Welcome to the world of
Five ancient elements. One ruthless cycle.
A casual party strategy card game inspired by the ancient Wu Xing philosophy on the balance of all elements. Featuring 60 original elemental creatures, all hand-painted with watercolor and ink.
Pre-launch
Kickstarter
Follow the campaign and be first to know when Cyclémental launches on Kickstarter.
Learn the cycle
How to Play
Be the first to collect 3 Qi cards. Attack with elemental creatures, unleash hand combos, and cast spells to tip the balance.
Hand-painted collection
The Cards
Sixty original elemental creatures, painted in watercolour and ink. Hover a card to catch the light.
Cyclémental — Indie Hand-Painted Trading Card Game
Cyclémental is an independent trading card game designed and illustrated by James Rotanson in Sydney, Australia. The game features 60 original elemental creatures, all hand-painted using traditional watercolour and ink techniques. No AI-generated art.
The game is rooted in Wu Xing — the ancient Chinese five element philosophy encompassing Fire, Water, Wood, Earth and Metal. Players collect elemental creature cards, attack rivals using elemental strengths and weaknesses, and race to collect three Qi cards to claim victory.
Cyclémental is available now on The Game Crafter, with a Kickstarter campaign planned for a wider release. Suitable for 2-5 players, 20-40 minutes per game.
For publisher inquiries, licensing opportunities, or press coverage, contact via the waitlist form or reach out to @cyclementalgame on Instagram and TikTok.
About the Designer
James Rotanson is a principal designer based in Sydney, Australia with a background in product and experience design. Cyclémental is his debut independent card game, developed during 2026. All 60 creature illustrations were hand-painted using traditional ink brush and watercolour techniques.
Game Details
- 60 hand-painted elemental creature cards
- 6 special action cards
- 6 Qi victory cards
- 2-5 players
- 20-40 minutes
- Rooted in Wu Xing Chinese five element philosophy
- All artwork hand-painted, no AI generation
- Designed by James Rotanson, Sydney Australia
- Available now on The Game Crafter
- Kickstarter wider release planned
Five Elements
Fire
Aggressive. Consuming. Unstoppable.
Water
Patient. Deceptive. Inevitable.
Wood
Ancient. Abundant. Unyielding.
Earth
Immovable. Enduring. Absolute.
Metal
Precise. Refined. Relentless.
The Game
Born from ink. Rooted in philosophy.
Sixty hand-painted creatures locked in the endless dance of Wu Xing — the ancient Chinese five element cycle. Attack with elemental strength, counter with cunning, and collect 3 Qi cards to claim balance and victory.
2–5 players · 20–40 minutes · All hand-painted
Every card painted by James Rotanson, Sydney.
Every card tells both sides of the story.
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