Winds of Viridia announced for Switch 2 and PC with a free playable demo

An enormous tree towers above a green valley filled with ancient ruins, hidden caves and unfamiliar creatures.

Something has disrupted the balance of this world, leaving its wildlife affected by a mysterious frenzy.

That is the setting of Winds of Viridia, a new three-dimensional action-adventure announced during the October 28, 2026 Nintendo Indie World Showcase.

Developed by Shark Jump with Matt Trobbiani, the game combines fast traversal, exploration and real-time battles.

Winds of Viridia is scheduled for Nintendo Switch 2 and PC via Steam in the first quarter of 2027.

A free demo has also been released, offering players an early opportunity to discover its mechanics.

A child born from a seed

Winds of Viridia follows a child who awakens from a seed in an ancient land.

The world is dominated by the Grantree, an enormous tree rising above a valley once home to a flourishing civilization.

A mysterious phenomenon has affected the region, causing animals and other creatures to become increasingly aggressive.

The protagonist must investigate the source of this frenzy and attempt to restore the balance of Viridia.

The environment includes mountain glades, hidden grottos, forgotten ruins and interconnected routes.

Shark Jump describes the game as a seamless, handcrafted adventure world.

The design is intended to encourage discovery, with hidden locations and ancient relics rewarding players who move beyond the most obvious paths.

The overall size of the world and the extent of its optional content have not yet been detailed.

Movement is central to exploration

Winds of Viridia places considerable emphasis on the freedom of movement.

The protagonist can run, roll, slide, flip and use a grappling mechanic to travel through the environment.

These abilities are intended to create fluid transitions between different forms of traversal.

Strange plants found throughout the world also provide opportunities for movement.

Some can help the player jump higher, travel farther or reach locations that would otherwise be inaccessible.

The combination of acrobatics and environmental interaction could encourage experimentation while exploring ancient structures and natural landscapes.

The grappling mechanic appears particularly relevant to vertical movement and crossing large gaps.

The complete movement system has not yet been documented, but the announcement establishes traversal as one of the game's primary features.

Real-time battles against frenzied creatures

Exploration will not be entirely peaceful.

The valley contains numerous creatures whose behavior has been altered by the mysterious frenzy.

Shark Jump promises dozens of distinctive enemies, alongside larger boss encounters.

Combat takes place in real time and emphasizes quick movement and reactions.

The developer describes attacks, defensive techniques and acrobatic movement as important parts of the system.

Major opponents include gigantic beasts, living statues and powerful guardians from the ancient world.

These encounters are designed to challenge players, although their actual difficulty and mechanical complexity remain to be assessed.

The project aims to combine the structure of a classic action-adventure with modern combat systems.

A flying companion called Mothbug

The protagonist is accompanied by a small flying creature known as Mothbug.

The companion assists during both combat and exploration.

Official descriptions include special attacks performed with Mothbug's help.

This suggests that the companion will become an important part of the player's available abilities.

Its full role in the story remains unclear.

Shark Jump has not yet provided a complete explanation of how Mothbug develops or which abilities can be unlocked.

Collecting relics and powerful totems

Character development is connected to discovering ancient relics.

Players can collect items known as totems and combine them to customize their abilities.

The developer intends these combinations to support different approaches to gameplay.

Some configurations may prove more useful for particular encounters or exploration challenges.

However, the complete list of totems and their specific effects has not been disclosed.

The effectiveness of the system will depend on how many meaningful combinations are available and how frequently they influence play.

Meeting the residents of Sanctuary

The game's world also contains friendly characters.

Sanctuary is described as a settlement where players can assist residents and take a break from the dangers of exploration.

Shark Jump mentions sharing meals with the inhabitants, alongside encounters with other explorers throughout the wilderness.

These quieter moments provide contrast with battles against dangerous creatures.

They may also help explain the history of Viridia and the effects of the mysterious frenzy.

The complete structure of side quests and social interactions has not yet been revealed.

Music from Kevin Penkin and Christopher Larkin

One of the most notable elements of the announcement is its soundtrack.

Winds of Viridia features orchestral music by Kevin Penkin and Christopher Larkin.

Penkin is known for projects including Made in Abyss and Florence.

Larkin composed the soundtrack for Hollow Knight, helping establish the distinctive atmosphere of its environments and major encounters.

The presence of both composers gives Winds of Viridia an experienced musical team.

The developer has not yet confirmed the final number of compositions or a separate soundtrack release.

Try the game before its 2027 launch

A free demo accompanied the October 28 announcement.

The PC demo is available through Steam, while Nintendo announced an eShop demo for Switch 2 during the same presentation.

The Steam demo lists French interface text and subtitles among its supported languages.

The full game is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.

No PlayStation, Xbox or original Nintendo Switch edition has been officially confirmed.

The final price and detailed Nintendo Switch 2 performance targets also remain unannounced.

Winds of Viridia is still an upcoming release, but its playable demo offers a useful first look at the movement, exploration and combat systems that define Shark Jump's new adventure.