Abstract: In the process of biomass gasification to produce syngas (H₂/CO), the production of tar as a by-product causes environmental pollution and hinders the development of gasification technology. The combination of non-thermal plasma and nickel-based catalysts can take advantage of the low reaction temperature of plasma and the high selectivity of catalyst to transform tar into syngas. However, carbon deposition of nickel particles in the reforming process easily causes catalyst deactivation, so designing and modifying the catalyst to improve its carbon resistance is the key to solving the catalyst deactivation problem. In this paper, the deactivation mechanism of nickel-based catalysts in the non-thermal plasma-catalytic reforming of tar system, the design and modification of catalysts to improve their carbon resistance, the types of the non-thermal plasma reactor and its tar reforming mechanism, the synergistic effects of non-thermal plasma and catalysts are reviewed. The research prospect of non-thermal plasma-catalytic reforming of tar system is also discussed. This paper provides a reference for the design and development of nickel-based catalysts in the non-thermal plasma-catalytic reforming of tar system.