It was recently announced that theShin Megami TenseiTrading Card Game “Monument of Reincarnation” is being re-released as part of the 30th anniversary of the JRPG series. A Japan-only release, the card game from the early 2000s featured many notable characters and demons found in variousShin Megami Tenseigames and its spin-offs, but it remained one of the more obscure parts of the niche JRPG for fans outside the country.
Releases like these might appeal best to diehard fans of the series, but they also show a willingness on the part of Atlus to dive into lesser-known parts of its history.Shin Megami Tensei’s history is a storied onedating back to the 90s, and while it has had a significant influence on the JRPG genre for its demon-collecting mechanics that predatePokemonby several years, it remains an outlier for its focus on mixing science fiction with the occult along with telling stories about reshaping the world rather than saving it.
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The report from Siliconera about this latest release states that it will have redesigned cards along with 22 new ones based onShin Megami Tensei 5, the latest game in the mainline series. Pre-orders for the cards close on July 15, 2025, and will be delivered in August 2023. Although the cards are available on the American Premium Bandai website for a total price of $150, they are only available in Japanese, with a disclaimer stating that there are no current plans for an English version.
Besides the 125-card set, the package includes pocket binders, a poster, and a storage box. Fans who collected the cards during their initial run might be enticed by the updated art that suits the series' new style or theinclusion of Atlus mascot Jack Frost, but the lack of any English version might sting for western fans interested in purchasing the set. Given that the package is marketed as a premium set, it can be argued that it is a collectible product and not intended to be played, but for those who would want to play it and cannot read Japanese, accessibility remains an issue.
Despite the American release being in their original language, the cards coming over acknowledges the demand for products beyond the release of newer titles. While they have had niche appeal outside Japan for decades, sales records forShin Megami Tenseititles have been breakingover the past few years, showing far greater potential to appeal to a global audience. Much of this can be attributed to thePersonaspin-offs seeing a massive spike in popularity withPersona 5, but some of that has leaked into other plans for the franchise, such as reviving other spin-offs likeSoul Hackersand doing simultaneous worldwide releases.
Shin Megami Tenseiremains a well-received seriesfor Atlus’s parent company Sega, and decisions like re-releasing the “Monument of Reincarnation” card game in more than one territory show a willingness to capitalize on the games' growing popularity. If reception to the franchise remains positive, then there is potential for other obscure projects to be given new life and embraced by a far greater community.
