Looking back at the original Naruto CCG (2006–2013) — the road to the revival

When Bandai announced the new NARUTO Card Game on June 18, 2026, much of the coverage pointed back to a predecessor: the original Naruto CCG that Bandai ran years ago. This column looks back at the original game — sticking to what can be confirmed from published reports — and traces the road to a revival roughly a decade in the making.

What the reports say: the original Naruto CCG ran from 2006 to 2013

According to Anime News Network, Bandai previously ran a Naruto collectible card game from 2006 to 2013. That makes the new title a comeback after roughly ten years.

The original manga ran from 1999 to 2014, so the original card game was on shelves right as the anime was expanding NARUTO’s popularity worldwide.

ICv2’s framing: a second attempt

Hobby-industry outlet ICv2 put the announcement in industry context, framing the new game as following the English-edition reboots of the Gundam and Digimon TCGs — Bandai’s second attempt at an English NARUTO card game.

Bandai has launched a string of successful TCG titles in English-speaking markets in recent years. Unlike in the original game’s era, the global TCG market itself has grown enormously — making this a well-timed return.

A very different rollout this time

Comparing the reports with the official announcements, the rollout strategy looks quite different from the original era.

• Original game (2006–2013): primarily an English-edition release for overseas markets (per ICv2’s framing)
• New game (2027–): a simultaneous worldwide release, with an official Japanese teaser site already live — an explicitly global launch that includes Japan

Given that history, “simultaneous worldwide release” carries extra weight. For fans in Japan, this may be the first full-scale domestic release of a NARUTO TCG — one more reason expectations are high.

The road to the revival — a timeline

• 1999: The NARUTO manga begins serialization
• 2006–2013: Bandai runs the original Naruto CCG (per Anime News Network)
• June 18, 2026: Bandai announces the new NARUTO Card Game — a return after roughly a decade
• July 29, 2026: Full details scheduled to be revealed
• 2027: Simultaneous worldwide release planned

Takeaway

Knowing the history, this revival reads as more than just a new product — it sits at the culmination of Bandai’s global TCG strategy. Overseas fans who played the original game and Japanese fans picking up a NARUTO TCG for the first time will stand at the same starting line in 2027 — a setup unique to this launch.

First up: the full reveal on July 29 (Wed) at 23:00 JST / 10:00 a.m. EDT. We’ll see how much of the game comes into view.

Note: details of the original Naruto CCG (product lineup, rules, etc.) are not covered on the new game’s official site, so this article limits itself to what can be confirmed from published reports.