follow Kamur, a young transfer student to the Royal Cept Academy who is selected for the kingdom’s Royal Cepter Guard Regiment and comes of age amid a continent-spanning conflict.
On the gameplay side, rules remain approachable: players roll dice to move on boards, play cards to claim and develop territories, collect tolls and resolve battles.
The title offers a single-play Story Mode and online versus options, including room creation and quick matches.
The Switch 2 version adds GameShare support for local co-op or competitive play with up to four players and includes a mouse function.
Culdcept Begins arrives July 16, 2026 on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
Pre-orders and the temporary 10% digital discount are available now on the Nintendo eShop.