One Piece Wano Arc Based Board Game to Launch in 2026

• KessCo launches Wano-arc board game for One Piece fans.
• The game lets players pause and resume long sessions.
• It signals a push toward narrative-focused One Piece experiences.

One Piece’s merchandise drive continues with the announcement of a D&D-style board game shortly after its fourth watch collaboration with Tendence. One Piece: Dawn of Liberation, developed by KessCo under license from Toei, is a co-op tabletop game based on the Wano arc.

The game can be previewed for the first time at PAX Unplugged, which takes place in Philadelphia from November 21 to 23, 2025. Players will be able to participate in a hands-on demo at booth #2257. Pre-orders will begin in March 2026, with shipping scheduled in the third quarter of the year, according to KessCo.

Unlike other board games or gimmick-heavy party games, Dawn of Liberation is intended for extended, multi-hour sessions. Players can construct crews of Wano-arc characters, execute missions, gain resources, and recruit allies, all leading up to a battle with Kaido.

One Piece Board Game: What to Expect?

The One Piece boardgame has one notable feature, which is its "pause-and-resume" functionality. This will allow the playing groups to pause at critical plot points and resume later without losing progress, much like a D&D game. Alex Kessler, CEO of KessCo, said the project's objective was "to capture the spirit of One Piece in a tabletop experience that feels as epic as the story itself."

The game came into being after a licensing agreement was announced in February 2024, when KessCo and Toei Animation disclosed plans for two tabletop titles themed around One Piece and Digimon. The partnership was announced as One Piece marked its global 25th anniversary. It also emphasized KessCo's desire to grow into narrative-driven licensed games.

Picking the Wano Arc for the game is a strategic choice for KessCo because it is one of One Piece's most popular and lore-heavy chapters. It deepens the mystery behind Gol D. Roger, reveals Zoro's legacy, and intensifies the emotional stakes in the plot. KessCo's use of an iconic and narratively rich arc in its 4-player campaign style game makes it intriguing for loyal One Piece fans.

Dawn of Liberation will finally provide fans with an official One Piece tabletop experience after years of relying on 5e D&D and homebrews such as Dungeons & Devil Fruits. Despite starting with Wano, the game structure allows for introducing subsequent arcs. With Toei's support and KessCo's focus, this might just be one of the most popular One Piece games, with a solid curiosity for what could come next.