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Game News

Prinny Party: Going Overboard! — November 12 in Japan

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The adorable — and chronically explodable — Prinny penguin is finally getting its own party game, and Nippon Ichi Software dropped the full reveal today. Prinny Party: Going Overboard! lands in Japan on 12 November 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. NIS America has confirmed a Western localisation is in the works, though a release date is yet to be announced.

Prinny Party: Going Overboard! key art featuring the Prinny and Disgaea characters
Image courtesy of NIS America / Nippon Ichi Software

What Is Prinny Party: Going Overboard?

Known in Japan as プリニーすごろく (Prinny Sugoroku), the game is NIS’s take on the board-game party genre — think Mario Party crossed with Dokapon Kingdom, filtered through the anarchic energy of Disgaea. Up to four players roll dice, move around a sprawling board, earn experience points, purchase equipment, and build facilities like armories and hospitals that rivals can drop into — for a fee, naturally.

The cooperative twist is very Nippon Ichi: when a boss spawns on the board, players can team up to bring it down — but only the one who lands the final blow gets the credit. Expect alliances to collapse at the worst possible moment. On top of that, the game features an Assembly system that lets you pass bills granting yourself special advantages, or just making everyone else’s day considerably worse.

Disgaea characters on a board game island square in Prinny Party: Going Overboard!
Image courtesy of Nippon Ichi Software

The World of Prinny Party

The game board spans multiple visually distinct biomes — frozen tundra, volcanic wastelands, lush grasslands, desert ruins, and open seas — all rendered in the chibi art style Disgaea fans will recognise immediately. Several Disgaea-universe characters appear alongside the flagship blue Prinny, who shows up briefcase in hand and ready to catch hands, as ever.

The full game board map of Prinny Party: Going Overboard! showing diverse biome regions
Image courtesy of Nippon Ichi Software

Nippon Ichi Software described the game as packed with “hachiyamecha” (ハチャメチャ — wildly chaotic) experiences that go well beyond a typical board game, promising surprises that will flip players’ expectations of the sugoroku format. The full reveal took place today on the official 日本一チャンネル YouTube livestream (Japanese).

Full reveal stream — 【ゆるっと日本一２】第2回 プロジェクトネーム「プリニーすごろく」紹介 — via 日本一チャンネル on YouTube

Platforms, Price, and When Singapore Fans Can Play

Concept art of the Prinny mascot holding a flag in Prinny Party: Going Overboard!
Image courtesy of Nippon Ichi Software

Japan pricing is set at ¥6,980 (¥7,678 with tax) across all platforms — no Switch 2 premium has been confirmed yet. No SGD pricing or Asia release date has been announced.

The good news: both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 are region-free, so Singapore fans who want to play from day one can import the Japanese version when it drops on 12 November 2026. The PS5 physical edition will run on any region’s console too, though digital buyers will need a Japanese PlayStation Network account. As for a global release, NIS America is handling Western publishing and has confirmed a date is coming — so an English version covering Singapore and Southeast Asia should follow, even if the timing is not pinned down yet.

Game News

BlazBlue: Entropy Effect X Heads to Switch 2 on 13 August — Platinum Joins Free

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BlazBlue: Entropy Effect X is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on 13 August 2026, and it brings one of the franchise’s most beloved characters with it. Developer 91Act and publisher Astrolabe Games have confirmed that Platinum — the hammer-swinging, bubble-flinging magical girl from BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma — joins the roguelite roster in a free major content update dropping on the same day across all platforms. Pre-orders for the Switch 2 Edition opened today.

Blazblue Entropy Effect X – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition & Platinum Major Update Announcement Trailer — via BlazBlue Entropy Effect X Global – Official on YouTube

Platinum Enters the Sea of Possibility

Platinum launches a rainbow star-beam attack against enemies in a cyberpunk Japanese setting in BlazBlue: Entropy Effect X
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / 91Act

Platinum’s moveset translates into BBEE X’s fast-paced 2D roguelite action with exactly the chaotic flair her fans expect. The announcement screenshots show her launching rainbow-arcing magical blasts and triggering full-screen star explosions that fill the arena with sparkle and fire — a playstyle that should feel very different from the more straightforward brawlers already in the game.

