Nippon Ichi Software, known for releasing numerous titles with unique personalities, is set to launch its new side-scrolling action game, *GOBBLE*, on September 24.
This 2D side-scrolling action game follows the journey of “Ruto,” an ordinary boy who dreams of becoming a hero, and “Kamael,” a bird-like monster.
It features action gameplay where players progress through stages by devouring enemies to restore health and stealing their “abilities,” along with visuals filled with cartoon-style onomatopoeia.
In this article, we bring you a report based on our hands-on playthrough ahead of the game’s release. This article was written with support provided by Nippon Ichi Software.
A boy who dreams of becoming a hero becomes a monster’s “servant”!?
The game is set in a world where a hero once defeated the Demon King, causing all monsters to vanish.
The protagonist, “Ruto,” is just an ordinary boy living with his family in a small village. Suddenly, monsters—which were supposed to have vanished—appear before him, shattering his peaceful daily life.
Amidst this chaos, he encounters a strange bird-like monster named “Kamael.”
He speaks human language and insists he is the strongest, yet his personality is quite arrogant. In exchange for helping Ruuto, he treats him as a “servant” to satisfy his own hunger.
And so, in order to find his separated family, Ruto sets out on a journey with Kamael—a creature he isn’t even sure he can trust.
The first thing that catches your eye when playing this game is its cartoon-style visuals.
Even when Luto simply runs or jumps, large cartoon-style onomatopoeia appear in sync with his movements.
Everything from the characters’ emotions to environmental sounds like the wind is expressed through text, and the screen is constantly lively—for example, the word “GOBBLE” fills the screen the moment he devours his prey.
The story also features cinematic sequences that look like they were cut straight out of an American comic book. Everything—from the gameplay screen to the cutscenes—maintains a consistent atmosphere, giving you the feeling that you’re directly controlling a cartoon world.
Furthermore, as you progress through the stages, the two characters discuss the events unfolding around them. Since they aren’t close partners from the start, watching their relationship gradually evolve through their conversations is a highlight.
I won’t go into specific details, but the story unfolds in a way that keeps you hooked.
Eat Enemies to Heal! And Steal Their “Abilities”
The game’s most distinctive feature is “predation” using Kamal.
When you defeat an enemy with Luto’s attacks, a corpse remains on the spot. If you approach and devour it, your “Predation Hearts”—which act as a substitute for health—increase. It’s not just about defeating the enemy; the entire sequence culminates in fully consuming its life.
Additionally, if you feed at the exact moment an enemy attacks, a “Counter Feed” is triggered. If successful, you’ll swallow the enemy whole, ignoring its remaining health.
It feels similar to a parry, and this Counter Devour felt particularly satisfying during boss battles against large monsters.
Furthermore, you can steal “Abilities” from certain monsters by consuming them. Effects vary by type, such as “Flame,” which creates pillars of fire to the left and right; “Stick,” which encases enemies in cocoons to create footing; and “Jet,” which allows you to fly through the air while knocking obstacles out of the way.
These traits aren’t just for attacking; they’re also invaluable for navigating the stage’s traps.
Whether turning enemies into stepping stones to climb to high places or dashing through the air in one go, every time I acquired a new ability, I found myself getting excited, wondering, “What kind of power is this?”
However, you can only hold one ability at a time. To acquire a new ability, you must swap it out for your current one.
Collectible items are scattered throughout the stages, and you’ll need to make use of your special ability to obtain them.
For some items, if you swap out your ability, you’ll be unable to obtain them—forcing you to restart the stage and make your way back to the same spot to try again. This, combined with the fact that you can’t easily retry stages, gave me the impression that the game is very much like a “classic 2D action game.”
“GOBBLE” is a game packed with unique charm, featuring action where you eat enemies to steal their traits, a story starring Ruto and Kamel, and cute, cartoon-style visuals.
Overall, it’s a game that’s easy to pick up and play, so it might be a good fit for those looking for a light 2D action game to play as a quick break.
*GOBBLE* is scheduled for release on September 24, 2026, for PC (Steam/Windows) and Nintendo Switch 2/Nintendo Switch (PS5).
