It’s been an exciting few years to be a fan of Collectible Card Games (CCGs) and Trading Card Games (TCGs, which are essentially the same thing as CCGs!). Not only have we seen numerous anniversaries for the three longest running games in the sector, with Magic: The Gathering hitting its 30th anniversary and both Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh hitting their own quarter of a century milestones, but several new games have also entered the market, to massive commercial and critical success.
Games such as Disney Lorcana and Star Wars Unlimited have been hugely well received, along with games such as One Piece, Dragon Ball Super and Digimon carving out their own smaller, but no less dedicated, fanbases. Independent titles from much smaller publishers, such as Flesh and Blood and Achroma have also shown that there’s there’s space for numerous other CCGs, despite the dominance of the aforementioned big three, and the budgets of much larger game publishers.
All the while, UniVersus has been steadily expanding its reach, going beyond My Hero Academia, which has been the game’s primary focus in the last few years, and into exciting new territory, with sets based on Attack On Titan, Godzilla (with the Challenger Series Decks pictured above), Critical Role and much more besides.
Having been around in various forms since 2006 (initially launching as the Universal Fighting System, or UFS, and focusing mainly on adaptations of video games such as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat), the selling point of UniVersus is that you can mix and match all of the different sets, featuring different franchises, to pit characters of any series against each other, and it brings an arcade style, combo heavy, fighting game feel to the tabletop.
My Hero Academia Challenger Series: Dark Hero Arc (October 11th, 2024)
Not wanting to miss out on all the fun that other franchises are having, it’s the turn of My Hero Academia to receive Challenger Series products, when the Dark Hero Arc cards arrive on October 11th, 2024. Though we don’t know a great deal about these just yet, we do know that, just as with other Challenger Series decks, it’ll be a pre-constructed, 60 card deck that isn’t intended for new players, and it’ll be packaged with a Collector Booster featuring alt art and rare cards too.
We also know that it’ll feature the first double sided My Hero Academia Character card, featuring Deku. As more details are released, we will of course ensure that this information is updated!
Tekken 8 Clash Starter Decks (October 24th, 2024)
With the origins of UniVersus being its original identity, the Universal Fighting System, it was an excellent vehicle for adapting popular fighting video games into tabletop form. So it’s great to see it hearkening back to its roots, with decks based on Tekken 8 arriving in October. Tekken is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, so it’s a great excuse for it to arrive in card game form, with UniVersus Clash Decks featuring Jin and Jun Kazama.
Though many other new properties that have arrived in UniVersus this year haven’t been the most accessible for newcomers, given that they’ve been composed of Challenger Series decks that are often most suited for more experienced players, Clash Decks are much more newbie friendly, making these Tekken 8 decks a great jumping on point for new fans.
Not only will they include ready-to-play, 60 card decks, but also paper playmats and novice friendly rules guides too, so they really are the perfect way in to UniVersus for Tekken 8 fans, or even new UniVersus players in general.
Attack On Titan: Origins Of Power (November 8th, 2024)
Details are thin on the ground for the second Attack On Titan set, Origins of Power. However, we know that it’s due to arrive on November 8th, 2024, and just the fact that it’s on the way means that UVS Games really are treating the Attack On Titan sets as a very big deal; given the franchise’s massive popularity and the innovations the first set is bringing to UniVersus, it’s great to see.
So, we’re likely to see more double sided Characters, more spectacular rares to chase and lots more ground covered in terms of Attack On Titan’s expansive lore. Though fans of the series, not to mention fans of UniVersus itself, won’t want to miss out on the first Attack On Titan set, this second set is very likely to be equally unmissable.
Star Trek: Lower Decks (December 6th, 2024)
Lower Decks has proven to be a surprising hit; though many fans initially dismissed the animated, comedic look at a previously little-covered side of the Star Trek universe, it’s proven to be a winning formula, which is truly funny and still has a great sense of what makes the more serious side of Trek work.
Though we don’t have a great deal of information on these Challenger Series decks yet, we know that there will be four of them, each with its own unique Character card. We know that the Characters in question will be from the main cast, each of them staff members on the USS Ceritos: Ensign Beckett Mariner, Ensign Brad Broimler, Ensign D’Vana Tendi, and Ensign Sam Rutherford.
Each deck will feature two different Character cards too, giving you a choice of which to take into battle; one Character card per deck will feature a special, lenticular card treatment that simulates them being beamed up to the transporter room on the USS Ceritos too!
As is the case with other Challenger Series decks, we also know that each deck will be accompanied by a Collector Booster, so there’ll be some great alt art and foil cards to discover too.
UVS Games have also confirmed that they will be releasing a crossover with the ever popular deck building game, Star Realms. Though this won’t be compatible with UniVersus, the Star Trek Star Realms game will be both standalone and fully compatible with all previously released Star Realms products; the slightly awkwardly named Star Trek Star Realms will be released in October 2024.
Keep your eyes peeled for much more UniVersus news as the year goes on – we’ll be here with updates and new product reveals as they happen.
Solo Leveling Challenger Series Deck – January 10th, 2025
Given that the majority of the most recent UniVersus sets have been based on anime series, with My Hero Academia being the primary focus of the game and Attack on Titan now looking to be a big part of UniVersus going forward (not to mention sets and decks based on Yu Yu Hakusho, Cowboy Bebop and Trigun Stampede), it’s no surprise to see another popular anime making its debut with a new Challenger Series Deck.
