PLAYISM has recently unveiled the Steam Store page for Card Make Arena. The game is set to launch in Early Access on Steam sometime in 2026, accompanied by a closed beta test scheduled from August 27 to September 7. Registrations for the closed beta testing are now open until August 25, with all selected testers receiving in-game recognition.
Disclosure: PLAYISM, the publisher of this title, is a subsidiary of Active Gaming Media, which operates this platform.
Card Make Arena is a competitive card game that empowers players to construct decks using original cards they personally design, then deploy them to challenge rivals in battle.
Players harness mana gained each turn to activate three distinct card types: Servants for attacking and defending, Spells for one-time effects, and Land to set the battlefield and trigger effects when Servants are placed atop them. Once cards are on the board, battles unfold automatically, with victory achieved by reducing the opponent’s Leader HP to zero.
During card creation, players can customize the mana cost, effect, activation conditions, name, flavor text, and artwork for their cards. The game provides up to 60 unique card effects (including Damage, Recovery, Summoning, etc.), which can be configured to trigger under various conditions—some complex, such as “no cards in hand” or “boost attack power based on the discard pile size.”
Though players enjoy full creative freedom, the game imposes several rules to maintain fair play. The cost of crafting a card hinges on its effect strength, targeting range, and ease of payoff. More powerful cards naturally incur higher costs, and there’s a limit to the total cost of cards per deck. Furthermore, costs escalate if effects are stacked, making an “instant win” card impractical.
Conversely, the game rewards players who win with lower-cost decks compared to their opponents. Additional points are awarded for victories achieved with effects that see infrequent use, suggesting that economical and inventive deck design may be pivotal to success.
For those aiming to build a perfect “ultimate deck,” the game includes a Room Battle mode without cost restrictions. Other features include a ranking system, community card sharing, and casual battles using randomized community decks.
Card Make Arena is being developed by indie creator Lizardry, known for the popular visual novel 7 Days to End with You, and Refind Self: The Personality Test Game.
Card Make Arena is slated for Early Access release on Steam in 2026. Applications for the closed beta test, running from August 27 to September 7, are available until August 25.