Idea Factory International has officially announced that the action-platformer Ariana and the Elder Codex will launch in Western territories for the Nintendo Switch.
Developed collaboratively by Compile Heart and Hyde, the game is scheduled for both a physical and digital release on the Nintendo eShop worldwide in 2026. Ariana and the Elder Codex first made its debut announcement in Japan, but the confirmation of a Western release greatly expands its potential audience.
The game places players in the role of Ariana, a librarian tasked with a monumental quest: to restore the Seven Hero Codices after catastrophic damage has removed magic from her world.
Players must use Ariana’s unique Librarian magic—an ability that allows her to enter and repair the Codices from within—aiming to revive magic and unravel the mysteries concealed within the Library’s walls. Idea Factory International outlined several core gameplay features that distinguish Ariana and the Elder Codex within the action-platformer genre.
One key aspect is the restoration of the Codices themselves.
As Ariana journeys through each book, she battles enemies to earn new Magic Spells and Skills.
These upgrades allow access to previously unreachable areas within the game.
Challenging platforming and combat sections known as Repair Points test player skill, rewarding the completion of these sections with permanent HP boosts and other valuable upgrades. Experimentation is encouraged through the game’s skill system.
Ariana can unlock more than 30 magic spells and abilities, mixing and matching them across six available slots.
This design encourages players to find combinations that best complement their preferred style of play, whether focusing on offensive magic or defensive skills. The game’s boss encounters are presented as major highlights, with each guardian of the Codices featuring formidable attack patterns and large health pools.
Players will need sharp reflexes, tactical awareness, and precise timing to conquer these adversaries—fusing both platforming and combat prowess. Further deepening gameplay, Ariana and the Elder Codex introduces unlockable, craftable, and equipable Magic Items.
These items confer various enhancements, such as elemental boosts for attacks, increased critical hit chances, and reduced knockback, giving players additional options for strategy and customization throughout their journey. Ariana and the Elder Codex is set for a global release at retail and on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch in 2026.
Idea Factory International’s commitment to localizing distinctive Japanese titles for Western audiences continues with this announcement, reaffirming its position as a champion of unique and genre-defining experiences on Nintendo’s hybrid platform. For further details and updates regarding the release and features of Ariana and the Elder Codex, players can follow official channels for Idea Factory International and Compile Heart.
Developed collaboratively by Compile Heart and Hyde, the game is scheduled for both a physical and digital release on the Nintendo eShop worldwide in 2026. Ariana and the Elder Codex first made its debut announcement in Japan, but the confirmation of a Western release greatly expands its potential audience.
The game places players in the role of Ariana, a librarian tasked with a monumental quest: to restore the Seven Hero Codices after catastrophic damage has removed magic from her world.
Players must use Ariana’s unique Librarian magic—an ability that allows her to enter and repair the Codices from within—aiming to revive magic and unravel the mysteries concealed within the Library’s walls. Idea Factory International outlined several core gameplay features that distinguish Ariana and the Elder Codex within the action-platformer genre.
One key aspect is the restoration of the Codices themselves.
As Ariana journeys through each book, she battles enemies to earn new Magic Spells and Skills.
These upgrades allow access to previously unreachable areas within the game.
Challenging platforming and combat sections known as Repair Points test player skill, rewarding the completion of these sections with permanent HP boosts and other valuable upgrades. Experimentation is encouraged through the game’s skill system.
Ariana can unlock more than 30 magic spells and abilities, mixing and matching them across six available slots.
This design encourages players to find combinations that best complement their preferred style of play, whether focusing on offensive magic or defensive skills. The game’s boss encounters are presented as major highlights, with each guardian of the Codices featuring formidable attack patterns and large health pools.
Players will need sharp reflexes, tactical awareness, and precise timing to conquer these adversaries—fusing both platforming and combat prowess. Further deepening gameplay, Ariana and the Elder Codex introduces unlockable, craftable, and equipable Magic Items.
These items confer various enhancements, such as elemental boosts for attacks, increased critical hit chances, and reduced knockback, giving players additional options for strategy and customization throughout their journey. Ariana and the Elder Codex is set for a global release at retail and on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch in 2026.
Idea Factory International’s commitment to localizing distinctive Japanese titles for Western audiences continues with this announcement, reaffirming its position as a champion of unique and genre-defining experiences on Nintendo’s hybrid platform. For further details and updates regarding the release and features of Ariana and the Elder Codex, players can follow official channels for Idea Factory International and Compile Heart.
