Genre-Defying Deckbuilding JRPGs

Culdcept: BEGINS Revives a Cult Classic for Modern Audiences

Originally released on the Sega Saturn in 1997, Culdcept is a Japanese role-playing game that features unique gameplay that blends board game, deckbuilding, and RPG mechanics into one. Since its original title, the game grew into a wide-spanning franchise with numerous games and expansion packs across various platforms, such as Playstation 2, Nintendo DS, and more.

In 2026, Neos Corporation is aiming to revive the Culdcept franchise with two titles: Culdcept: BEGINS, a full-scale, brand-new title for modern audiences, and Culdcept: The First, a remaster of the original title from 1997. To focus on Culdcept: BEGINS, the title is available on Nintendo Switch 1, Switch 2, and PC via Steam, with the Switch 2 and Steam version supporting high 4k resolutions at full 60fps framerates, and the Switch 1 title running at a lower resolution of 1080p, though still with stable framerates.

As for the game itself, players follow the story of Kamru, a young magician, called a Cepter in the world, who is a prodigy that expertly manipulates Culdcept cards in battles against other students and foes alike. Throughout the story, Kamru grows from becoming a young student prodigy to becoming an official member of the Royal Cepter Guard Regiment. As we assume the role of Kamru, we are given the task of protecting the kingdom from creatures from the Abyss while also learning about who Kamru is, where he came from, and the origins of his prodigal skill in Cepter magic. The story is slow to start, but once it picks up it becomes a gripping, sprawling tale with excellent writing and intense moments that keep players hooked to the end.

The gameplay is perhaps the most unique aspect of Culdcept: BEGINS. In a match, players are positioned along a board game-style play area complete with blank tiles and event tiles. Players alternate taking turns in a consistent order. Each turn, players begin by rolling a dice that determines how many tiles they will move. Then, upon landing on an empty tile, players may play one creature or spell card from their hand. Creature cards played will occupy the current tile, while spell cards vary greatly in effect, but usually target either a player or creature on the map and either deal damage, buff, debuff, move, or otherwise interact with the selected target. Additionally, once creatures are already placed, players are able to instead spend their turn to upgrade one of their own creatures to improve its strength and resource generation.

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