A Japan-exclusive Saturn game is getting a new English translation, but not from fans — this time, an official localization is coming from City Connection, the publisher revealed Thursday.
Culdcept, a turn-based strategy card game, will be released on modern platforms as “Culdcept the First.” According to City Connection’s Western Bluesky account, it’ll be released July 30 digitally on Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and PC via Steam, as well as physically on Switch and PlayStation 5.
The Steam page for the game is already live, and it confirms that it’ll feature an English localization. Screenshots and short videos show off what appears to be an English script newly hacked into the original Saturn game.
Culdcept was developed and published by Omiya Soft on the Saturn in October 1997 before porting it to the PlayStation in May 1999. Both versions were only released in Japan.
This would be the second time City Connection has officially translated a previously Japanese-only Saturn game. The first time was in 2024 when it brought Assault Suit Leynos 2 to the Xbox and Steam, followed by the Switch, PS4 and PS5 the following year.
As for the physical editions of Culdcept the First, those are apparently being handled in Europe and North America by Clear River Games, according to a post they made to Bluesky today.
Clear River previously handled physical Western editions of Assault Suit Leynos 2.
City Connection uploaded an announcement trailer to YouTube, although it’s in Japanese:
The video’s description mentions that the Japanese physical edition Switch edition of Culdcept Begins, a new title in the series that was announced yesterday in a Nintendo Direct presentation, will include Culdcept the First when it releases July 16.
Clear River doesn’t have a page yet for Culdcept the First. But it does have one for Culdcept Begins that mentions its physical edition will come out on July 16, and it’ll only be for the Switch 2, with no mention of the Switch 1 or the PlayStation 5. There’s also no mention of Culdcept the First being included with it.
Culdcept the First is not explicitly labeled as a Saturn Tribute game, but City Connection said it’s running on the Zebra Engine, which the publisher has used to release at least 21 games. The most recent of which was a pair of Japanese exclusives, Farland Saga 1 and 2, which weren’t translated into English from their original Japanese when they were published in June last year.
The Steam page for Culdcept the First lists the following features:
- 【Rewind】Rewind the game to any point someone passed a Checkpoint at a Fort or the Castle.
- 【Quick Save & Load】Enables you to save and load at any time, independent of the main game’s standard save function.
- 【Bonus Pack】Increases the number of reward cards received at the end of a match. This can be toggled ON/OFF in the options menu.
- 【Reveal Hands】This feature allows you to constantly display both your own and your opponent’s hand on-screen—information that was only visible at specific times in the original version. It can be toggled ON/OFF, and the display size adjusts automatically according to the game’s screen layout.
- 【Language Switching】You can play the game in either Japanese or English.
It describes the game thusly:
The Culdcept series has captivated players worldwide. Now, the original masterpiece returns, enhanced with convenient new features.
Build your deck from over 300 types of cards and witness the dawn of a new battle among Cepter.
◆The "Book" of the Gods moves the world.
On the continent of Bablashca, where the chief god Culdra once clashed with the neutral god Baltias, humanity—Culdra’s final creation—had long flourished.
However, the world fell into chaos when stone tablets discovered across the land were revealed to be fragments of "Culdcept"—the Book of Creation and Destruction.
Driven by the mythical prophecy that "he who commands the Culdcept shall gain infinite power," Cepter began to fight one another over the scattered fragments.
As the ravages of war spread, a lone youth finally rises and sets out on a long, epic journey.
◆A Battle of Offense and Defense for Territory
Players become "Cepter" who wield cards, heading into battle with a self-constructed 50-card "Book" (deck).
Move across the map guided by the roll of the dice and summon creatures using cards on the spaces where you land. Any land where you place a creature becomes your territory.
By using Spell Cards, you can manipulate dice rolls, support your creatures, or sabotage your rivals.
The first Cepter to collect the target amount of Magic Power and return to the Castle (the starting point) is declared the winner.
After a match, you will receive a random set of cards based on your ranking. Incorporate these new cards into your Book and refine your tactics for the next battle.
◆Incandescent Battles Featuring 180 Types of Creatures
When you land on another player's territory, you must pay Magic Power as a toll. However, by summoning a creature and winning a battle, you can claim that territory as your own.
In battle, the key to victory lies not only in a creature's stats and special abilities but also in Item Card effects and support bonuses from the land or allies.
Seize territories and increase your Magic Power to gain the upper hand in the game.
Oh, more City Connection…wonderful. I’d rather play the game in Japanese on Saturn then give them a dime.