Illuminati: New World Order – Assassins (Japanese Edition) went on sale in Japan on April 24, 2026. This expansion set, originally released in the United States in 1995 by Steve Jackson Games, has long been one of the hardest items to obtain in the Illuminati card game series.
The "Prophecy Cards" and Their Elusive Sequel
Since its 1994 U.S. release, Illuminati: New World Order — nicknamed the "Illuminati cards" — has drawn decades of fascination for appearing to foreshadow real-world events: the September 11 attacks, a global pandemic, the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, and more. Even thirty years on, the series continues to captivate fans of urban legends, mystery, and occult culture.
The ASSASSINS expansion was released in 1995 solely in eight-card booster packs, meaning it was never widely distributed. It has since become notoriously difficult to obtain, earning a reputation as a "phantom sequel" among collectors worldwide.
What's in the Japanese Edition
The Japanese edition is a complete box set containing all 129 cards — the first time this expansion has been collected in one release — along with a rulebook. Four previously unreleased cards have been added to the lineup. According to original creator Steve Jackson, all four unreleased cards are Japan-related.
Card breakdown (129 cards total):
- Illuminati Cards: 2 (1 type, 2 copies)
- Group Cards: 27
- Resource Cards: 10
- Plot Cards: 77
- New World Order Cards: 11
- Goal Cards: 3
Darker Themes Than the Base Game
Where the base game covers broad themes of world domination and societal manipulation, ASSASSINS leans into more explicit territory: assassination, pathogens, information warfare, environmental anxiety, the paranormal, and social upheaval. The expansion packs the conspiracy-theory imagination and social satire of 1990s America in concentrated form — a quality that has kept the series in conversation long after its release.
Game Compatibility
ASSASSINS is an expansion set that requires the separately sold Illuminati: New World Order (Japanese Edition) base game to play. When mixed into the base set, it introduces more unpredictable, high-stakes dynamics to the game experience.
Watch the promotional video on YouTube
Companion Book Also Available
Released alongside the card set is a companion volume, Illuminati: New World Order Insider Commentary Book: Assassins Edition. Rather than a game rules guide, the book takes an urban-legend perspective to examine the historical context, conspiracy theories, social commentary, and occult imagery behind all 129 cards. It also features a special interview with urban legend commentator Akio Seki (known as "Mr. Urban Legend").
Product Details
Card Game
- Title: Illuminati: New World Order – Assassins (Japanese Edition)
- Supervised by: Steve Jackson
- Translated by: Kazumichi Usa
- Release Date: April 24, 2026
- Price: ¥7,500 (tax included)
- Publisher: Asuka Shinsha Co., Ltd.
Companion Book
- Title: Illuminati: New World Order Insider Commentary Book: Assassins Edition
- Commentary: Kazumichi Usa
- Special Feature: Akio Seki interview
- Release Date: April 24, 2026
- Price: ¥2,090 (tax included)
- Publisher: Asuka Shinsha Co., Ltd.
Where to Buy
Set (with limited acrylic keychain)
Illuminati: New World Order – Assassins Japanese Edition (Akio Seki sleeve + Members Card) + Insider Commentary Book: Assassins Edition Set
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4868011367
Card Game (single)
Illuminati: New World Order – Assassins Japanese Edition (Akio Seki sleeve + Members Card)
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4868011278
Companion Book (single)
Illuminati: New World Order Insider Commentary Book: Assassins Edition
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4868011286
