Independent developer TamagawaSoft has announced that isekizima: Ruins and Tails Journey will launch for Windows PC via Steam on January 19, 2027, priced at $17.99. A Nintendo Switch version is also planned, although its release date has not been determined.
The announcement, made on November 10 alongside a new release date trailer, confirms launch details for the anime-style 2D action platformer after eight years of development. A free Steam demo is already available, offering approximately one to two hours of gameplay.
Isekizima: Ruins and Tails Journey follows Kijino, a cat-eared adventurer inspired by the nekomata, a two-tailed cat spirit from Japanese folklore. Players explore an island filled with ancient ruins, forests and underground caves while encountering monsters and discovering hidden treasures.
The single-player adventure features more than 30 stages, combining traditional side-scrolling platforming with combat and exploration. Players can run, jump, dash and use a grappling wire to navigate obstacles, with additional gameplay sequences involving minecarts and a controllable golem.
Combat revolves around combinations of punches, kicks and special abilities. Successfully landing attacks builds energy in Kijino’s two tails, allowing players to unleash a powerful attack capable of striking multiple enemies. Encounters include skeleton pirates, slime-like creatures and ghostly enemies.
TamagawaSoft has also incorporated character progression and optional difficulty adjustments. Players can unlock and upgrade abilities, collect outfits and search for hidden items throughout the island. Three optional challenge settings provide additional difficulty, including stronger enemy attacks and restrictions on maximum health.
The game includes 47 Steam achievements, some encouraging alternative approaches to completing stages, such as reaching the goal without defeating enemies. Checkpoints allow players to retry sections immediately after failure.
According to the developer, the main story takes approximately 10 hours to complete, while collecting additional items and pursuing achievements can extend playtime beyond 20 hours.
Music is another prominent part of the experience, with more than 40 folk-inspired compositions accompanying different locations. The developer worked with a composer to create music suited to the island’s environments as they were being developed.
A separate Supporter Pack will launch alongside the base game on January 19. It includes the complete 43-track original soundtrack, a digital artbook containing 184 images and one bonus character outfit. Pricing for this additional package has not been announced.
The PC release will support six languages: English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese and Russian. Steam also lists full controller support and achievements.
TamagawaSoft is the independent studio of Japanese developer Tamagawa, who has nearly 20 years of game development experience. Although the project has been developed primarily by one person over eight years, additional contributors assisted with its artwork and music.
The planned Nintendo Switch version adds another upcoming independent release to the platform’s 2027 lineup, alongside titles such as Kakan Ruirui: The Caged Lantern of Yomi, which is also scheduled for Nintendo’s original Switch.
For PC players, the free Steam demo provides an opportunity to experience the game’s movement, combat and exploration systems ahead of its January 19 launch. TamagawaSoft has not yet announced a release window or pricing for the Nintendo Switch edition.
