“One of the Best Platformers of 2025” Ruffy and the Riverside Announces June 26th Release Date on PC & Consoles!

Nostalgia Meets Innovation in This Retro-inspired 3D Platformer

German indie studio Zockrates Laboratories and US publisher Phiphen Games are ready to announce the release date of Ruffy and the Riverside: The hand-drawn 3D platformer is jumping onto PC (Steam & Epic Games), PlayStation 5, Xbox One & Series X|S and Nintendo Switch(es) on June 26th, 2025!

Originally scheduled for a Q1 release, using Ruffy’s magical SWAP, the release date was changed to 26 June 2025 to ensure a simultaneous release on all platforms and to make this the best possible game it can be, which critics are already calling “one of the best platformers of 2025!” (you can check some quotes below)

The new release date was unveile via PlayStation’s Official YouTube channel and the PlayStation blog.

Ruffy and the Riverside’s Release Date Trailer:

Here is what press & media who played the demo had to say:

“Ruffy and the Riverside doesn’t just coast along on its beautiful aesthetic, it has the potential to be the next big thing!”

​- VICE

“It’s not just inventive, satisfying, and effortlessly fun to play — it’s beautiful, original, and has a killer soundtrack to boot!”

​- Forbes

“I’m reminded of my favorite collectathon retro 3D platformers – Banjo-Kazooie, Super Mario 64, Crash Bandicoot and the like. But, thanks to a clever and charming texture-swapping twist it’s also not quite like any of the above – a distinctly modern twist on a classic format! This is already shaping up to be one of the best platformers of 2025. “

​- GamesRadar

“Ruffy’s SWAP is one of those genius yet simple ideas that makes a game truly stand out!”

​- Eurogamer

“Judging by the demo, Ruffy and the Riverside might be one of this year’s best platformers!”

​- PC Gamer

About the game

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 marvelous 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 transform 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!

About Zockrates Laboratories (developer)

We are a team of artists, programmers and musicians from Nuremberg, Germany, and we love video games. We used to make video game art, but since Ruffy smiled at us for the first time from a piece of paper in 2017 and started swapping things right before our eyes in a prototype, we had to move on and founded Zockrates Laboratories. However, our aim has remained the same. We want to bring extraordinary gameplay, aesthetic enjoyment in visuals and music and most importantly a lot of fun.

About Phiphen Games (publisher)

Phiphen Games was founded by award-winning producer Molly Conners. With an extensive background in film and television, Molly’s passion for storytelling grew to include gaming after supporting Blue Fire’s release in 2021. Phiphen Games will publish cutting-edge and unique properties from the most exciting developers, spanning all genres and budget levels to reach a global audience. The publisher’s debut title, Ruffy And The Riverside, is a testament to the company’s goal of bringing innovative and creative indie games to major platforms – and this is just the beginning!

Copyright © 2025 Zockrates Laboratories and Phiphen Games LLC, All rights reserved. ​ Published in Asia by H2 Interactive Co., Ltd