A new indie survival-puzzle-action game called TOKYO SCRAMBLE is barreling toward Nintendo Switch 2 on February 11, promising tense stealth, gadget-driven tricks and a setting that mashes modern Tokyo with a prehistoric underground.
Developer Adglobe and publisher Binary Haze Interactive unveiled the game in the recent Nintendo showcase, positioning it as equal parts quiet tiptoe and frantic escape. Producer-director Makoto Yamamoto framed the idea around Switch 2 features like GameShare and GameChat: "We envisioned something very different for the Nintendo Switch 2, something that takes full advantage of the hardware’s GameShare and GameChat for up to four players, yet is still incredible for solo players," he said.
What you'll play
You control Anne, an 18-year-old who wakes up after a subway car collapses into a hidden cavern beneath Tokyo. The subterranean world is home to Zino — dinosaur-like predators that react to sound and sight. The gameplay mixes stealth (stay hidden, move softly), strategy (use apps and environmental tricks) and bursts of combat when running isn't an option.
Anne's main tool is a smart watch named Dianna. It functions like a portable toolkit: you can hack vending machines, pull levers, trigger Ferris wheels, manipulate crossing signals and generally turn urban clutter into distractions or escape routes. Timing is everything: enemies have hearing and sight cones, Anne's heart rate affects her movement, and poor timing can turn a clever diversion into a dinner bell.
Levels are presented across episodes, each with its own look and threats. Early footage teases steel-girder bridges where one misstep means a fatal fall, fog-choked caverns that force you to rely on audio cues, and a surreal mix of amusement-park attractions tucked against ancient Japanese architecture. The game also layers in a teen drama told through text messages between Anne and her friends, giving the stakes a surprisingly human edge.
Multiplayer oddities and the GameShare angle
Binary Haze is leaning into Switch 2's social tools. TOKYO SCRAMBLE supports up to four players via GameShare and GameChat — a setup that lets friends share control responsibilities (or just chat strategy) while one copy of the game runs. It's an unusual choice for a stealth-focused survival title, and it opens quirky possibilities: one player distracting a Zino by activating a ride while another times a sprint across a beam. It also sounds like ripe material for chaotic co-op moments — and, if rumors from early coverage are to be believed, plenty of laughter when coordination falls apart.
Price, release and why this matters for Switch 2
TOKYO SCRAMBLE will launch on the Nintendo eShop on February 11 for $29.99 / €29.99 / 3,278 yen. As a Switch 2 exclusive, it’s another example of smaller studios experimenting with the console’s new features and control paradigms — a trend that matters now that Nintendo is riding clear momentum for the Switch 2 in the market momentum for the Switch 2. The timing also comes as Nintendo's upgraded hardware is showing stronger third-party engagement and a broader release slate than the original Switch, reinforcing that indie experiments like this have more room to find an audience thanks to the platform's big release schedule.
TOKYO SCRAMBLE sells itself on atmosphere as much as mechanics: distinct musical themes for enemies, careful audio design that turns your own breathing into a mechanic, and episodic environments that change the rules from one area to the next. For $30, players who like tense, sensory-driven games or cooperative oddities should keep an eye on it.
If nothing else, Tokyo Scramble looks like the sort of game that will create memorable single moments — a sprint across a rusting Ferris wheel while a pack of Zino locks onto you, or a last-second hack that turns a carnival into a smokescreen. Whether it becomes a cult favorite or just a neat experiment in Switch 2's social features remains to be seen, but it’s already one of the more intriguing indie pitches on the eShop this month.