- Shikkondo evolves into a side-scrolling game, marking the arrival of a new bullet hell shooter set in a modern city.
- Released on Steam and Stove on May 18… Enhanced quality with full voice acting and ultra-wide support
The official promotional video for the new fantasy bullet hell shooter ‘Shikhondo: Blue Pieta’, developed by K-indie developer DeerFarm and published by global game publisher CFK (CEO: Chang-sik Koo), has been released.
The release date on Steam and Stove has been confirmed for May 18, 2026, and there are plans to expand the release to various console platforms including Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch II, and PlayStation 5.
The game is garnering anticipation from fans by introducing a side-scrolling format for the first time in the series, featuring a new worldview set in a modern city, full voice acting, and an enhanced ‘Soul Collect’ system, promising a different kind of fun compared to the previous title.
The evolution of the Shikhondo series… A new challenge with a side-scrolling style
‘Shikhondo: Blue Pieta’ is the sequel to the previous title ‘Shikhondo: Youkai Rampage’, which was released on Steam in 2024 and Nintendo Switch in 2025 and received favorable reviews from global bullet hell shooting fans.
The series, which began with ‘Soul Eater’ in 2017, has raised its quality with each title, and this new installment attempts a new change by introducing a side-scrolling style for the first time in the series. It is characterized by breaking away from the mold of traditional vertical-scrolling bullet hell shooters and showcasing the unique presentation and expanded systems of the side-scrolling genre.
The setting of this work is not the Underworld of the Eastern Joseon, but a major city in a foreign land across the sea. The story centers on the struggle waged by the first encounter between two protagonists: an Eastern girl who is a trainee Grim Reaper, and a Western vampire hunter and the successor to a long-standing clan of wizards. The moment these two beings from the East and the West meet in different worlds, a Pietà of anguish and struggle begins.
Spectacular bullet hell set against the backdrop of a modern city
The game’s setting deviates significantly from the Eastern-style afterlife world of the previous title, centering on meticulously depicted modern spaces such as big cities, amusement parks, and subway stations. Beneath the dazzling neon lights of the city, fantastical beings from exotic folklore emerge as new enemies, creating a unique atmosphere where the aesthetics of yokai from Eastern folklore blend with the darkness of the modern city.
In terms of visuals, it inherits the distinctive art style of Dear Farm that has been well-received since the previous title, while the density of stage direction has been significantly enhanced to match the side-scrolling screen transitions. Flashy bullet patterns that fill the screen, detailed gore effects on boss characters, and background graphics with a strong sense of depth combine to maximize visual immersion. In particular, this title supports up to 32:9 ultra-wide monitors, boasting a much more expansive scale of the battlefield.
In terms of sound, the story is vividly conveyed through full voice acting by a豪華 cast. Ikumi Hasegawa and Yoshino Aoyama have been cast as the trainee Grim Reaper and the Vampire Hunter, respectively, to express the personalities and emotional arcs of the two protagonists in a multi-dimensional way. The background music is also planned to consist of a soundtrack that captures the tension of spectacular battles and an exotic atmosphere.
The evolved Soul Collect System… High risk, high return
The core of the gameplay is the evolution of the ‘Soul Collect’ system, which was well-received in the previous title. The closer you get to enemy bullet patterns and the more risks you take, the more the Soul Gauge charges; once the gauge is full, Soul Collect Mode is activated.
When activated, all bullets on the screen turn into score items, doubling the score earned, and consuming additional bombs enters a secondary mode where the score is quadrupled and attack power is enhanced. This high-risk, high-return structure, which becomes stronger the closer you get to danger, is expected to stimulate the tension and thrill of bullet hell shooting enthusiasts.
The newly added ‘Counter Bomb’ system is also a noteworthy element. The moment a player takes damage, a flashing effect is triggered, and if the bomb button is pressed within 8 frames from that moment, the player can activate Soul Collect Mode or a bomb without taking damage. It is a high-level reaction technique that turns a moment of crisis into an opportunity for a comeback.
The game modes are diverse, including Arcade Mode for enjoying the main story, Boss Rush for facing powerful bosses in succession, and Custom Mode for challenging your limits by setting your own conditions, making it enjoyable for everyone from bullet hell beginners to experts.
Collaboration between developer Dearfarm and publisher CFK
DeerFarm is a small-scale Korean indie game developer that first made a name for itself in 2017 with the release of the bullet hell shooter *Sikhondo: Soul Eater*. It is characterized by a unique Eastern fantasy concept based on yokai (supernatural beings) from Korean folktales and legends, as well as a meticulous design for accessibility that caters to both bullet hell enthusiasts and casual users. Subsequently, in collaboration with CFK, the company received favorable reviews in the global market for remastering *Sikhondo: Hyakka Ryoran* into a high-quality complete edition.
Publisher CFK (CEO: Chang-sik Koo) is a publisher that introduces domestic and international indie titles to the global market. It has built its capabilities by distributing numerous indie games, including the ‘Shikhondo’ series, on Steam and console platforms.
Anticipation among the community and fans is rising
‘Shikkondo: Blue Pieta’ has been garnering significant attention from bullet hell fans and the K-indie community since its initial reveal in March of this year. It is believed that the success was largely due to the fact that fan expectations were raised in advance when an early demo of ‘Blue Pieta’ was included as a pre-order bonus for the Nintendo Switch version of the previous title, ‘Shikkondo: Hyakka Ryoran’.
In major game communities such as Ruliweb and Inven, there is high anticipation for the series’ bold transition to a side-scrolling format, as well as the significantly improved quality compared to the previous title, including full voice acting and ultra-wide support. On the Steam community, there is also a continuing reaction among fans of the Bullet Hell genre anticipating the expansion of the K-indie Bullet Hell genre.
‘Shikkondo: Blue Pieta’ is scheduled for a global release first on Steam and Stove on May 18, 2026. Subsequently, there are plans to expand the release to major console platforms such as Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch II, and PlayStation 5. Currently, the pages for each store are open, and you can add items to your wishlist.
Shikhondo: Blue Pieta (Shikhondo: Blue Pieta) ‘ Related Information
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Title | Shikhondo: Blue Pieta |
| Developer | DeerFarm |
| Publisher | CFK Co., Ltd. |
| Genre | Fantasy Bullet Hell Shooter (Side-scrolling STG) |
| Release platform | PC (Steam, Stove)→Nintendo Switch/Switch 2/PS5 |
| Steam Stove release date | May 18, 2026 |
| Supported languages | Korean, English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese · Traditional Chinese |
| Key Features | Soul Collect, Counter Bomb, Full Voice, 32:9 Ultra Wide Support |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
| Stove Page | Shortcut |