The free August 13 update also brings an upgraded Training Space and new branching route options for each run. That second addition is particularly welcome: more diverging paths between attempts means each run through the Sea of Possibility feels less predictable, which has a real impact on long-term replayability.

Platinum triggers a large star-burst explosion alongside cute panda-cannon enemies in BlazBlue: Entropy Effect X
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / 91Act

Switch 2 Edition — What You Actually Get

BlazBlue: Entropy Effect X Nintendo Switch 2 Edition key art showing the August 13 2026 launch date and all supported platforms
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / 91Act

The Switch 2 Edition is a native build with enhanced visuals, an improved frame rate and GameShare support — so you can invite a friend into your session even if they don’t own a copy. Exclusive cosmetics for Switch 2 players include the Old World Fantasy Platinum palette and a Dango Balloon chibi avatar, a small but fun differentiator for early adopters.

For players who already own BBEE X on the original Nintendo Switch, the Upgrade Pack costs just US$1.99 — making it one of the most affordable Switch-to-Switch-2 upgrades out there. The stand-alone Switch 2 digital version is priced at US$24.99, consistent with what the game cost at launch. The title is listed on the Nintendo Southeast Asia eShop, so Singapore players can pre-order directly.

Free Content for Everyone on All Platforms

Platinum charges into a group of enemies wielding her oversized golden hammer in BlazBlue: Entropy Effect X
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / 91Act

The biggest news for existing players is that the August 13 update is free across every platform BBEE X currently runs on: PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and Nintendo Switch. Platinum, the revamped Training Space and the new run-branching options arrive for everyone, no additional purchase required. Singapore players who picked up the game at launch on PS5 or PC get a meaningful content refresh at no extra cost.

BBEE X launched in February 2026 to strong critical reception for its stylish 2D action, tight roguelite loop and deep BlazBlue fan service. With Platinum’s addition and the Switch 2 native build both landing on 13 August, it’s shaping up to be one of the better mid-year content moments for fans of the franchise. Check the Nintendo eShop or Steam for pricing in your local currency.

For more game news, keep following GameTrader.SG.

Game News

The Mermaid Mask Out Now on PS5 and Switch 2

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The locked-room murder is one of gaming’s most satisfying puzzles, and today SFB Games delivers its most polished version yet. The Mermaid Mask — the fourth entry in the beloved Detective Grimoire series — is out now on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

From Tangle Tower to the Mortuga Submarine

The Mermaid Mask case file notebook showing Captain Seafoam's letter and polaroid clues
Image courtesy of SFB Games

If you played Tangle Tower (2019), you already know SFB Games’ signature blend of hand-animated characters, sharp writing, and satisfying deductive puzzles. The Mermaid Mask transplants that formula to a new stage: the Mortuga Submarine, a hulking diesel vessel anchored off the abandoned fishing town of Silkwirm-on-Sea. The ship’s former captain, Magnus Mortuga, has been found dead inside a locked bulkhead room with no weapon present — an impossible crime that only Detective Grimoire can unravel.

SFB Games is also the studio behind Crow Country (2024), the acclaimed PSX-horror adventure, making them one of indie gaming’s most versatile outfits. Fans of either game should feel right at home here.

Watch the Official Trailer

The Mermaid Mask | Release Date Trailer — via SFB Games on YouTube

Eight Suspects, One Dead Captain, and a Logic Board That Does the Heavy Lifting

The Mermaid Mask deduction board showing suspects and clues around the question what happened to Magnus Mortuga
Image courtesy of SFB Games

Gameplay follows the Detective Grimoire rhythm: explore the submarine’s rooms, pick up fully 3D physical clues you can rotate to expose hidden details, and question eight fully voiced suspects — a mystic, a writer, an actor, an illusionist, and more — about their motives and alibis. Everything gets logged into a built-in notebook, which feeds into the game’s accusation board where you build the chain of events: who did it, how, and why.

The step up from Tangle Tower is in tactility — clues are three-dimensional objects you can manipulate, not just static images to click on, and the full orchestral score (performed by the Budapest Art Orchestra) gives interrogation scenes a cinematic tension that the earlier games lacked.

