Tenjutsu, the upcoming action roguelike from Dead Cells designer Sébastien Benard, is bringing its high-speed martial arts combat to Nintendo Switch 2. Revealed during the latest Nintendo Indie World Showcase, the game is being developed by Deepnight Games and published by Devolver Digital, with a launch planned for 2027 on Switch 2 and PC.
Set in the neon-soaked streets of Kuroboro City, Tenjutsu follows Ten, a former yakuza member attempting to rebuild her life after being released from prison. Her return home puts her on a collision course with the city’s underground crime bosses, who see her as a threat to their power. With three rival syndicates hunting her down, Ten will need to rely on her martial arts skills, new techniques, and an expanding arsenal of weapons to survive.
Combat is built around fast-paced encounters in which Ten faces off against multiple enemies at once, combining melee attacks, ranged weapons, and special abilities to develop her own fighting style. However, eliminating the city’s crime bosses comes with a growing challenge, as each victory makes the remaining syndicates stronger. Players will need to carefully consider their approach as they work toward taking down the final and most dangerous enemy.
Kuroboro City will also feature a randomized layout that changes between runs, with players able to explore its streets and manipulate the city’s systems to their advantage. Jokers can be used to alter the rules, modify shop inventories and prices, or provide healing when Ten needs to get back into the fight. Defeated enemies will also drop tattooed teeth, which can be exchanged for permanent advantages that carry over between runs, including new weaponry, expanded areas, and additional gameplay options.
Between missions, Ten will return to her apartment and Nanny Hoken’s ramen shop, where the story will continue to unfold. Visitors, including enemies, will appear as players learn more about Kuroboro City and the people living within it. The developers are also teasing a mysterious Dentist, leaving players with plenty of questions about the role these tattooed teeth will play in Ten’s journey.
Although Tenjutsu was first revealed during Devolver Digital’s 2024 showcase, the publisher has remained relatively quiet about the project until now. That changed with the latest gameplay trailer, which offers a closer look at the game’s action and its combination of martial arts combat, roguelike progression, and city exploration.
Tenjutsu is scheduled to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 and PC in 2027.