German studio Zockrates Laboratories announced today that their hand-drawn 3D platformer, Ruffy and the Riverside, is jumping onto PC and Consoles this summer with a June 26th release date. The new release date comes with the announcement that this delay from the original Q1 2025 release date was made to ensure parity in platform releases. Ruffy and the Riverside will be coming to PC and all consoles on June 26th, 2025. Ruffy and the Riverside boasts unique gameplay mechanics, merging both 3D and 2D platforming, along with Ruffy’s powerful SWAP mechanic that allows him to transform objects and unlock new paths. Ruffy and the Riverside looks like it’s shaping up to be an incredible experience. Let’s find out how we’ll be protecting Riverside from.
Ruffy is a cute character and looks like a cross between a bear and a Hoodlum from Dragon Quest. Ruffy is also the chosen one in his time and place, and after the villain Groll decides he wants to destroy the World Core, it’s up to Ruffy to stop him. Ruffy and the Riverside looks like it’s hoping to capture the magic of 3D platforms of old while investing enough into newer mechanics that it’ll be both nostalgic and modern. The game looks colorful, fast-paced, and created with care. In fact, Patrick Ruckdeschel, art director for Ruffy and the Riverside, did a write-up about the new release date on the PlayStation Blog about the game. He had this to say about the world they created:
Ruffy and the Riverside has a unique art style. In fact, everything was drawn by hand: all characters, all textures, even the UI and the map. Ruffy alone has over 600 individual drawings. Why so many? Well, he was drawn from eight sides for everything he does. No wonder it took seven years to create this world. The result is a vibrant, colorful world, and we hope you`ll have fun exploring it.
I agree, something like this looks like it’d take a ton of time and the result is stunning. Great work, Patrick! Ruffy promises unique gameplay in both a 2D and 3D magical open world. Ruffy will meet new friends, embark on side quests, master challenges, and collect magical treasure. What else does Ruffy and the Riverside offer?
Ruffy and the Riverside Key Features
- Use and master the power of SWAP to transform elements in the game world.
- Overcome various puzzles through creative manipulation of objects.
- Jump, fight, and skate around the open world of Riverside
- Solve puzzles and find treasures hidden in 2D levels
- Unlock seven outer regions, each with unique challenges and settings.
- More than a dozen characters each with quests to complete
- Use dreamstones to create & apply custom textures to elements like stone, waterfalls, and more…
- Enjoy a magical atmosphere with a focus on exploration & discovery.
- Gather various collectibles, such as coins, butterflies, dreamstones, and cute Etoi creatures!
Lots of regions to explore, characters to meet, and custom textures to apply all coming to your platform of choice this Summer. Ruffy and the Riverside releases on June 26th for PC (Steam & Epic Games), PlayStation 5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. You can also catch Ruffy and the Riverside at the Future Games Show – Live from GDC Spring Showcase airing on March 20th.