A Fully Voiced Cast Brings Every Suspect to Life

The Mermaid Mask suspect Wirman dialogue scene on the murder submarine
Image courtesy of SFB Games

Edwyn Tiong (Malaysian-born, based in Australia) reprises Detective Grimoire, his signature role since the original 2014 game, alongside Amber Lee Connors as the ever-sceptical Sally. The supporting cast includes Tara Langella, Steven Kearney, Justine Leah Hince, Anairis Quinones, Eric Morgan Stuart, Jacqui Bardelang, and Alex Bankier — each character expressively hand-animated and voiced to match SFB Games’ theatrical, darkly comedic tone.

Critical Reception: 9/10 at Launch

Shacknews awarded The Mermaid Mask a 9 out of 10 in their launch review, calling it a “smart, silly, and charming adventure that will lock mystery lovers into its intriguing tale” and noting it is “a captivating mystery that rewards whether you’re new to the series or have been along for the ride.”

Where to Get The Mermaid Mask in Singapore

The Mermaid Mask is available today on the PlayStation Store (PS5), the Nintendo eShop (Switch 2 and Switch), and Steam (PC). SFB Games also has a free demo on Steam if you want to sample the mystery before committing — it covers the opening chapter and gives a solid feel for the pacing. Check your regional storefront for local SGD pricing.

If you’re hunting for more puzzle and story-driven games to sink into, head to our Game News section for the latest releases landing in Singapore this month.

Game News, News

FF Resonance Pixel Trailer: Lid, Nichol, and Four New Visions Revealed

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Square Enix dropped the Pixel Trailer for Final Fantasy Resonance today, and it is the most detailed look yet at Lancarse’s HD-2D RPG since the game’s initial reveal last month. Two brand-new party members stepped into the spotlight, the Vision roster ballooned to more than ten classic Final Fantasy heroes, and a pair of new world regions opened up — all arriving on PS5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC on 22 October 2026.

If you missed the original announcement, we covered all the essentials when Square Enix first unveiled the game. Today’s trailer is a genuine follow-up with substantial new reveals.

FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE – Pixel Trailer — via Square Enix Asia on YouTube

Two New Party Members Join Rain’s Crew

The big character news in the Pixel Trailer is a pair of new playable faces neither of the earlier reveals mentioned.

Lid hails from Dirnado, the continent famous for its airship technology. She is an engineer who built her own mechanical chocobo companion — called Mechabo — from scratch. Completing Lid’s subquests unlocks new skills for Mechabo, making her side content worth chasing for gameplay reasons as well as story ones.

Nichol comes from Olderion, a naval nation protected by the Wardens of the Waters clan. He is described as a careful strategist, though the trailer makes clear his more cautious nature constantly runs up against his adventurous companions. Together, they round out a cast that now also includes the original trio of Rain, Lasswell, and Fina.

Rain and party on a grassy field in Final Fantasy Resonance, showing HD-2D character art
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Four More Visions — Cecil, Bartz, Squall, and Zidane

The Vision system — which lets party members equip crystallised essences of legendary FF heroes for stat boosts, unique abilities, and devastating Resonance finishers — now has four new confirmed entries from across the series’ history:

  • Cecil Harvey (FFIV) — Versatile kit covering light and dark attacks alongside healing, making him a Swiss-army-knife Vision for tricky encounters.
  • Bartz Klauser (FFV) — Fire and ice sword skills built for staggering enemies; a strong pick for triggering the Resonance combo window quickly.
  • Squall Leonhart (FFVIII) — Damage that scales with consecutive standard attacks, rewarding aggressive play that avoids abilities.
  • Zidane Tribal (FFIX) — Debuffs enemy vitality and speed while buffing his own stats; useful for drawn-out boss fights.

These join the previously confirmed roster of Cloud, Terra, Tidus, Y’shtola, Shantotto, and the Warrior of Light — already one of the broadest cross-series casts in any Final Fantasy title.

HD-2D town exploration in Final Fantasy Resonance with pixel characters and moogles
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The World of Lapis Opens Up

Two new locations were shown for the first time:

Dilmagia (Machinopolis) is a steel-forged industrial city and the birthplace of airship technology, home to successive generations of engineers who all share the name Cid — a classic FF nod that fans will appreciate immediately.

Olderion (Aquapolis) is a coastal naval hub protected by the Wardens of the Waters clan and, according to the trailer, watched over by a deity of water. Nichol’s home region, it also holds the esper Titan, who unleashes Gaia’s Wrath when summoned.

