Differentiating high-priced wagyu beef cards is tricky. New game "Niku Karuta - Marbled -" will have pre-sale at Game Market 2025 Autumn on November 22nd.
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/958/G095853/20251104011/
Editorial Department: Basho | 2025/11/04 03:49 (UTC)
Board game development unit PlayCreate has announced today (November 4, 2025) that their latest card game, “Niku Karuta: Shoga,” will be available for pre-sale at the upcoming Game Market Autumn 2025 event on November 22. It is scheduled to go on sale via their online shop on November 29—the “Good Meat Day.”
This new release features high-quality photographs of premium marbled beef, with the camera upgraded from Nikon D600 to Sony α7R IV. It supports 2–5 players and takes approximately 10 minutes to play.
As a result of its luxury upgrade, identifying the meat cards has become more challenging than in the previous version. The slightly increased difficulty means even longtime fans of the original game can enjoy it with fresh excitement.
The rules remain simple and enjoyable for players aged five and up, allowing everyone to enjoy two fun games: “Shin Niku Suijaku” (matching identical cards) and the authentic “Niku Karuta,” a proper karuta-style game.
To ensure fans can secure their copy, PlayCreate has set up a pre-order form specifically for Game Market Autumn 2025. This form also allows you to reserve the new party game “I Said Yes!?” at the same time.
Additionally, attendees who purchase “Niku Karuta: Shoga” at the event will receive a limited-edition, non-sale “Niku Karuta 48mm Sticker,” available on a first-come basis (while supplies last).
The latest installment of the popular game “Niku Karuta” is here!
Introducing: “Niku Karuta: Shoga!”
Featuring… premium beef!
Board game unit PlayCreate announces that their newest release, “Niku Karuta: Shoga,” will be pre-sold at Game Market Autumn 2025 on November 22.
It will also go on sale via the online shop starting November 29.
After Release, Blowing Up on Social Media! Featured in Fuji TV’s “San! Shine”!
“Niku Karuta” is a card game that uses cards entirely covered in raw meat, enabling three unique games: “Niku Karuta,” “Shin Niku Suijaku,” and “Niku Nuki.” Since its launch, the game has gained nationwide attention due to its strikingly unusual appearance. It quickly sold out across Japan, with JELLY JELLY STORE—the world’s leading board game specialty store—reporting 25 consecutive days at number one on their sales chart. The game even earned a six-minute special segment on Fuji TV’s “San! Shine,” creating massive buzz.
Now, the upcoming release of “Niku Karuta: Shoga” (to be launched November 22) features a complete redesign using high-end marbled beef photos—fully reimagined from previous versions. The camera has also been upgraded from Nikon D600 to Sony α7R IV for sharper imagery.
As part of this premium upgrade, identifying the meat cards is now significantly more difficult than in the original game. With a slightly increased challenge level, even longtime fans of the first “Niku Karuta” can experience it as if it were their very first time.
The beloved rules that made the original so popular—suitable for anyone aged five and above—are kept intact. In “Shin Niku Suijaku,” players flip cards one by one to find matching pairs, with identical-looking raw meat cards making memorization tricky. As soon as the first card is revealed, all participants will erupt in laughter at how impossible it seems—but within just 5–10 minutes of play, everyone suddenly finds they can tell the meats apart, creating a truly unique and magical gaming experience.
In “Niku Karuta,” players use drawn cards and target cards. The first person to correctly identify and grab the matching meat card wins—offering intense, authentic karuta gameplay.
Recommended Play Video: X (Twitter)
- Shin Niku Suijaku
https://x.com/play2create/status/1920741116615553395 - Niku Karuta
https://x.com/play2create/status/1920788084171456766
Designed for Small Groups – Simple, Portable & Perfect for Social Media
Recommended players: 2–5. Playtime: approximately 10 minutes. Age range: 5 and up.
The game has received praise for its easy-to-learn mechanics—no complex rules required—and is ideal even for board game newcomers. With busy modern lifestyles in mind, it’s perfect to pull out during lunch breaks, after school, or at casual gatherings when you want instant fun. Its strong visual appeal also makes it highly shareable on social media—you’re guaranteed to catch your friends’ attention with a post! When paired with the original “Niku Karuta,” the two boxes form a striking red-and-white design!
Available for Sale at Game Market Autumn 2025 Starting November 22
“Niku Karuta: Shoga” will be available for pre-sale at Game Market Autumn 2025, held at Makuhari Messe on November 22. It will also go on nationwide sale via the online shop starting November 29 (Good Meat Day).
- Number of cards: 32
- Card size: 63 × 88 mm
- Price: ¥1,500 (tax included)
Pre-order Form for Game Market Autumn 2025
For those wanting to guarantee their copy of “Niku Karuta: Shoga,” PlayCreate has prepared a pre-order form specifically for the Game Market Autumn 2025 event. You can also reserve the new party game from PlayCreate, “I Said Yes!?” at the same time. Attendees who purchase at the event will receive a limited-edition non-sale “Niku Karuta 48mm Sticker” on a first-come basis (while supplies last).
- PlayCreate Pre-order Form URL
https://x.gd/DTrUb