Devolver Digital and Paris-based developer Deepnight Games have announced that Tenjutsu will launch digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.
Presented as a top-down, roguelite brawler, Tenjutsu places players in the neon-drenched crimescape of Kuroboro City and follows Ten, a former yakuza trying to escape her past only to find herself targeted by the city’s crime syndicates.
Background and development
Deepnight Games is led creatively by Sébastien Benard, who previously served as a lead designer on Dead Cells.
The studio and publisher Devolver Digital positioned Tenjutsu as a fast-paced martial-arts action game with tight, frame-precise combat and roguelite progression.
Devolver shared a trailer and a set of screenshots alongside the announcement to illustrate the game’s visual style and systems.
Narrative and setting
In Tenjutsu, Ten returns to a metropolis controlled by rival syndicates.
Her attempt at a quieter life collapses as crime bosses see her reappearance as a challenge, forcing her into conflict.
As Ten dismantles each organisation, the city’s balance of power shifts—leaving progressively stronger foes for players to confront.
Developer statement (rewritten)
Benard, noted for his work on Dead Cells, described Tenjutsu as a "fast-paced, top-down roguelite brawler that centers on martial-arts combat," adding that the team tuned punches, dodges and animation frames carefully to achieve a tight, responsive feel.
He also cited influences from action films and anime, calling the project a personal homage to action games.
Key features
- Brawl For All: A "one versus many" combat system that blends melee, ranged and special weapons to enable varied player styles against dynamic enemy encounters.
- Open For Business: A randomized city layout players can explore and manipulate using in-game mechanics called Jokers, which alter shops, vending machines and local rules to suit player needs.
- Dental Plan: A permanent-progression system where players collect "tattooed teeth" from defeated foes to unlock city expansions, rule changes and advanced gear between runs.
- Narrative Takeaway: Story beats and character interactions occur between runs in Ten’s apartment and a ramen shop below, revealing plot threads and visitor encounters that expand Kuroboro’s story.
Release and availability
Tenjutsu is confirmed for a 2027 release on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2.
Devolver Digital and Deepnight Games have positioned the title as a digitally distributed roguelite brawler targeting the new platform’s launch window that year.
Presented as a top-down, roguelite brawler, Tenjutsu places players in the neon-drenched crimescape of Kuroboro City and follows Ten, a former yakuza trying to escape her past only to find herself targeted by the city’s crime syndicates.
Background and development
Deepnight Games is led creatively by Sébastien Benard, who previously served as a lead designer on Dead Cells.
The studio and publisher Devolver Digital positioned Tenjutsu as a fast-paced martial-arts action game with tight, frame-precise combat and roguelite progression.
Devolver shared a trailer and a set of screenshots alongside the announcement to illustrate the game’s visual style and systems.
Narrative and setting
In Tenjutsu, Ten returns to a metropolis controlled by rival syndicates.
Her attempt at a quieter life collapses as crime bosses see her reappearance as a challenge, forcing her into conflict.
As Ten dismantles each organisation, the city’s balance of power shifts—leaving progressively stronger foes for players to confront.
Developer statement (rewritten)
Benard, noted for his work on Dead Cells, described Tenjutsu as a "fast-paced, top-down roguelite brawler that centers on martial-arts combat," adding that the team tuned punches, dodges and animation frames carefully to achieve a tight, responsive feel.
He also cited influences from action films and anime, calling the project a personal homage to action games.
Key features
- Brawl For All: A "one versus many" combat system that blends melee, ranged and special weapons to enable varied player styles against dynamic enemy encounters.
- Open For Business: A randomized city layout players can explore and manipulate using in-game mechanics called Jokers, which alter shops, vending machines and local rules to suit player needs.
- Dental Plan: A permanent-progression system where players collect "tattooed teeth" from defeated foes to unlock city expansions, rule changes and advanced gear between runs.
- Narrative Takeaway: Story beats and character interactions occur between runs in Ten’s apartment and a ramen shop below, revealing plot threads and visitor encounters that expand Kuroboro’s story.
Release and availability
Tenjutsu is confirmed for a 2027 release on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2.
Devolver Digital and Deepnight Games have positioned the title as a digitally distributed roguelite brawler targeting the new platform’s launch window that year.