Airship soaring over the lush 3D world map of Final Fantasy Resonance
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Combat Depth: Stagger, Resonance, and a Colosseum

The trailer fleshed out what happens after you land a stagger: knock out the entire enemy party’s stagger gauges in a single turn and you trigger a Resonance with your equipped Vision, dealing an especially destructive burst of damage. This gives turn order and target selection real strategic weight — you want to build toward that Resonance window rather than just mashing the strongest skills available.

Espers received more detail too. Confirmed summons now include Ifrit (Hellfire), Shiva (Diamond Dust), and Titan (Gaia’s Wrath). Each fights alongside the party for three turns before unleashing their signature attack.

For post-game players, the Pixel Trailer revealed a Colosseum with tiered difficulty fights that reward progressively better items — higher leagues pit you against iconic FF bosses. There is also the Twelve Legendary Arms system: twelve exceptionally powerful weapons obtainable only by hunting sealed monstrosities scattered around Lapis. Weapon crafting with the Vision character Aileen (who needs adamantite, found in crypts and side content) rounds out the late-game loop.

Rain and party facing the armoured Sworn Six antagonists on a grand staircase in Final Fantasy Resonance
Image courtesy of Square Enix

How to Pre-Purchase Before 22 October

Final Fantasy Resonance is available to pre-purchase now on Steam and the PlayStation Store. The Standard Edition is priced at USD 49.99, the Digital Deluxe Edition at USD 59.99. Pre-purchase before 6 November 2026 to receive the Blessed Cuirass and Mist Ether bonus items. SGD pricing has not been confirmed at the time of writing; check the Steam or PlayStation Store listings for local pricing once live.

The game launches across PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and PC on 22 October 2026. Check our Game News section for any further reveals before launch.

Game News

Star Ocean: Second Story R Is Now on Switch 2 — No Upgrade Path

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Square Enix and Gemdrops quietly dropped Star Ocean: The Second Story R onto the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop today (16 July), giving JRPG fans on Nintendo’s latest hardware access to one of the most polished remakes of the past few years. The timing lands squarely in the middle of the Star Ocean 30th Anniversary celebrations, with the franchise’s big anniversary livestream happening this Sunday, 20 July, at 7pm SGT.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R — outdoor field battle with Link Combo Dragon Roar
Image courtesy of Square Enix

What Is Star Ocean: The Second Story R?

Originally released in November 2023, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a full remake of the 1998 PlayStation classic, rebuilt around Gemdrops’ distinctive 2.5D aesthetic — 2D pixel art characters moving across richly detailed 3D environments. You choose between two protagonists at the start: Claude, a young Earth Federation officer stranded on an underdeveloped planet, or Rena, a Nedean healer who encounters him first. Their paths intertwine, but the story unfolds differently depending on whose perspective you play.

The battle system layers in “Break” mechanics and “Assault Actions” on top of the original’s real-time combat, and the soundtrack has been fully recomposed by Motoi Sakuraba — the composer behind the entire Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile series. Three difficulty settings (Earth, Galaxy, Universe) and an expanded Private Actions system mean there’s room to go as deep as you like.

STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R – Launch Trailer — via Square Enix on YouTube

What the Switch 2 Version Brings

The Switch 2 edition runs at a higher resolution than the original Switch release, taking advantage of the hardware’s bump in output quality. Beyond the resolution lift, Square Enix has not published a detailed changelog of Switch 2-specific features — no confirmed frame-rate target or exclusive additions have been announced. The game itself is otherwise the same version that launched on PS4, PS5, Switch, and PC in 2023.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R — cave dungeon battle scene
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The Catch — No Upgrade Path, No Save Transfer

This is the part existing Switch owners need to read before purchasing. In line with several other Square Enix Nintendo Switch to Switch 2 transitions, there is no upgrade pack — you cannot pay a small fee to unlock the Switch 2 edition if you already own the Switch version. You will need to purchase the game again at its full price of US$49.99 (check your local Nintendo eShop for the regional price in Singapore dollars).

Equally important: save data does not carry over between versions. Picking up the Switch 2 edition means starting your playthrough fresh, even if you had a 40-hour file on the original Switch version.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R — party exploring a countryside village
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Is It Worth Getting?

