Pokémon's Playing Cards... Backwards? What Fresh Hell is 'Taruka'?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Pokémon's launching a backwards-spelled, upside-down-art version of a Japanese card game called Karuta, which sounds delightfully insane, even if you can't read Japanese, according to Game Rant. Get ready for some potentially hilarious Pokémon-themed chaos!
Right, so, Pokémon's doing something a little… different. Forget your standard TCG battles for a minute, because they're diving headfirst into a revamped version of a classic Japanese card game called Karuta. Game Rant broke the news – and fair play to them for spotting this one – that this new thing, Pokémon Taruka, is coming to Pokémon Centers in Japan in July 2025. Sounds innocent enough, eh?
But here's where it gets a bit… well, Pokémon. Taruka is basically Karuta, but spelled backwards. 'Ka-ru-ta' becomes 'Ta-ru-ka.' And it's not just the name, mate. The person reading the cards? They have to read them backwards too. Imagine trying to decipher 'nomékop' while frantically searching for a Pikachu card. (Or, you know, whatever Pokémon is plastered on these things. Probably Pikachu.)
They've even gone and flipped the Pokémon art upside down on the cards. Some of those poor critters look positively traumatized. It's like they're saying, 'Bloody hell, what did I do to deserve this?'
Now, Karuta's a matching game, usually played with three people. One reads from their own set of cards, and the other two scramble to find the matching card from a spread on the floor. First one to grab the right card wins the round. Simple enough, right? But adding the backwards reading element… that's just pure Pokémon chaos.
Before you get too excited about collecting these things, there's a catch. The cards are entirely in Japanese, including the Pokémon names. So unless you're fluent or have a reliable translator (or a lot of patience), you might struggle to actually *play* the game. Game Rant reckons it's unlikely we'll see a translated version outside of Japan, given Karuta isn't exactly a household name in the West. So, it’s either a trip to Japan or hitting up a reseller if you're keen.
Honestly, it sounds brilliantly bonkers. It's the kind of slightly unhinged idea that only Pokémon could pull off. But does it have legs? Will it become the next big thing? Or will it fade into obscurity faster than a Ditto trying to mimic a Ghost-type? Only time will tell. But one thing's for sure: it's definitely… different.
Tags: Pokemon, Card Games, Japan, Gaming News, Nintendo
Original article: Game Rant