Palworld Launches Official Card Game Aiming to Challenge Pokémon TCG
Palworld Launches Official Card Game to Take on the TCG Scene
The popularity of Palworld continues to rise across the SEA Region and beyond. Pocketpair, the developer behind the well known survival title often described as creatures with firearms, has officially announced an expansion of the franchise into tabletop gaming with the Palworld Official Card Game.
The project was revealed on January 12 and is scheduled for a full commercial release on July 30, 2026, marking a major step in transforming Palworld into a multi-platform franchise.
Strategic Card Battles Inspired by the Video Game
For this project, Pocketpair is collaborating with Bushiroad, one of Japan’s leading card game publishers known for titles such as Cardfight!! Vanguard and Weiß Schwarz. The Palworld Official Card Game is designed as a two player competitive experience that emphasizes strategy and tactical planning.
Players can expect mechanics inspired directly by the original video game, including deploying Pal creatures into battle, managing resources, and building a base to gain advantages over opponents. The goal is to preserve the identity of Palworld while adapting it into a balanced tabletop format.
Original Artwork and Multilingual Support
The first promotional preview showcased popular Pal creatures such as Lamball, Chillet, Anubis, and Grizzbolt, complete with their signature weapon themed designs. Notably, all cards feature brand new illustrations, created specifically for the card game rather than reused assets from the video game.
At launch, the card game will support three languages: Japanese, English, and Simplified Chinese, allowing it to reach a broad international audience from day one.
Gameplay Expectations and Unique Identity
While full gameplay details have yet to be revealed, early expectations suggest that players may be able to equip weapon cards to their Pal units, reflecting the franchise’s core theme of cooperative combat between humans and creatures. Base building and resource management are also expected to play key roles, helping the game stand out from other card games currently on the market.
Strengthening the Palworld Brand
This announcement is viewed as a significant move by Pocketpair to strengthen the Palworld brand during a period of continued growth. In 2026, the main Palworld video game is also expected to exit Early Access and launch its full version 1.0, making it a major year for fans of the franchise.
For those eager to try the card game early, Bushiroad will host playable demos at Card Game Festival 2026, held at Tokyo Big Sight from May 3 to May 4. Official pricing has not yet been confirmed, but based on similar Bushiroad products, starter sets are expected to range between 15 to 20 USD.