If you already cleared the game on Switch, the Switch 2 version’s incremental visual upgrade probably doesn’t justify repurchasing — especially without save transfer. But if you’re new to Second Story R, or if the Switch 2 is simply your primary gaming platform going forward, this is an excellent entry point. The game ranked among the best JRPGs of 2023 across every platform it touched, and the 2.5D presentation holds up beautifully on a larger screen.

For Singapore JRPG fans on Switch 2, it’s also one of the deeper experiences available on the platform right now — a dual-protagonist structure with over 20 different endings and a post-game dungeon that will keep completionists busy for a long time.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R — characters on rocky cliff ruins
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Where to Get It

Star Ocean: The Second Story R for Nintendo Switch 2 is available now on the Nintendo eShop at US$49.99 (check the Singapore eShop for local pricing). If you want a deeper look at the broader franchise before diving in, tune in to the Star Ocean 30th Anniversary Livestream this Sunday at 7pm SGT — it’s free to watch and covers the series’ history and future. Check out other game news on the blog for more from the world of JRPGs and Switch 2.

Game News

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Gets 25+ Hours, Free Patch

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Capcom producer Naoto Oyama has confirmed in a developer interview that Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen will deliver more than 25 hours of new content — and that’s just the paid expansion. A major free update, rolling out to all Dragon’s Dogma 2 owners in August, brings the long-requested multiple save slots, six assignable weapon skills, and a proper cure for Dragonsplague. When Capcom first revealed Dark Arisen at the June Spotlight, we knew it was coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on 9 October alongside PS5 and PC — now we know exactly how much there is to do.

Into Norgan — a New Region Built for Veteran Arisen

Snow-covered castle ruins in the Norgan region of Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
Image courtesy of Capcom

The centrepiece of Dark Arisen is Norgan, a frozen northern land described as “the Far North.” Oyama told Video Games Chronicle that “the new story takes place in a new region called Norgan… we expect players to spend around 15 to 20 hours completing that scenario.” That’s already on par with some standalone RPG campaigns.

New character Eir — an enigmatic hunter pursuing the secrets of the Fallen Dragon — plays a central role in the Norgan storyline. Capcom hasn’t shown Eir in detail yet, but the character is described as pivotal to what’s unfolding in the far north. The region is recommended for around Level 40, so this is true endgame content.

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen – Announcement Trailer — via Capcom USA on YouTube

12 Lost Rites Dungeons Across the Existing World

Players battle a massive horned creature in the snowy Norgan wilderness in Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
Image courtesy of Capcom

Beyond the Norgan story, Dark Arisen scatters 12 Lost Rites dungeons across the existing world map — not hidden inside the new region. Director Kento Kinoshita says each is designed to take around 30 minutes to an hour, putting total dungeon content at over 12 hours on top of the Norgan storyline. Combined, Capcom’s confirmed figure sits at 25-plus hours of new content.

Lost Rites unlock at Level 20, well ahead of when most players will be ready for Norgan itself. The reward loop is the Relic Expedition Cycle: defeat monsters or find hidden caches in Norgan to unearth Relics, then appraise them at the Norgandian Settlement to reveal randomly-enhanced weapons and armour. It’s a deliberate endgame loot layer that brings Dark Arisen structurally closer to what the original expansion did for the first game.

The August Free Patch — Arriving for All Players

A feathered dragon fires an energy beam inside an icy Lost Rites dungeon in Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
Image courtesy of Capcom

Whether or not you plan to buy Dark Arisen, Title Update 3.2 lands as a free patch for every Dragon’s Dogma 2 owner in late August 2026. The two headline additions are changes the community has been asking for since launch:

  • Multiple save slots — three save types (Autosave, Interim Save, Last Inn Rest Save) replacing the single-slot system. Loading one no longer wipes the others.
  • Six assignable weapon skills — up from four, giving every vocation significantly more flexibility.
  • Dragonsplague cure — a new Dragonsbaulk Draught item clears the affliction outright, and a reworked gauge slows how fast infected pawns deteriorate.
  • Performance and graphics improvements on all platforms, new Pawn commands, and broad vocation rebalancing.

For Singapore players who own Dragon’s Dogma 2 on PS5 or Steam and haven’t returned since launch, Title Update 3.2 removes two of the biggest friction points before October. You can catch up on the base game with a much smoother experience before Dark Arisen drops.

