Crunching Koalas and indie developer John Pywell have confirmed that Fountains, a top-down Soulslike action RPG rendered in pixel art, will arrive on Nintendo Switch in 2026.
The announcement highlights the game's blend of punishing combat and Metroidvania-style exploration set within an interconnected, maze-like world.
Premise and narrative
According to the announcement, the game's narrative centers on a hidden Fountain of Youth and a cyclical struggle: a usurper is fated to slay an ageless figure and unearth the fountain once more.
Players assume the role of a hooded stranger recently imprisoned by a tyrannical regime, tasked with escaping captivity and unraveling the secrets of a war-torn empire.
Combat and design
Fountains pairs Soulslike combat—emphasizing timing, precision, and risk—with a top-down perspective reminiscent of classic action-adventure titles.
The developers describe combat as demanding yet responsive, with encounters designed to punish hesitation and reward tactical thinking.
Adjustable difficulty options are included to let players tune the intensity of encounters to their preference.
Exploration and world structure
The game world is presented as a single, seamless dungeon that folds back on itself in classic Metroidvania fashion.
Exploration is intended to be consistently rewarding: new items, powers, and upgrades unlock previously inaccessible areas, encouraging thorough navigation and discovery.
Online features and community
Fountains will include an online message system that allows players to leave hints or misdirections for others as they traverse the world.
That feature is presented as a community-driven layer to the single-player experience, mirroring messaging systems found in other Souls-inspired titles.
Key features (as announced)
- Soulslike action combat in a Metroidvania-style interconnected world
- Top-down pixel art presentation and environmental storytelling
- New abilities and tools that expand traversal and combat options
- Online message system for player interaction
- A labyrinthine, exploration-focused map with hidden secrets
Trailer and availability
Crunching Koalas released an announcement trailer alongside the platform confirmation.
Fountains is slated for release on Nintendo Switch in 2026.
For readers tracking Nintendo platform news, follow official publisher channels and Nintendo’s announcements for updates on release timing and distribution details.
The announcement highlights the game's blend of punishing combat and Metroidvania-style exploration set within an interconnected, maze-like world.
Premise and narrative
According to the announcement, the game's narrative centers on a hidden Fountain of Youth and a cyclical struggle: a usurper is fated to slay an ageless figure and unearth the fountain once more.
Players assume the role of a hooded stranger recently imprisoned by a tyrannical regime, tasked with escaping captivity and unraveling the secrets of a war-torn empire.
Combat and design
Fountains pairs Soulslike combat—emphasizing timing, precision, and risk—with a top-down perspective reminiscent of classic action-adventure titles.
The developers describe combat as demanding yet responsive, with encounters designed to punish hesitation and reward tactical thinking.
Adjustable difficulty options are included to let players tune the intensity of encounters to their preference.
Exploration and world structure
The game world is presented as a single, seamless dungeon that folds back on itself in classic Metroidvania fashion.
Exploration is intended to be consistently rewarding: new items, powers, and upgrades unlock previously inaccessible areas, encouraging thorough navigation and discovery.
Online features and community
Fountains will include an online message system that allows players to leave hints or misdirections for others as they traverse the world.
That feature is presented as a community-driven layer to the single-player experience, mirroring messaging systems found in other Souls-inspired titles.
Key features (as announced)
- Soulslike action combat in a Metroidvania-style interconnected world
- Top-down pixel art presentation and environmental storytelling
- New abilities and tools that expand traversal and combat options
- Online message system for player interaction
- A labyrinthine, exploration-focused map with hidden secrets
Trailer and availability
Crunching Koalas released an announcement trailer alongside the platform confirmation.
Fountains is slated for release on Nintendo Switch in 2026.
For readers tracking Nintendo platform news, follow official publisher channels and Nintendo’s announcements for updates on release timing and distribution details.
