Dark Scrolls arrives on Switch May 28 with online co-op

Devolver Digital and developer Doinksoft will release Dark Scrolls for Nintendo Switch on May 28. The game is a side-scrolling roguelike that incorporates shoot-’em-up elements and an advancing screen that forces players to clear rooms and keep moving.

Players choose from nine characters, each with distinct abilities, side objectives and trinket slots for upgrades. The roster includes a berserker who uses axes and an anthropomorphic rat that plays a saxophone. Weapons shown include thrown knives, arrows and unconventional items such as flipping steaks. Combat mixes close-quarters attacks with projectile-dodging and shooting mechanics found in shmup games.

Levels are procedurally generated by stitching together a library of hand-crafted rooms, producing new layouts, branching paths and boss encounters on each run. The game supports single-player runs and online cooperative sessions that let multiple players progress through the same runs.

Doinksoft developed the game using pixel art sprites, parallax backdrops and retro sound design paired with modern control and level design. The studio previously released Gato Roboto and Gunbrella.

Runs are designed to be short and replayable, with progression tied to trinkets and side objectives collected during runs. A new trailer released ahead of the Switch launch highlights online cooperative play and demonstrates several character playstyles and enemy types.