Singapore and Asia: October 9 on Four Platforms

Dark Arisen launches globally on 9 October 2026 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and — for the franchise’s first time on a Nintendo platform — Nintendo Switch 2. The Switch 2 version bundles the base Dragon’s Dogma 2 with the Dark Arisen content. Pricing: expansion standalone is USD 49.99 (bundle with base game) and USD 29.99 (DLC only). Pre-orders are live on Steam. Check out more Game News for upcoming release updates across all platforms.

Game News

The Duskbloods Closed Network Test Opens July 22 — Five Sessions Across 21–24 August

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When FromSoftware and Nintendo revealed The Duskbloods at the Nintendo Direct in June, we got the premise — a competitive, multi-player action RPG set under a blood moon, featuring warriors called Bloodsworn hunting each other across dark, gothic environments. What we didn’t have were actual dates. Now we do.

FromSoftware has confirmed that the Closed Network Test for The Duskbloods runs across four days in August, spanning five separate sessions. Sign-up registrations open on 22 July 2026.

Network Test Schedule (SGT)

Five sessions are confirmed across the test window. All times below are in Singapore Time (SGT, UTC+8):

  • Session 1: Friday 21 August, 11:00 PM – Saturday 22 August, 5:00 AM
  • Session 2: Saturday 22 August, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
  • Session 3: Saturday 22 August, 11:00 PM – Sunday 23 August, 3:00 AM
  • Session 4: Sunday 23 August, 11:00 PM – Monday 24 August, 5:00 AM
  • Session 5: Monday 24 August, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The Duskbloods Closed Network Test schedule showing five sessions August 21-24 2026
The official network test schedule for The Duskbloods, August 21–24 2026.

What the Network Test Covers

The Duskbloods puts up to eight Bloodsworn — warriors cursed with immortality — against each other and the environment in a world bathed in a perpetual blood moon. The tone is vintage FromSoftware: heavy armour, stamina management, deliberate combat, and a world soaked in death and mythology. The Switch 2 exclusivity makes this one of the flagship system sellers FromSoftware and Nintendo have been building toward since the hardware reveal.

The closed network test will let participants try an early build of the game across the five sessions above. Each session is time-limited, so you can’t simply log on whenever — you’ll need to plan around the schedule if you want to get hands-on time. Given the late-night timing of several sessions (Sessions 1, 3, and 4 all run after 11pm), FromSoftware appears to be covering different global time zones across the test window rather than running purely Japan-centric hours.

How to Register

Registrations open on 22 July — which is one week away. Spaces in closed network tests are typically limited, so applying early gives you better odds. Check the official Nintendo Switch 2 and FromSoftware channels on July 22 for the sign-up link. We’ll share it here as soon as it goes live.

If you missed our original coverage when the game was revealed, catch up here for the full breakdown of what FromSoftware has shown so far.

Game News

Once Upon a Katamari Rolls onto Switch 2 on 8 October — Rolling LIVE Highlights DLC Brings 10 New Quests

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Bandai Namco has officially announced Once Upon a Katamari for Nintendo Switch 2, with a launch date of 8 October 2026. The reveal came via Bandai Namco Entertainment Southeast Asia’s own channel — which means Singapore fans can breathe easy on regional availability before we even have to think about it.

Once Upon a Katamari is a new entry in the long-running series, not a remaster or port. Players guide the Prince and cousins as they roll a sticky katamari ball across increasingly surreal levels, collecting pencils, cats, furniture, and eventually entire buildings until the ball is large enough to become a new star. It’s the same meditative, slightly absurd joy the franchise has always delivered, now built for Switch 2 hardware.

Rolling LIVE Highlights DLC

Announced alongside the base game is the Rolling LIVE Highlights DLC, which launches day-one and adds 10 new quests with entirely new themed environments. One of the standout stages shown is a Wild West level where you roll up cacti, tumbleweeds, bottles, and barrels across a sun-baked frontier. It’s the kind of locale the series has always thrived on — absurd, specific, and oddly satisfying to clean up.

Rolling LIVE Highlights DLC Wild West level in Once Upon a Katamari
The Rolling LIVE Highlights DLC packs 10 new quests, including this Wild West frontier stage.

Familiar Levels, Fresh Look

The base game looks to carry the eclectic level design the series built its reputation on. Official screenshots show a Japan-themed stage with a red bridge and cherry blossoms — exactly the kind of culturally vivid backdrop that made the originals memorable — as well as a high-tech space environment where a cousin navigates a satellite-strewn orbit.