Challenger Series Decks are intended for use by UniVersus fans who are already familiar with the game, and as such the cards can be a little complicated to use. It’s a single Challenger Series Deck that’s being released with the Solo Leveling characters and settings, so if you’re a fan of the anime series who has yet to play UniVersus, it may well be worth checking out some Clash Decks before taking the plunge with Solo Leveling, as they’re designed to be easier to learn the game with!
Arriving on January 10th, 2025, we’re keen to see how UVS Games adapt Solo Leveling into card game form; however, given their previous form with a variety of anime series in UniVersus, we’re sure they’re going to do it justice!
Critical Role: Heroes of Exandria – March 7th, 2025
With two Challenger Series decks based on Critical Role having released in 2024 (Vox Machina and Mighty Nein, shown in the above image), there’s another set on the way, with Heroes of Exandria arriving on March 7th, 2025.
For the uninitiated, Critical Role is a live roleplay series, featuring voice actors playing through a tabletop fantasy campaign. The new set, Heroes of Exandria, seems to be a new undertaking for UniVersus, being a heavily character focused release; in fact, UVS Games have revealed that no less than 20 Critical Role characters will feature in this set.
Beyond that, little is known about Heroes of Exandria at this stage; however, we’ll ensure to keep you updated with further details as they’re revealed.
Attack On Titan: Apocalypse – May 16th, 2025
The first two Attack On Titan sets, Battle For Humanity and Origins Of Power, brought some genuinely exciting cards to UniVersus, in terms of their art, their mechanics and the sheer size of the sets overall, with Battle For Humanity being the biggest UniVersus set ever at the time of its release!
Innovations such as double sided cards (with an example from the Battle For Humanity set above) kept the Attack On Titan sets feeling both fresh and highly thematic, and each set represents a different stage in the anime’s story. The Attack On Titan: Apocalypse set, due on May 16th, 2025, brings the saga’s story to a close with another expansive set that’s sure to please fans of the series.
More spectacular art is promised, and we’re sure to see another great selection of Characters and Attacks that stay true to the Attack On Titan universe, with some visual and mechanical callbacks to events in the series.
Street Fighter 6 Challenger Series Decks – July, 2025
Way back in 2006, UniVersus was known as the Universal Fighting System, or UFS. The very first UniVersus sets focused on webcomic Penny Arcade, along with Street Fighter and Soul Calibur sets, the latter two of which were based on 1 on 1, digital fighting games.
It seems that UniVersus is heading back to its fighting game roots, with the Street Fighter 6 Challenger Series Decks. Though it’s not the first time in recent memory that UniVersus has headed back to 1 on 1 fighting games as source material (Tekken 8 also emerged in late 2024, and Mortal Kombat made an appearance in 2018), this is the very first time that Capcom’s beloved arcade series has returned since 2006!
Based on the most recent game in the long running video game series, concrete details on the Street Fighter 6 Challenger Series Decks is thin on the ground at this stage, which is perhaps unsurprising given how long it is until they’re released. You can expect to see some fan favourite characters popping up, along with some of their iconic attacks; I’d be very surprised if we don’t see Chun Li (shown above in her orignal UFS incarnation) and the Spinning Bird Kick making another appearance in UniVersus!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – August, 2025
The Heroes in a Half Shell have themselves just celebrated their 40th anniversary; somewhat unbelievably, the very first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was published way back in 1984! Since then, the TMNT (as they’re often abbreviated) have become intergenerational, pop culture icons, with various reboots and reimaginings keeping their stories fresh (to varying degrees of success!) over the decades.
What’s most exciting, in the information that’s been revealed so far, is that we know this set will be a full booster set, along with decks; unlike many of the 2025 releases that have been revealed so far, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles isn’t just a one off Challenger Series release!
With the Attack On Titan set ‘trilogy’ coming to a close with Apocalypse in May 2025, could Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles be the next major series of set releases for UniVersus? As always, watch this space for further news!
Guilty Gear -Strive- – November, 2025
Though hardly a household name, the Guilty Gear series has been running since the very first game was published, way back in 1998. Just as Street Fighter is bringing UniVersus back to its roots, Guilty Gear Strive is continuing the trend; with the video games themselves being one on one fighting games, they’re perfect for adapting into the versatile, combo heavy style of UniVersus.
Guilty Gear -Strive- is the latest game in the long running series, and was published in 2021. UVS Games have promised that the set will be …’all about power, style and intensity’, and will feature characters from the most recent Guilty Gear title.
Not much else is known, though we are aware that Guilty Gear -Strive- will be a smaller set in comparison to other releases (likely along the lines of 2024’s Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament set), and will feature some of the ‘most visually stunning and powerful fighters’ in UniVersus!
Will Other Sets Release For UniVersus In 2025?
Though we don’t yet know what else will be released for UniVersus in 2025, UVS Games have promised more surprises will be announced over the coming months. Given that 2024 saw a large number of series (including Cowboy Bebop, shown above) get the UniVersus treatment, we’re very interested in seeing what else UVS Games have up their sleeves.
As always, we’ll continue to update this article with further details as new card sets and decks are revealed, so watch this space!
