Storm Lancers Shadow Dropped as a Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 Exclusive

During the September 12 Nintendo Direct showcase, developer ProbablyMonsters surprised fans by announcing and immediately launching its debut title, Storm Lancers, as a Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 exclusive. Priced at just $19.99, the game blends retro cartoon aesthetics with modern roguelike design, offering an experience that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly original.

A New Co-Op Roguelike Experience

Storm Lancers is a fast-paced couch co-op adventure designed for two players but also playable solo. The story begins with the protagonists crash landing on the alien planet Cryptica, a strange world hiding a powerful and unstable source of magic. With reality itself beginning to unravel, players must team up to explore Cryptica’s dangerous biomes, uncover secrets, and battle enemies in an effort to save the collapsing world.

While the campaign can be completed in around 10 hours, its roguelike structure ensures significant replayability. Each run offers different loot, weapons, and magical upgrades, encouraging experimentation with new strategies. In addition, permanent progression systems mean players will steadily grow stronger instead of constantly restarting from scratch.

Industry Veterans Behind the Project

ProbablyMonsters, founded in 2016 by former Bungie CEO Harold Ryan, was created to offer a sustainable and creative approach to game development. Storm Lancers is the first of two projects under the studio’s banner, with the second being Ire: A Prologue, a psychological horror game launching on October 28 for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

The team behind Storm Lancers includes several gaming veterans such as Jim Veevaert (Microsoft, Zynga) and Seth Thompson (Blizzard). Their combined expertise has helped shape the title into a polished experience that mixes cooperative mechanics, explosive combat, and 1980s-inspired art direction.

Gameplay Highlights

• Dynamic co-op combat where partners’ abilities synergize to unleash powerful combos.

• Multiple alien biomes to explore, each with unique enemies and boss encounters.

• Replayability through roguelike mechanics, including randomized items and power-ups.

• Permanent upgrades to ensure steady progression across multiple playthroughs.

• A distinct hand-drawn art style influenced by classic Saturday morning cartoons.

A Promising Start for ProbablyMonsters

As the studio’s debut release, Storm Lancers represents ProbablyMonsters’ vision of building games with long-term sustainability rather than crunch-driven schedules. With its focus on couch co-op gameplay, accessible solo mode, and bite-sized adventure length, the title is poised to appeal to both casual players and dedicated roguelike fans.

The surprise shadow drop strategy mirrors Nintendo’s growing trend of instant releases during Direct events, adding an element of excitement and urgency for fans eager to try something new. If early impressions hold, Storm Lancers could become one of the standout Nintendo Switch 2 launch window exclusives.