Kena: Bridge of Spirits is getting a Switch 2 version this Spring, developer Ember Lab has revealed. Nintendo is coming off a big Indie World showcase that confirmed an impressive lineup of titles from small studios headed to the Switch and Switch 2, but it seems there was more news in store. The 2021 hidden gem Kena: Bridge of Spirits is also making its way to Nintendo’s newest console, and it’ll be here before long.
Despite receiving widespread acclaim among critics, Kena was largely overlooked by gamers, drawing a peak of just 2,500 concurrent players when it launched on Steam a year after its PS5 debut. Still, the award-winning action-adventure landed well among those who did play it, earning it a “Very Positive” rating on Steam and an 80 player rating on OpenCritic. Now, nearly five years after its initial release, it’s opening up for a new audience to try it out for themselves.
One of the Highest-Rated Games of 2024 Shadow Dropped for the Nintendo Switch 2
Almost two years after its release, one of the highest-rated games of 2024 has shadow-dropped for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits Launches on Switch 2 in Spring 2026
A trailer uploaded on March 5 revealed that Kena: Bridge of Spirits will arrive on Switch 2 sometime in the Spring of 2026. The game is a natural fit for the Nintendo console, as Kena drew comparisons to the Zelda and Pikmin series upon its initial reveal. Longtime fans of Ember Lab may remember that the studio even made an animated tribute to Majora’s Mask before it ventured into the video game space itself. Given that background, the company’s debut game releasing on Switch 2 feels like a full-circle moment.
Balance the critic averages
Balance the critic averages
Easy (6)Medium (8)Hard (10)
When Kena comes to Switch 2, it’ll bring several years’ worth of content additions and quality-of-life improvements with it. Ember Lab has confirmed that this version comes with the Anniversary DLC, which includes additional in-game collectibles, updated accessibility features, and a New Game Plus mode. When Kena received an Xbox port in 2024, it also got a physical release, so the same could be true of the upcoming Switch 2 version, but that’s a mystery for now. Ember Lab has not specified if there’s a physical edition in store or when pre-orders go live, but more information may come out as the release window inches closer.
The announcement didn’t mention a specific release date, only offering a general Spring 2026 timeline, but that does mean it’ll only be a matter of months before it comes out. That could give Switch 2 owners time to finish the game ahead of its recently announced sequel coming out on other platforms. Ember Lab unveiled Kena: Scars of Kosmora during the February 2026 Sony State of Play and said the game would come out later in 2026. That release window leaves considerable room for interpretation, but if the sequel comes out in the back half of the year, there would easily be enough time to complete the first before then. It’s also unclear if Scars of Kosmora will get a Switch 2 release, but in light of the first game coming to the platform, it’s theoretically possible.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is not the only noteworthy indie game headed to Nintendo consoles this year. Later this March, The Midnight Walk will release on Switch 2, roughly a year after coming out on PS5 and PC. Indie titles had a strong showing on the original Switch, and so far, the follow-up console seems no different. Between Kena, The Midnight Walk, and the many games shown off at the latest Indie World showcase, there are a lot of big experiences from small developers for Nintendo fans to look forward to.
- Released
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September 21, 2021
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Fantasy Violence
