Castle of Heart: Retold Announced for Nintendo Switch with Major Upgrades from 7Levels

Polish indie studio 7Levels has officially announced Castle of Heart: Retold, a comprehensive overhaul of its 2018 dark fantasy platformer, set to launch this summer on Nintendo Switch and additional platforms.

The enhanced version promises a deeply refined experience, building on the original's unique blend of Slavic mythology, atmospheric environments, and relentless platforming action. Initially released on the Nintendo Switch in March 2018, Castle of Heart quickly captured attention with its challenging gameplay and evocative art direction, earning recognition for its punishing difficulty and myth-inspired setting.

The protagonist, Svaran, is a cursed warrior whose journey through treacherous levels pits him against the evil sorcerer, a servant of the menacing dark lord Chernobog.

As players navigate perilous platforms and relentless foes, the game’s signature mechanic—Svaran's body slowly turning to stone—adds a constant layer of tension and urgency. In the initial review from 2018, the game was described as "a significant test for players willing to repeatedly master challenging levels before advancing." Despite its strengths, critics cited enemy difficulty, floaty controls, frustrating sections, and animation issues as areas in need of polish.

Recognizing these opportunities, 7Levels has addressed player feedback head-on with Castle of Heart: Retold.

According to the studio’s official announcement, the upcoming release is a "heavily upgraded and expanded version of the original, featuring major enhancements to gameplay, story, visuals, and more." Key improvements in Castle of Heart: Retold include overhauled combat systems and platforming mechanics intended to reward skill and tactical play, as well as rebalanced enemy encounters and more responsive controls.

The game’s interface has also received a complete update to ensure smoother, more intuitive gameplay.

On the storytelling front, new narrative content and expanded character arcs promise deeper engagement, while fully re-recorded dialogue enriches the Slavic mythological atmosphere.

Visuals receive a dramatic boost with new character models, improved lighting effects, remixed music, and highly detailed environments—all designed to deliver a more immersive medieval adventure. In a statement accompanying the release announcement, 7Levels emphasized that Castle of Heart: Retold is the “definitive version”—boasting a renowned quantity of improvements.

The studio underscored their commitment to quality and player feedback, noting that “thanks to much smoother gameplay, everything now comes down to your skills and tactics.” As anticipation builds ahead of the release on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and other yet-to-be-specified platforms, Castle of Heart: Retold is poised to offer both newcomers and returning players a fresh, reimagined journey through its evocative Slavic-inspired world.

Keep an eye on the Nintendo eShop for further news and updates on launch timing, trailers, and additional platform availability.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 7Levels Castle of Heart Castle of Heart: Retold Nintendo Switch 2 Chernobog Svaran