One of the most inventive games of the 1990s is back. Culdcept The First — a remaster of the original 1997 Sega Saturn release that spawned a long-running franchise — launched today on PC via Steam, with English support confirmed through publisher Clear River Games. Console players can mark September 8 for the Western release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Singapore gamers who have been following the series since Culdcept Begins launched this month can now go back to where it all started — and it is available to buy and play right now on the Steam page.
Board Game Meets Card Game: What Culdcept Is
If you have never played Culdcept, the premise is genuinely unlike anything else. Picture a blend of Monopoly’s territory-control loop with a customisable collectible card game. Players move around an isometric board by rolling dice, claiming territory by summoning creatures from their hand onto empty squares. When an opponent lands on your territory, a card battle breaks out — attacker versus defender — with each creature’s attack, HP, and special abilities determining the outcome. The goal is to accumulate Magic Power by collecting tolls from occupied land, then reach a set total before anyone else.
Decks are built from over 300 card types, spanning creatures, items that modify battles, and spells that manipulate the board. No two runs play out the same, and the deck-building depth rewards players who study card synergies.
What the Remaster Adds
Culdcept The First preserves the 1997 original faithfully but adds several quality-of-life features that make playing it in 2026 much smoother. Quick save and quick load let you preserve progress or retry a bad die roll without navigating menus, and a rewind function allows you to undo recent moves if a decision goes sour. The game supports Japanese and English language options. Multiplayer is local only for up to four players — there is no online component.
Where and When Singapore Players Can Get It
Steam is live today — Singapore players can purchase and download Culdcept The First right now. The Japanese console release (Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) is also out today at ¥4,950 (approximately S$46) for the standard edition, though the Japanese physical and digital versions may require a Japanese account.
The Western console release — covering PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch — arrives on September 8, 2026, which is when SG players who prefer console can expect it to appear on local storefronts. No SGD pricing for the Western version has been confirmed yet.
English media has largely overlooked this launch, which is surprising given how warmly the series was received during the DS and 3DS era. For retro enthusiasts and strategy-card-game fans, it is well worth a look while you wait — and the Steam version gives you access right now. Check out more game news for Singapore players in our Game News section.