Spike Chunsoft announced that the Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island roguelike RPG will be coming to the Nintendo Switch for North America and Europe on February 27, 2024.
Spike Chunsoft revealed a new announcement trailer and main visual for the game, which will be sold at US$59.99. The trailer introduces the game’s basic elements and the visual is drawn by series character designer Kaoru Hasegawa.
Pre-orders for the physical version of the game are now available, with more information on the game’s official webpage. A first-run bonus of the physical game will include a 2.75 inches x 3 inches sticker, featuring the protagonist Shiren and the game’s traditional Japanese art style.
The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island features a mystery dungeon system that offers endless gameplay with procedurally generated dungeon maps, enemies, and loot. Players will assume the role of Shiren, who starts at level one each time he enters a dungeon and will need to defeat enemies, gather loot, and build strength to continue his growth.
As with roguelike RPGs, all the gear and levels Shiren accumulates will be lost if he collapses during exploration and players must restart from scratch. The game’s action progresses on a turn-based system, which allows players to plan their moves carefully and thoughtfully. Players must also use their accumulated knowledge, experience, and imagination to succeed.
New elements added to the mystery dungeon include Shiren taking on new, powerful transformations and battling giant Behemoth monsters that hunt him through the dungeon.
The Shiren the Wanderer Japanese RPG series began with the 1995 release of Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer for the Super Famicom in Japan. The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island on the Nintendo Switch marks the series’ latest mainline entry to come to the West since Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate, which was released on PlayStation Vita in 2016, and then the Nintendo Switch and PC (via Steam) in 2020.
Spike Chunsoft describes the synopsis of The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island as:
After receiving a vision of a mysterious girl held captive by a terrible monster, Shiren and Koppa make their way to Serpentcoil Island—a distant isle rumored to be the lost stronghold of treasure-hoarding pirates.
To brave the many dangers that await them, Shiren and Koppa must traverse complex dungeons filled with hostile monsters, hidden traps, and useful items. All the gear and experience Shiren accumulates will be lost if he collapses during exploration, so beware of rushing in unprepared! Rescue the mysterious girl and uncover the mystery that clouds Serpentcoil Island.
Source: press release
