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Culdcept Begins brings the Sega Saturn era to Nintendo Switch 2
Culdcept Begins marks the return of a long-dormant gaming franchise, bringing a series that originated on Sega Saturn in 1997 to contemporary Nintendo Switch hardware. The game serves as an entry point for players unfamiliar with the series' complex history, which includes releases across multiple platforms including PlayStation, Dreamcast, Xbox 360, and Nintendo handhelds, with the most recent instalment arriving on 3DS in 2016. Developed by OmiyaSoft, Culdcept fuses deckbuilding mechanics with elements of tabletop board games in a unique hybrid that has remained niche throughout its three-decade existence.
The core gameplay revolves around moving around a board using dice rolls whilst managing a custom card deck, with the objective of accumulating sufficient gold to meet each level's target. Players strategically place monster cards on board tiles to collect tolls from opponents who land on them, creating complex economic systems where tactical card placement, deck composition, and tile upgrades become central to success. Though initial tutorial decks provide a starting point, advancing through the game requires significant strategic customisation and deck refinement, revealing depth that transcends the seemingly straightforward board-game premise.
In short
- Culdcept Begins revives a 30-year-old niche deckbuilding series, now available on Nintendo Switch 2
- The game combines Magic: The Gathering-style card mechanics with Monopoly-like board gameplay
- Strategic depth requires players to carefully build decks and place monsters to create profitable toll chains
Explained simply
Culdcept is a video game series that started on Sega Saturn in 1997 and has never achieved mainstream recognition despite existing for nearly three decades. The franchise has appeared on various gaming platforms over the years but largely disappeared from view after its last release on Nintendo 3DS in 2016. The series is distinctive for blending elements of board games, where players roll dice and navigate a grid, with card-based strategy elements where players build and customise collections of cards to deploy during gameplay.
The goal involves moving around a board using dice rolls and accumulating gold to meet each level's target. Players place cards representing monsters on board tiles to charge other players fees when they land on those spaces, forcing strategic decision-making about card selection and positioning. Whilst players start with pre-built tutorial decks, advancing through the game requires customising your card collection and developing deeper strategies to outmanoeuvre opponents.