THQ Nordic and Quantumfrog have officially announced their latest project, Pumuckl and the Crown of the Pirate King, a 3D puzzle adventure game making its way to the Nintendo Switch.
The beloved character Pumuckl, originating from the classic German children’s franchise Meister Eder und sein Pumuckl, will headline the title, which is scheduled for release in early 2026. First introduced in 1961, Pumuckl is a mischievous red-haired kobold whose adventures have captured the hearts of generations in Germany and beyond.
After decades of success across various media, including the acclaimed live-action revival Neue Geschichten vom Pumuckl and the family feature film Pumuckl and the Big Misunderstanding, the playful kobold is now returning to video games with a new adventure tailor-made for both nostalgic fans and a new audience. Developed by Quantumfrog in partnership with publisher THQ Nordic, Pumuckl and the Crown of the Pirate King sets players in control of Pumuckl as they navigate intricately designed isometric 3D puzzle levels.
Gameplay fuses classic puzzle-solving with action elements, as players interact with quirky mini-games, tackle challenging tasks, and outsmart a roster of ghostly and skeletal foes.
Players can also take part in local couch co-op, with a second participant joining the action as Captain Krimskrams, enhancing the game’s accessibility and appeal for family play. The narrative begins in the familiar setting of Master Eder’s workshop, where Pumuckl stumbles upon a mysterious ship-in-a-bottle.
Opening the bottle, he is whisked away into a magical pirate world—an imaginative realm teeming with tropical islands, mystical ruins, and an imposing pirate castle.
Within this universe, Pumuckl meets Captain Krimskrams, a lovable but absent-minded seafarer.
The duo embarks on a quest to collect golden doubloons, necessary to unlock the path to the Pirate King, the source of the world’s mysterious curse. Aiding players on their journey is Krakula, a witty parrot companion who provides helpful hints, commentary, and comic relief as Pumuckl navigates the adventure’s dangers and puzzles.
The story culminates in a multi-phase boss battle against the Pirate King himself, blending combat, strategy, and quick reflexes in an engaging finale. Among the game’s key features are: challenging isometric 3D puzzle levels, varied mini-games encompassing memory and collection tasks, offline local cooperative multiplayer, and an array of inventive enemies and traps.
The addition of friendly guidance from Krakula ensures that both newcomers and experienced gamers can enjoy the journey. Pumuckl and the Crown of the Pirate King will be available on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch upon its early 2026 release.
This marks a significant new chapter for the iconic kobold, leveraging THQ Nordic’s and Quantumfrog’s combined experience in creating accessible, family-friendly entertainment for a modern gaming audience. Stay tuned to official Nintendo Direct channels and the Nintendo eShop for further updates, and watch the first trailer to experience Pumuckl’s magical adventure come to life.
The beloved character Pumuckl, originating from the classic German children’s franchise Meister Eder und sein Pumuckl, will headline the title, which is scheduled for release in early 2026. First introduced in 1961, Pumuckl is a mischievous red-haired kobold whose adventures have captured the hearts of generations in Germany and beyond.
After decades of success across various media, including the acclaimed live-action revival Neue Geschichten vom Pumuckl and the family feature film Pumuckl and the Big Misunderstanding, the playful kobold is now returning to video games with a new adventure tailor-made for both nostalgic fans and a new audience. Developed by Quantumfrog in partnership with publisher THQ Nordic, Pumuckl and the Crown of the Pirate King sets players in control of Pumuckl as they navigate intricately designed isometric 3D puzzle levels.
Gameplay fuses classic puzzle-solving with action elements, as players interact with quirky mini-games, tackle challenging tasks, and outsmart a roster of ghostly and skeletal foes.
Players can also take part in local couch co-op, with a second participant joining the action as Captain Krimskrams, enhancing the game’s accessibility and appeal for family play. The narrative begins in the familiar setting of Master Eder’s workshop, where Pumuckl stumbles upon a mysterious ship-in-a-bottle.
Opening the bottle, he is whisked away into a magical pirate world—an imaginative realm teeming with tropical islands, mystical ruins, and an imposing pirate castle.
Within this universe, Pumuckl meets Captain Krimskrams, a lovable but absent-minded seafarer.
The duo embarks on a quest to collect golden doubloons, necessary to unlock the path to the Pirate King, the source of the world’s mysterious curse. Aiding players on their journey is Krakula, a witty parrot companion who provides helpful hints, commentary, and comic relief as Pumuckl navigates the adventure’s dangers and puzzles.
The story culminates in a multi-phase boss battle against the Pirate King himself, blending combat, strategy, and quick reflexes in an engaging finale. Among the game’s key features are: challenging isometric 3D puzzle levels, varied mini-games encompassing memory and collection tasks, offline local cooperative multiplayer, and an array of inventive enemies and traps.
The addition of friendly guidance from Krakula ensures that both newcomers and experienced gamers can enjoy the journey. Pumuckl and the Crown of the Pirate King will be available on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch upon its early 2026 release.
This marks a significant new chapter for the iconic kobold, leveraging THQ Nordic’s and Quantumfrog’s combined experience in creating accessible, family-friendly entertainment for a modern gaming audience. Stay tuned to official Nintendo Direct channels and the Nintendo eShop for further updates, and watch the first trailer to experience Pumuckl’s magical adventure come to life.
