"Ruins Island and the Traveling Nekomata," a 2D action-adventure game developed by TamagawaSoft over eight years, will officially launch on Steam on January 19, 2027. The game takes place in ancient ruins hidden within a forest, where players embark on a journey. The Steam version is expected to be priced at 69 RMB. Additionally, a Nintendo Switch port has been confirmed, though the release date has not yet been announced.
Currently, a free demo playable for over one hour is available on Steam.
Release Date Announcement Trailer
Game Features
Soothing Ethnic Music and a Handcrafted World of Forest Ruins
This is a 2D action game featuring "Ayano," a nekomata (cat spirit) with two tails. Players follow her on a journey to explore ruins hidden within the forest. Each carefully crafted scene, paired with ethnic music that reflects the local environment, creates a unique adventurous atmosphere.
The game features over 30 levels, where ancient buildings covered in vegetation blend with natural landscapes, presenting a world where nature and ancient ruins merge. During development, the developer shared scene visuals with the composer to create over 40 tracks with distinct ethnic musical characteristics. The music subtly depicts the atmosphere of each location, allowing players to experience an immersive sense of travel through both sight and sound.
An Adventure That Keeps You Moving Forward
To ensure the excitement and anticipation felt at the start of the journey lasts until the very end, the game gradually introduces new scenery and gameplay mechanics as you progress. In terms of controls and difficulty, the developer has also made efforts to ensure that even elementary school students and those who rarely play action games can enjoy the experience.
Gameplay Overview
・A level-based 2D side-scrolling action game exploring forests and ruins:
Players can travel to different areas from the world map to explore side-scrolling levels. By running, jumping, fighting, and dodging, they search for the "Magic Source" needed to reach the goal.
・Rich actions and movement methods unlocked progressively through the adventure:
In addition to actions like triple jumps and dashes, the game offers various movement options such as riding mine carts and controlling golems. Players can also purchase skills and costumes from merchants encountered during their journey.
・Easy retry mechanism and 3 challenge settings:
Even if you make a mistake, you can immediately retry from the nearest checkpoint, allowing new players to maintain a smooth gameplay rhythm. Additionally, the game offers three challenge settings for those seeking greater difficulty, including "Enemies attack more aggressively" and "HP cap fixed at starting value."
・Deep gameplay content ranging from exploration and collection to special restriction challenges:
The game includes elements such as discovering hidden areas, finding collectibles, and changing costumes. It features 47 Steam achievements, including challenges that require altering your playstyle, such as "Clear the game without defeating enemies."
"Ruins Island and the Traveling Nekomata: Supporter Pack - OST + Artbook" will be released simultaneously with the base game.
On January 19, 2027, the same day the base game launches, a Supporter Pack containing the following items will be released simultaneously on Steam.
Included Content
・Original Game Soundtrack: 43 tracks (MP3)
・Digital Art Book: 184 images (JPG/PNG)
・Bonus Costume Set: 1 set
The digital art book includes concept art, character designs, sketches, commissioned illustrations, story illustrations, and more.
Key Achievements and Selections
Steam wishlist count exceeds 12,000!
Game Showcase Selections
Selected for INDIE Live Expo 2025.11.29 "Demo Showcase"
Selected for INDIE Live Expo 2026.12.1 "INDIE Waves"
Selected for JETRO's "MADE IN JAPAN COLLECTION" project
Selected for live demo at HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 in London
Selected for live demo at gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show
Selected for live demo at Riyadh Japan Festival in Saudi Arabia
Major Exhibition History
OSAKA INDIE GAMES SUMMIT 2025/2026
TOKYO INDIE GAMES SUMMIT 2026
DREAMSCAPE#5
Developer's Message (Tamagawa, Developer at TamagawaSoft)
"I aimed to create a world where the sense of adventure felt from the first stage continues all the way to the end."
This was the core idea I held throughout the development of this game. I wanted players to maintain the feeling of "wanting to see what lies further in this world" from the moment they start playing until their journey ends. To achieve this, I crafted each landscape individually and introduced new gameplay elements along the way. Music is also a vital element in constructing this world.
This project was personally developed by me over eight years, with assistance from professionals in various fields, before finally reaching completion. I hope everyone will join Ayano on her journey through the Island of Ruins.
Basic Game Information
Game Title (Chinese): Ruins Island and the Traveling Nekomata
Game Title (English): isekizima: Ruins and Tails Journey
Genre/Players Action/Single-player
Steam Release Date: January 19, 2027
Estimated Playtime Main Story: Approximately 10 hours
Including collectibles and achievements: Over 20 hours
Supported Languages Full support: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian