Mothership Games has announced the final 24 hours of its Cataclysm Arcade Early Depositor campaign, with over 10,000 packs already sold ahead of the game’s Kickstarter launch next month. Even more enticing for collectors, AIPT can exclusively reveal that select early supporters may receive a one-of-one card illustrated by legendary Magic: The Gathering artist Eric Klug.
Created by former Malibu Comics publisher and longtime Magic: The Gathering personality Brian David Marshall alongside producer Jay Van Hoy, known for acclaimed films like The Witch and The Lighthouse, Cataclysm Arcade blends trading card gameplay with a grimy retro-futuristic world inspired by 1980s VHS aesthetics and post-apocalyptic storytelling.
The upcoming trading card game first debuted publicly at GAMA earlier this year following a sneak peek at PAX Unplugged, quickly generating buzz among tabletop fans. The project also features artwork from a stacked lineup of comic book and TCG artists including Steve Ellis, ChrisCross, Benjamin Dewey, Zach Howard, Nelson Daniel, Jason Masters, Juan Doe, DAF, Andre Garcia, Adriano Kitane, Tim Gaedke, Samuel Alexander, and Neon Pennington.
As part of the Early Depositor initiative, fans who place at least a $5 deposit can secure access to exclusive rewards before the Kickstarter campaign launches June 2. Those perks include a 15-card limited edition booster pack containing 12 exclusive alternate art cards by Andre Garcia that will never be reprinted with that artwork elsewhere.
In addition, Mothership Games confirmed that early supporters can now purchase up to four Early Bird packs, giving players an opportunity to test the game with friends while the Kickstarter campaign is still live. Early supporters will also receive four additional Crawling from the Wreckage Founder’s Edition booster packs with every booster display ordered through Kickstarter, with their fulfillment prioritized after the campaign concludes.
“There is a moment when someone starts playing Cataclysm Arcade where you can see a switch flip in their eyes as they realize that not only is it playable from a single booster pack but that it can provide the full range of TCG experiences — Booster Draft and Sealed Pack as well as full-on Constructed play,” said Brian David Marshall. “That is why we are making sure folks can get their hands on up to four packs of the game through our Early Bird offer and try it out for themselves with their local game group while the campaign is still live.”
Marshall continued, “When I talk about the full experience of TCGs that includes the thrill of the chase. There are 12 exclusive versions of cards in these packs that won’t be reprinted with that art anywhere else.”
Set in an alternate 1986 after a mysterious cataclysm nearly wipes out humanity, Cataclysm Arcade follows survivors living in New York City subway tunnels who compete in brutal gladiatorial combat broadcast over old speakers, closed-circuit television systems, and ham radios. Players battle as “Bosses,” with the last Boss standing earning the right to ride the train to the next stop.
One of the game’s most unique hooks is accessibility. Every booster pack contains everything needed to play, including dice, allowing players to jump directly into matches from a single purchase.
“Cataclysm Arcade is alive. It’s fun and kinetic. It’s truly one of the most astonishing and original creative works that I’ve ever been involved with,” said Jay Van Hoy. “These days it’s so rare to be able to discover and explore a fresh, newly born universe especially at this scale.”
Van Hoy added, “The Early Bird boosters ship on DAY ONE of the campaign, that’s June 2nd, so you have them in-hand. That’s not only a proof point for our commitment to players and fans, we have so much more in-store.”
Fans interested in reserving perks ahead of launch can visit play.cataclysmarcade.com and sign up before the Early Depositor campaign closes.
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