Once Upon a Katamari Japan level with cherry blossom trees and red bridge
A Japan-themed stage, complete with red bridge and cherry blossoms.
Once Upon a Katamari gameplay - cousin rolling katamari in a space tech level
The cousin character takes the katamari through a space-tech level.

Customise Your Cousin

A character customisation screen lets players choose their cousin’s face before heading out to roll. It’s a small touch, but it fits the series’ playful personality — the King of All Cosmos would demand nothing less.

Once Upon a Katamari Switch 2 character customisation face select screen
Pick your cousin’s look in the new character customisation screen.
Once Upon a Katamari Nintendo Switch 2 - Available October 8
Once Upon a Katamari launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on 8 October 2026.

What to Watch For

With the SEA trailer already out, regional availability looks solid. SGD pricing hasn’t been announced yet — we’ll update when Bandai Namco confirms. In the meantime, check the Game News section as October approaches.

Game News

Hell Maiden Hits Steam Early Access Tomorrow — Dante’s Inferno Gets an Anime Makeover

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What happens when you take Dante’s Divine Comedy, rebuild it as a 1990s anime series, and then turn that series into a Vampire Survivors-style horde survival deck-builder? You get Hell Maiden, and it drops on Steam Early Access tomorrow — 16 July 2026 — from Portuguese indie studio AstralShift.

A Second Trip Through the Nine Circles

Hell Maiden gameplay — Dante fights armoured skeleton hordes in a glowing circular arena
Image courtesy of AstralShift

The setup flips the classic poem’s premise: Dante has already reached Paradise once, but returns to Hell with no memory of how she got there or why she is back. Her only option is to fight through all nine circles again and claw her way back to the surface. It is a premise that sounds like an excuse to loop through the same content twice — except that Hell Maiden’s structure keeps each run feeling different through its card-based build system.

The core loop sits somewhere between Vampire Survivors and a roguelike deck-builder. Dante auto-attacks as waves of demons pile in, and every upgrade selection is handled through Spirit Cards — split into Weapon Cards (active attacks) and Mod Cards (passive augments). With 40-plus abilities at launch and companions from Classical literature who each unlock five new cards when rescued, there is a lot of build variety even in Early Access.

Hell Maiden | Gameplay Trailer — via AstralShift on YouTube

The Card System and Early Access Content

Hell Maiden card selection screen showing ornate Weapon Cards — Spellbound Conflagration, Will-o-the-Wisp and Defiance of Astrape
Image courtesy of AstralShift

At launch, the Early Access build covers the first two circles of Hell — Limbo and Lust — with their own enemy rosters, environmental hazards, quests and boss encounters. Four Poets of Limbo can be rescued across runs, and each one permanently unlocks a set of five new cards that expands your build options for future attempts. Additional abilities drop after each defeated boss, so the power curve within a single run feels genuinely different depending on which circles you push through.

AstralShift plans to add the remaining seven circles over the Early Access period, which is expected to run for at least a year before the full 1.0 release.

Mili Handles the Opening Theme

Hell Maiden story scene — Dante meets Homer in the Fields of Elysium
Image courtesy of AstralShift

The opening theme, “Not my Paradiso,” is by Mili — the Japanese-Canadian music collective behind tracks on the Honkai: Star Rail soundtrack and the Goblin Slayer OP. If those names ring a bell, you already have a sense of the tone: theatrical, melancholic, with gothic edges. The track premiered on YouTube today, the day before the game launches. For Singapore’s Honkai community in particular, Mili’s involvement is a genuine reason to pay attention to a game that might otherwise fly under the radar.

AstralShift’s previous games drew heavily from 1990s shoujo anime for their visual palette, and Hell Maiden extends that to a faster-paced action context — the result is something that looks closer to an animated feature than a typical horde survival game.

Where to Get It

Hell Maiden enters Steam Early Access on 16 July 2026 for Windows. SGD pricing is set by Steam’s regional pricing system — check the Steam store page directly for the Singapore price. Full controller support is included from day one. Fans of anime-style indie games and the Vampire Survivors genre would be doing themselves a disservice by sleeping on this one. Check out more game news on GameTrader for what else is launching this week.