Complete Edition Including Anniversary DLC and New Game+… Series Anticipation Rising with Announcement of Sequel
The Game Awards 2021 Indie Game Award-winning action-adventure game ‘Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ will be released for Nintendo Switch 2 in spring 2026.
Ember Lab, an independent studio based in Orange County, California, officially announced the news on March 5th local time. The Switch 2 version will be provided as a complete version including the base game, the anniversary DLC added in 2022, and the New Game+ mode. This is the first time the Kena series is being released on a Nintendo platform.
Pixar’s emotional action adventure , the hottest indie masterpiece of 2021.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an action-adventure game that follows Kena, a young soul guide, on a journey to free the souls trapped in a forgotten village. Along the way, Kena, aided by tiny spirits known as “Rot,” gradually lifts the shadows of the village’s past. The game has received high praise for its emotional story, organically combining exploration, puzzles, and fast-paced combat.
The game first launched on PS5 and PS4 in September 2021, and has since swept both Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game at The Game Awards 2021, establishing itself as one of the most talked-about indie titles of the year.
On Metacritic, it holds a Metascore of 81 based on 82 reviews, with its Pixar-style visuals and strategic combat system receiving particularly high praise. Push Square gave the game a 7/10 upon release, stating, “The visuals and music are impressive, and the gameplay is simple but enjoyable.”
What started out as a PS5 exclusive later expanded to Xbox in 2024, and now with the Switch 2 release, it now spans all major console platforms.
Kena’s adventures lead to exploration, battles, and growth.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits focuses on gameplay that organically combines exploration, growth, and combat. Players will seek out and befriend “Rot,” small spirit companions hidden throughout the forest, and harness their powers to cleanse the town of corruption. Players can also collect a variety of Rot hats to personalize their companions.
Hidden passages and secret rewards are scattered throughout the world, and through exploration, players can collect Spirit Mail left behind by spirits to unlock new areas. Battles require strategic play, combining melee and ranged attacks with the abilities of their companions. Players can take on Spirit Guide Trials to earn various rewards, strengthen their abilities, and gradually become skilled Spirit Guides.
A Charmstones system is also provided, allowing you to customize your playstyle. By combining Charmstones, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, you can design a combat style that suits you.
After completing the game, you can continue the challenge with the New Game+ mode. This mode allows you to restart the game with all the abilities and upgrades you acquired from your previous playthrough, and features more powerful enemies and redesigned battle formations.
A developer that started out as an animation studio
Ember Lab is a California-based independent studio founded in 2009 by brothers Mike Grier and Josh Grier.
Originally started as an animation production company, it has gained attention for its works that combine cinematic directing and gameplay.
They gained a lot of attention in the indie scene with the 2016 release of the Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask fan animation “Terrible Fate,” and Kena: Bridge of Spirits is their first game.
A sequel, ‘Kena: Scars of Kosmora,’ is scheduled for release in 2026.
Ember Labs also unveiled a sequel, Kena: Scars of Kosmora, alongside this announcement. Coming to PS5 and PC in 2026, the sequel will see Kena become a more skilled spirit guide as she explores the mystical island of Kosmora.
Kenna visits the island to find an old friend, but faces a powerful corruption, and when her staff is destroyed during the battle, she learns a new spirit guidance technique that utilizes elemental magic and alchemy.
Nintendo fans welcome… “It feels like playing a Pixar movie.”
The news of the Switch 2 release has also been met with positive feedback from the global gaming community. Nintendo Life readers expressed excitement, saying, “Playing this game feels like experiencing a Pixar movie firsthand,” and “I was disappointed it was a PS5 exclusive, but now I can play it on Switch 2.” New fans who encountered the original for the first time after the sequel’s announcement also responded, saying, “It’s much more fun than I expected.”
However, some gamers have commented on the combat difficulty, saying, “It’s difficult, but not as frustrating as a Souls game,” and “I recommend playing on Easy difficulty.” How the combat system will evolve in the sequel is also a major topic of interest in the community.
‘Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ Nintendo Switch 2 version is scheduled for a worldwide release in spring 2026. The game is currently also playable on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) and PS5 / PS4 / Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One platforms.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1954200/Kena_Bridge_of_Spirits/
