Toronto-based Drinkbox Studios, known for the Guacamelee! series, Severed, and Nobody Saves the World, has announced that its new Search Action-RPG Blighted is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 later this fall. The game will launch simultaneously on PC.
Revealed during the latest Nintendo Indie World presentation, Blighted blends intense combat with a psychedelic western aesthetic, placing players in a nightmarish world corrupted by a mysterious force known as the Blight.
A World Where Memory Is Power
In the game’s lore, the dead were once buried with seeds planted in their brains. These seeds grew into a forest surrounding the village, and the fruit borne by those trees preserved the departed’s memories, preserving knowledge and tradition across generations. That ritual was shattered by Sorcisto, who consumed brains to gain power, destroyed the memory forest, and unleashed a reality-warping Blight across the land.
Players assume the role of the lone survivor of Sorcisto’s rampage, fighting to reclaim their people’s stolen memories before their own Blight consumes them. The journey unfolds across a mysterious, interconnected world filled with hidden paths and long-buried secrets.
Harness the Blight or Be Consumed
Combat in Blighted is described as nuanced and deadly, emphasizing careful timing, combo chains, and powerful finishers. Central to the experience is the Blight itself, which acts as both a source of power and a dynamic difficulty system. As players harness it, the world, enemies, and even the protagonist evolve, altering encounters and unlocking deeper layers of the map.
Defeated bosses can be consumed to gain their memories, expanding the player’s skillset while simultaneously increasing their corruption. This risk-reward mechanic widens exploration opportunities and reshapes progression, reinforcing the game’s core theme of power at a cost.
The full campaign can be played solo or in fully featured local and online co-op, allowing players to tackle the twisted frontier together.
A Haunting Soundscape
Award-winning composer Jim Guthrie returns to collaborate with Drinkbox Studios, crafting an eerie original score designed to amplify the game’s surreal western atmosphere.
With its fall launch window confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 and PC, Blighted marks Drinkbox’s boldest tonal shift yet, blending Metroidvania exploration, action-RPG systems, and psychological horror into one haunting experience.
