Crunching Koalas and indie developer John Pywell have confirmed that their soulslike action RPG FOUNTAINS is in development for Nintendo Switch and will release digitally on the Nintendo eShop worldwide in 2026.
Set in a tightly connected, single sprawling dungeon, FOUNTAINS casts players as a hooded stranger recently jailed by a tyrannical regime.
The core objective is to escape captivity and uncover the mysteries that shroud a war-torn empire as you traverse a seamless, interconnected world designed to loop back on itself.
Development and release
The announcement names Crunching Koalas and John Pywell as the teams behind the project and pins the platform as Nintendo Switch, with a digital release planned exclusively through the Nintendo eShop in 2026.
The developers have also scheduled downloadable content titled Shattered Shape, which will add a new fragment of the game world along with additional weapons, skills, and pieces of armour.
Gameplay and systems
Publisher notes about FOUNTAINS emphasize precision combat, exploration-driven progression, and light online interaction.
Paraphrasing those points in journalistic terms:
- Combat that rewards precision: Combat is described as deliberately tight and responsive, designed to test player timing and tactics.
Encounters are intended to punish hesitation and require quick adaptation, while adjustable difficulty settings aim to let players tailor challenge intensity to their preferred experience.
- Exploration as progression: The world is presented as one continuous dungeon where discovery is the primary driver of advancement.
Players will find items, powers, and upgrades that not only strengthen their character but also open previously inaccessible areas of the map.
- Shared online touches: FOUNTAINS includes an online message system that allows players to leave hints or misdirections for others exploring the same world, echoing asymmetric community features seen in established soulslike titles.
DLC: Shattered Shape
Shattered Shape is confirmed as the first downloadable expansion and will introduce a new segment of the interconnected map plus fresh equipment and abilities.
The developers list the DLC as part of FOUNTAINS' post-launch roadmap for 2026.
Why it matters
FOUNTAINS adds to the growing roster of soulslike experiences on Nintendo Switch and underscores ongoing indie support for the platform via the Nintendo eShop.
Crunching Koalas and John Pywell's emphasis on a single interconnected level design positions the game as a focused, exploration-first entry in the genre.
About the author
Alex Seedhouse has covered Nintendo and the games industry for 16 years, attending major events such as E3 and gamescom and leading Nintendo-focused coverage across multiple console generations.
Set in a tightly connected, single sprawling dungeon, FOUNTAINS casts players as a hooded stranger recently jailed by a tyrannical regime.
The core objective is to escape captivity and uncover the mysteries that shroud a war-torn empire as you traverse a seamless, interconnected world designed to loop back on itself.
Development and release
The announcement names Crunching Koalas and John Pywell as the teams behind the project and pins the platform as Nintendo Switch, with a digital release planned exclusively through the Nintendo eShop in 2026.
The developers have also scheduled downloadable content titled Shattered Shape, which will add a new fragment of the game world along with additional weapons, skills, and pieces of armour.
Gameplay and systems
Publisher notes about FOUNTAINS emphasize precision combat, exploration-driven progression, and light online interaction.
Paraphrasing those points in journalistic terms:
- Combat that rewards precision: Combat is described as deliberately tight and responsive, designed to test player timing and tactics.
Encounters are intended to punish hesitation and require quick adaptation, while adjustable difficulty settings aim to let players tailor challenge intensity to their preferred experience.
- Exploration as progression: The world is presented as one continuous dungeon where discovery is the primary driver of advancement.
Players will find items, powers, and upgrades that not only strengthen their character but also open previously inaccessible areas of the map.
- Shared online touches: FOUNTAINS includes an online message system that allows players to leave hints or misdirections for others exploring the same world, echoing asymmetric community features seen in established soulslike titles.
DLC: Shattered Shape
Shattered Shape is confirmed as the first downloadable expansion and will introduce a new segment of the interconnected map plus fresh equipment and abilities.
The developers list the DLC as part of FOUNTAINS' post-launch roadmap for 2026.
Why it matters
FOUNTAINS adds to the growing roster of soulslike experiences on Nintendo Switch and underscores ongoing indie support for the platform via the Nintendo eShop.
Crunching Koalas and John Pywell's emphasis on a single interconnected level design positions the game as a focused, exploration-first entry in the genre.
About the author
Alex Seedhouse has covered Nintendo and the games industry for 16 years, attending major events such as E3 and gamescom and leading Nintendo-focused coverage across multiple console generations.
