A brand-new trading card game made its public debut at GAMA Expo 2026 - and it’s already drawing attention for doing things a little differently.
Mothership Games officially revealed Cataclysm Arcade at the Louisville event, giving retailers, press, and players an early look ahead of the game’s upcoming Kickstarter campaign and wider launch later this year.
And one particular feature seems to be getting people talking.
One-Pack Play
According to co-creator Brian David Marshall, Cataclysm Arcade has been designed so that every booster pack contains everything needed to actually play the game.
That includes dice alongside the cards themselves, with the idea being to lower the barrier to entry that often comes with modern trading card games.
Marshall said the team wanted players to be able to open a single pack and immediately start playing without needing large upfront purchases or heavily structured starter products.
At the same time, the game will still support deeper constructed and limited play formats for players who want something more competitive.
VHS Style
The game itself leans heavily into a grimy retro-futuristic aesthetic inspired by 1980s VHS culture.
Set in an alternate version of 2026, Cataclysm Arcade takes place decades after a world-ending disaster forced survivors into New York City’s subway system.
Within that world, fighters known as “Bosses” compete in violent broadcasted arena battles, with winners earning passage deeper into the underground system.
It’s a very specific kind of dystopian setup - somewhere between retro arcade culture, underground wrestling, and post-apocalyptic sci-fi.
Film Influence
The project is co-created by long-time gaming figure Brian David Marshall alongside film producer Jay Van Hoy, whose previous work includes The Witch and The Lighthouse.
That crossover between tabletop gaming and cinematic storytelling seems to be a major part of Mothership Games’ wider plans for the franchise.
The company has already described Cataclysm Arcade as the first step toward building a larger entertainment universe that stretches beyond the card game itself.
Heavy Artwork
Visually, the game is also pulling in a fairly impressive group of artists from both comics and trading card spaces.
Contributors include Steve Ellis, ChrisCross, Benjamin Dewey, Juan Doe, DAF, and several others, helping give the cards a rough, graphic-novel-style look that fits the game’s world pretty well.
Retailers attending GAMA Expo also received exclusive sketch cards created by well-known card alterist Eric Klug, who will reportedly continue collaborating with the game during its launch period.
Early Buzz
The game originally appeared in a smaller form at PAX Unplugged last year, but GAMA Expo marked its biggest public showcase so far.
Hands-on demos reportedly generated strong interest from retailers and attendees, particularly around the accessible pack design and unusual setting.
With the Kickstarter campaign expected to launch soon, Cataclysm Arcade is already shaping up to be one of the more interesting new names entering the TCG space this year - especially at a time when many players are looking for alternatives to increasingly expensive competitive card games.
