Ruffy and the Riverside Launches on Nintendo Switch After Seven Years of Development

Ruffy and the Riverside Debuts on Nintendo Switch With Innovative SWAP Gameplay After seven years of dedicated development, Phiphen Games and Zockrates Laboratories have officially launched Ruffy and the Riverside on the Nintendo Switch.

This adventure platformer, now available as a digital download on the Nintendo eShop, aims to captivate players with its imaginative mechanics, dynamic gameplay, and vibrant world design. Ruffy and the Riverside challenges players to harness the magic of the unique SWAP ability—a groundbreaking feature that allows users to copy and paste textures within the game world.

By leveraging this creative mechanic, players can transform environmental elements—turning ice into lava, waterfalls into vines, or hay bales into passageways.

This innovative system is integrated throughout both the open-world 3D environment and special 2D levels, offering a distinctive blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and action. Speaking about the journey to launch, representatives from Phiphen Games and Zockrates Laboratories emphasized the years of passion and commitment poured into the project.

They underscored how the SWAP mechanic sets Ruffy and the Riverside apart, encouraging limitless creativity and hands-on manipulation of the game world.

"We wanted to empower players with tools to literally change their surroundings, unlocking new solutions and interactions at every turn," the developers shared in a prepared statement. Players join the protagonist, Ruffy, as he explores the marvelous world of Riverside.

Across seven distinct regions, Ruffy embarks on engaging quests, interacts with a colorful cast of more than a dozen characters, and collects unique treasures.

The game's open-world design invites players to jump, skate, and ride hay bales through both familiar environments and hidden locations teeming with challenges and secrets. A standout feature is the seamless transition between 3D environments and special 2D levels, where Ruffy must overcome obstacles, swap textures to progress, and collect valuable treasures.

Dreamstones, coins, butterflies, and the adorable Etoi creatures await discovery, rewarding curious adventurers who fully explore Riverside's diverse landscapes. Additional customization options further enhance gameplay, allowing players to use dreamstones to create and apply custom textures to objects such as stone and waterfalls.

This, combined with the game’s magical atmosphere and interactive puzzles, reinforces Ruffy and the Riverside's identity as an open-world adventure committed to exploration and creativity. Ruffy and the Riverside is now available for purchase exclusively via the Nintendo Switch eShop.

The title adds to Nintendo's growing library of innovative indie releases, standing out for its fresh gameplay mechanics, engaging design, and the clear passion of its development team.

For fans of adventure platformers and creative puzzle experiences, Ruffy and the Riverside is a standout addition to the Nintendo Switch lineup.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Ruffy and the Riverside Zockrates Laboratories platformer Adventure Phiphen Games eShop