The landscape of tabletop gaming is set for a monumental year in 2026, with major video game franchises making the leap to physical cards and classic games celebrating landmark anniversaries. The year's most anticipated release might not be a video game at all, but the new Cyberpunk 2077 trading card game from CD Projekt, signalling a major push into the lucrative tabletop market. This move follows Riot Games' successful card game adaptation, as digital giants stake their claim on the kitchen table.
2026 also marks the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, promising to make card culture the defining scene for collectors and players alike. They are joined by a huge roster of releases from titans like Magic: The Gathering, Yu‑Gi‑Oh!, and Disney Lorcana, alongside exciting new entries and expansions.
Blockbuster Franchises Enter the Arena
CD Projekt Red is keeping details of its Cyberpunk TCG close to its chest, but it's confirmed to blend elements from both the video game and the Edgerunner anime. Fans can expect to see iconic characters like Panam Palmer and Judy Alvarez, with cards representing chrome and cyberware defining the gameplay. An exclusive Lucy 'Nova Rare' card is available for those who sign up early via the official website. While a Kickstarter is planned for later in 2026, its release is still expected long before any video game sequel.
Meanwhile, Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution – Ascended Heroes reframes the powerful mechanic as a strategic, earned transformation. The expansion, launching on 30th January, introduces new Ascended Heroes Pokémon with mechanics rewarding timing. The highly coveted Mega Dragonite ex card is set to be a centrepiece. With the European International Championships approaching, 2026 is poised to be a colossal year for the franchise.
In a nostalgic crossover, Magic: The Gathering welcomes the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to its multiverse on 6th March. This full-scale release features the four brothers as legendary creatures, with Shredder and Krang as formidable villains, introducing mechanics themed around teamwork and mutation.
Strategic Depths and Nostalgic Hits
For miniatures fans, Games Workshop unleashes a revamped Battletome: Maggotkin Of Nurgle on 17th January, led by the grotesque Festus the Leechlord. The update focuses on attrition and disease, rewarding tactical patience.
Marvel: Crisis Protocol expands with a cerebral Adam Warlock, Moondragon & Quasar Character Pack on 13th February. This trio focuses on control and board manipulation, offering a more thoughtful combat experience. For faster-paced fun, Dobble Spider-Man brings web-slinging chaos to the frantic card-matching game from 9th January.
Disney Lorcana chills the air with its Set 11: Winterspell on 20th February, introducing ice mechanics that reward strategic patience. This frosty set arrives just before the opening of World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris.
The acclaimed Riftbound: League Of Legends card game gets its first major expansion, Spiritforged, in February 2026. It introduces a new Gear card subtype and mechanics that punish predictable play, deepening the game's tactical core.
Collector's Dreams and Dark Horses
Yu-Gi-Oh! Rarity Collection 5, launching on 9th April, is a collector's dream, reprinting iconic cards with stunning extended-art treatments and lavish foil. It’s a celebration of the game's history repackaged for modern audiences.
As a bonus pick, the alternative history wargame Trench Crusade offers a breath of grim, unholy air. It plunges players into a hellish version of the First World War, focusing on small-scale, consequential skirmishes. It's available now for those seeking a starkly different tabletop experience.
From the chrome-plated streets of Night City to the frosty realms of Lorcana and the hellish trenches of an alternate past, 2026 offers a remarkably diverse and high-quality slate for tabletop gamers across the UK and beyond.
