It’s a good time to be a Naruto fan because the beloved IP’s renaissance continues, the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga series is ongoing, and summer 2027 is set to be a big time for the franchise. Indeed, it’s not just the anime and manga getting attention.
For example, Lionsgate is getting a live-action Naruto movie directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who previously worked on Shang-Chi and more recently on Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Naruto‘s new movie and continued TV dominance, especially for TV Tokyo, continues with the support of original creator Masashi Kishimoto, but Naruto fans should also mark their calendars for Summer 2027 for something a little different.
Bandai Releases New Naruto Game in Summer 2027
From Bandai Namco Entertainment’s TCG brand Bandai Card Games comes the official Naruto TCG, also known simply as the Naruto Card Game, and it releases in summer 2027 (as reported by Crunchyroll). The Naruto card game made its debut at Gen Con at the end of July/start of August, and it’s expected to reveal more info at New York Comic-Con, but it showed up with its initial debut. The Naruto Card Game has released two trailers for the game, with the first (above) being a simple First Look trailer and the second (below) giving a broader overview of the game.
In broad strokes, there are a handful of card types fans can expect: Leader Cards (similar to Magic: The Gathering commanders), Character Cards, EX Character Cards, Chakra Cards, and Summon Cards. The color of a Leader Card determines the cards and strategies available to players, with games ending when a Leader is defeated. Character cards are then played to do battle, with actions like key ninjutsu being possible with a certain number of Chakra cards, while EX Character Cards can only be played after certain conditions but are described as “powerful, high-impact characters.”
The Naruto Card Game is getting the full press tour treatment, it seems, with Bandai suggesting the TCG will appear at numerous locations after NYCC. PAx Australia 2026, Bandai Card Games Fest, Spiel Essen 2026, Paris Games Week, and Lucca Comics and Games are all on the docket, with further information coming by the end of the year and stores preparing for release in early 2027. Depending on other Naruto anime/franchise announcements, it seems like the end of 2026 and start-to-mid 2027 is going to be an especially important time for the IP.
Some might understandably dismiss the Naruto TCG as just a card game, but given the popularity and sales of Pokemon cards and Magic: The Gathering, it’s clear these games move real money. Combine that with Naruto‘s legacy, popularity, and solid card game setup, and it would not be surprising to hear reports that these are selling out and being resold by scalpers by Summer 2027. Perhaps Bandai will have strong anti-scalping measures in place for launch and beyond.
