Critics praise how it draws inspiration from the classics, but still manages to jump out of their shadows.
27 JUNE 2025 – German indie studio Zockrates Laboratories and US publisher Phiphen Games are as excited as their titular mascot Ruffy, that the day is finally here! After 7 years of hard work, the hand-drawn 3D platformer, Ruffy and the Riverside, is out now on PC (Steam & Epic Games), PlayStation 5, Xbox One & Series X|S and Nintendo Switch(es).
Ruffy and the Riverside will be priced at $19.99 USD (or regional equivalents) on all stores, with a 10% week-long launch discount on Steam as well as a bundle with the soundtrack (for an additional 11% off). On Xbox and Nintendo Switch, there is a 10% discount that lasts for 72 hours.
Ruffy and the Riverside has a unique SWAP mechanic that lets players copy & paste textures in the world to solve puzzles and help the friendly inhabitants of Riverside. Ride haybales around the open world and use your creativity to unlock hidden secrets and gather various collectables!
 In Ruffy and the Riverside, you wield the magic power of SWAP, using it to Copy & Paste textures within the game world. Turn ice into lava or waterfalls into vines as you ride hay bales, explore, fight, and solve puzzles throughout Riverside. Unleash your imagination in this quirky open-world action game that literally lets you change the world!
Ruffy just won’t stop! When the 3D world ends, he leaps into new 2D levels to collect even more treasures, but watch out – many obstacles must be swapped before you can safely pass through walls.
Explore the marvellous open world of Riverside, where Ruffy embarks on playful side quests, masters challenges, and collects magic treasures across seven distant regions. Ride hay bales, perform tricks on secret rails, and discover unknown areas as you meet the mysterious Etoi and help the colourful cast of characters.
Key Features
- Use and master the power of SWAP to copy & paste elements in the game world.
- Overcome various puzzles through creative manipulation of objects.
- Jump, fight and skate around the open world of Riverside
- Solve puzzles and find treasures hidden in 2D levels
- Unlock seven outer regions, each with unique challenges and settings.
- More than a dozen characters each with quests to complete
- Use dreamstones to create & apply custom textures to elements like stone, waterfalls and more…
- Enjoy a magical atmosphere with a focus on exploration & discovery.
- Gather various collectables, such as coins, butterflies, dreamstones and cute Etoi creatures!
Press & Creators who had early access to the full game had this to say:
“Ruffy and the Riverside feels like pure joy and has all the makings to be a new age classic.”
​- VICE, Rating: “Best in its Class”
“This could well be the best puzzle platformer of the year.”
​- Future Games Show
“One of the most charming and thoughtful 3D platformers in ages.”
​PSU, 9/10
“Nintendo Charm in an Indie Package”
​- GameXplain
“Ruffy and the Riverside has copy-and-pasted itself onto my favourite games of the year.” ​
​- SoManyGames, 4.5 stars
“Ruffy and the Riverside is an enjoyable return to the colourful 3D platforming romps of the late 1990s, and it’s one that brings its own clever idea to the table, rather than just simply copy/pasting everyone else’s homework.”
​- NintendoLife, 8/10
“One More for the Platforming Hall of Fame.”
​- QuestDaily, 9/10
Steam Page: store.steampowered.com/app/1002260/Ruffy_and_the_Riverside
​PlayStation Store: store.playstation.com/concept/10012974
​Nintendo eShop: nintendo.com/store/products/ruffy-and-the-riverside-switch
​Xbox Store: xbox.com/en-us/games/store/ruffy-and-the-riverside
