Publisher Astrolabe Games and developer Lobo Sagaz Studio have released an official launch trailer for Gurei, confirming the game is now available on the Nintendo eShop. The high-difficulty 2D hand-drawn samurai action title is available globally on PlayStation 5/4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam - and the PC version is also Deck Verified.
Gurei is available now on the Nintendo eShop - pick it up for CA$20.43 via SmartCDKeys.
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What Is Gurei?
Gurei is an unforgiving action game that demands precision, patience, and adaptability. It features a hand-drawn art style, fluid animations, and a deep combat system built around player choice, putting players in the role of Rei, a human spirit bound to defeat the Kami - powerful entities of nature inspired by Japanese mythology.
The game draws inspiration from classic Japanese samurai films - known as "chanbara" - and features a gorgeous hand-drawn art style with fluid animations.
Dynamic Difficulty and Boss Order
The headline mechanic is a fully non-linear boss structure. Players are free to pick their fights against the Kami in any order. The game features a dynamic difficulty system where each enemy's strength is defined by the player's chosen path - meaning the very same Kami fought at the very beginning could also be the final boss in a different route.
Stealing Kami power genuinely changes what the player can do, and the dynamic difficulty system ensures that the order in which bosses are fought shapes both available capabilities and remaining challenges.
Combat and Progression
Besides sword attacks, dodges, head stomps and other basic abilities, Rei will learn a completely new skill for each defeated Kami. Those new abilities range from a stronger dash to a weapon that can execute enemies outright, and even a healing power - each one changing how subsequent encounters can be approached.
| Ability Source | Effect |
|---|---|
| Base kit | Sword attacks, dodge, head stomp |
| Each Kami defeated | One unique new skill unlocked |
| Kami personality | Companion commentary and lore hints |
Beyond the Brawl
Gurei is a game about fighting strong enemies, but that is not all. The Kami inhabit a surreal castle located between the human and spirit worlds. After each victory, Rei comes closer to the realm of spirits, starting to encounter peculiar characters from Japanese mythology. These creatures add novelty and strangeness to the journey, providing commentary, unique animations, side objectives and obscure secrets.
Players will get to know the different Kami quite well. When Rei defeats them, she absorbs their power - and their personality. The defeated Kami are then carried around wherever Rei goes. Their running commentary can surface useful lore details or game-mechanic hints - though the studio notes it can just as often be unhelpful noise.
Platform Availability
Gurei launched simultaneously on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. The Steam price is set at $19.99. The Nintendo eShop listing supports Japanese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Traditional Chinese, and American English.
| Platform | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | Now | Deck Verified |
| Nintendo Switch | Now | eShop digital |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Now | eShop digital |
| PS5 / PS4 | Now | PSN digital |
This is a debut release for Lobo Sagaz Studio, and the breadth of a simultaneous four-platform launch is a notable achievement for a first game. For deal-conscious players on Switch, the live price comparison below is worth a check before heading straight to the eShop.
