SPINE (cinematic action game) announced for Switch 2

During the Twitch Galaxies showcase last week, Nekki announced that SPINE, their upcoming cinematic action game, will be released on Nintendo Switch 2 (though no release window for any platform was provided).

Alongside the new platform announcement, a brand new trailer was revealed. It showcases the gameplay, as well as the freeflow combat design:

We’re excited to share the brand new gameplay trailer for SPINE! This trailer showcases our unique take on a freeflow combat system designed to make you feel like the star of a true gun fu action movie. And that’s not all. We’ve got two surprises for you: SPINE is now targeting Nintendo Switch 2 Plus, we’re introducing a brand new Hardcore Mode Don’t miss it — watch the trailer now!

SPINE is a single-player action game about close-quarters gunfights with aesthetics of Gun Fu movies. Step into the stunning cyberpunk world with rebellious street artist Redline and her sentient combat implant Spine as they defy the autocratic AI regime in search of Redline’s captured brother.

Finally, here’s some details about the game:

Today’s trailer showcases SPINE’s Freeflow Gun Fu combat in which the protagonist, Redline, moves from enemy to enemy, parrying and disarming them, and turning their own weapons against them in seamless combos. Players can creatively use the physical environment against Redline’s opponents – crushing enemies against surfaces, throwing them from ledges, and fighting back with makeshift melee weapons for truly cinematic combat sequences that are different every time.

“Freeflow Gun Fu combat means constant tactical awareness – both of your enemies and of the surroundings in which you fight,” said Dmitry Pimenov, Game Director of SPINE. “For us, everything comes back to that cinematic experience, while always giving players complete control. We want to make players feel like both the star and the director of their own action movie, rewarding them with opportunities for creative takedowns by mastering the combo system and the environment, and showcasing their combos with dynamic camera angles to immerse them in the action.”

The trailer also includes the first tease of SPINE’s Hardcore mode. SPINE’s cinematic twist on ‘no-hit’ gameplay sees Redline wear sunglasses which will only remain intact if the player makes it through the game untouched by enemy attacks. 

SPINE is a single-player, story-rich action game set in a cyberpunk future ruled by AI, where the player takes on the role of rebellious street artist Redline, accompanied by her sentient combat implant, Spine. Players join Redline and Spine as they challenge the autocratic regime of the Tensor Corporation while learning to trust each other and fight together. 

SPINE features Freeflow Gun Fu combat, with camerawork and combat choreography by action movie stunt specialists. It is powered by Unreal Engine 5 and Nekki’s original animation engine, Cascadeur, making players the star of their own action movie where no two fights are the same.

• Movie-Like Experience – SPINE puts players inside the action with a dynamic combat camera that makes every fight feel like a movie, without ever stealing control from players.
• Innovative Combat – A thrilling fusion of cinematic gunplay and Freeflow Gun Fu beat ’em up. Dive into the chaos of SPINE’s combat, where every move is a dance between gunfire and raw, close-quarter bullet mayhem. It’s not just a game; it’s an artistic canvas for your own style of destruction.
• Unrivaled Atmosphere – Dive into an action-packed narrative set against the backdrop of a captivating cyberpunk world. Explore the contrast between the gleaming, utopian facades and the gritty, decaying alleyways, as each location becomes a stage for adrenaline-fueled gunfights.
• Gripping Narrative – Embark on a gritty journey into the near-future with Redline, a rebellious street artist, and her AI companion, Spine — a combat implant with a mind of its own. Together, they stand against an oppressive AI regime, and every fight they have sends ripples through the streets they navigate, changing the lives of the people they meet.

SPINE (Switch 2) does not have a release date yet.

Source: Nekki PR (17/04/2025)