Game: Rotwood
Genre: Action
System: Nintendo Switch 2 (also on Windows (Steam))
Developer|Publisher: Klei Entertainment
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US Everyone 10+
Price: US $29.99 | UK £24.99 | EU € 29,99
Release Date: March 3rd, 2026
Review code provided with many thanks to Klei Entertainment.
Rotwood – Shadow Dropped
Rotwood made a rather quiet entrance on Nintendo Switch 2, appearing as a bit of a surprise release after spending time in Early Access on PC. Sometimes these shadow-drop launches can be hit or miss, but in this case, it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
Developed by Klei Entertainment, the team behind Don’t Starve, Rotwood leans into action-heavy gameplay while mixing in elements of roguelites, brawlers and monster hunting. It’s not overly complicated, but it manages to bring those ideas together in a way that feels fun and approachable.
The setup is fairly straightforward. The world has been overtaken by strange, corrupted creatures, and it’s up to a group of hunters to push back the threat. Your job is to venture into dangerous areas, defeat enemies, gather resources and slowly rebuild a safe haven for survivors. There are a number of characters to meet along the way, with plenty to say. Much of the dialogue is witty and playful, putting a light tone on the more grim backdrop of the game. If story and lore ain’t your thing, you can quite easily skip it and focus on the gameplay.
Create Your Own Hunter
Before heading into the Rotwood itself, you’ll create your character. The customisation options here are surprisingly flexible. Rather than sticking to a standard human hero, you can design a creature-like hunter with different ears, tails, faces and colours.
It’s possible to create something fairly normal-looking or go completely wild with the design if you want. Importantly, you’re not locked into your choices either. The game lets you adjust your appearance later on, which is always a nice feature for players who like to experiment.
Once your hunter is ready, the real adventure begins.
Bite-Sized Hunts
One of the most appealing parts of Rotwood is its structure. Rather than committing to long, exhausting runs, the game focuses on smaller missions that feel quite manageable.
You choose a hunt from the map, enter the area and move through a series of rooms filled with enemies. After clearing each room, you’re given a choice about where to go next, along with a preview of what kind of reward might appear there. Some paths lead to upgrades, others offer vendors who can improve your gear. Eventually, the run builds toward a boss encounter, providing an epic conclusion to a run.
Once the hunt ends, you return to the hub area. Any temporary buffs gained during the run disappear, but the resources you collected can be used to improve your character in more permanent ways. This approach keeps the pace comfortable. You can jump in for a single hunt if you only have a short window to play, or chain several together if you’re in the mood for a longer session.
Pick a Weapon
Rotwood’s combat feels somewhat like a brawler. Easy to pick up with some depth. Light attacks, heavy attacks and dodges form the core of your moveset. Despite that simplicity, the game still demands a bit of attention when facing tougher enemies. Many monsters telegraph their attacks with visible warning zones, giving you a chance to dodge out of the way if you react quickly enough. Learning when to attack and when to move becomes an important part of surviving longer hunts.
Weapons play a big role in how combat feels. Early on, you might choose between something like a spear or a hammer, each with its own rhythm and reach. As you continue playing, more weapons become available, including options like bows that change your approach to fights entirely. Each weapon has its own upgrade path, too, allowing you to strengthen it over time. There’s plenty to experiment with.
Constant Progression
Even if a hunt doesn’t go exactly as planned, Rotwood usually finds ways to reward your efforts. During missions, you can complete smaller objectives that grant crystals. These crystals can then be spent back in the hub area to increase your overall level, improving things like health or stamina.
You’ll also discover new vendors as you play. Some focus on upgrading weapons and armour, others on gardening or just making the hub area look pretty with cosmetics (which crafting nets you rewards too).
Armour itself is another interesting system. Helmets, chest pieces and other equipment can provide small bonuses that influence your build. Better yet, the gear actually changes the appearance of your character. It’s always satisfying when a game lets your visual style evolve along with your stats. There’s also a gift system where items found during hunts can be given to vendors, unlocking new upgrade options over time.
The result is a steady sense of progress, even when a boss proves a little too strong on a particular run.
Co-op
While Rotwood works well as a solo experience, it really shines when played with others. The game supports online co-op for up to four players, allowing friends to tackle hunts together. There’s also the option to join random players if none of your friends is available.
During my time online, the cooperative gameplay felt friendly and collaborative. Players tend to help each other rather than compete for attention, which suits the PvE focus nicely. Local multiplayer is available too, making it an easy choice for group gaming sessions.
Klei’s Distinctive Art Style
Visually, Rotwood carries the familiar artistic touch that fans of Klei Entertainment will recognise. The hand-drawn style feels similar to games like Don’t Starve, mixing slightly dark environments with expressive, cartoon-like characters. The Rotwood itself can look gloomy at times, filled with twisted plants and strange creatures, but the light character designs balance things out nicely.
Enemies range from odd little monsters to larger boss creatures that manage to look both intimidating and slightly humorous at the same time. It’s a style that works well for the game’s tone and helps Rotwood stand out from more realistic action titles.
Conclusion – Fresh
Rotwood is a very enjoyable action game that keeps things focused and approachable. Its bite-sized hunts, smooth combat and steady progression make it easy to jump into, whether you’re playing for ten minutes or an entire evening.
The variety of weapons, upgrades and co-op options gives the experience plenty of staying power, while the art style and monster designs add personality to every run.
Whether you prefer playing solo or teaming up with friends, Rotwood offers a fun and flexible adventure that’s well worth checking out. I had an absolute blast playing it, and hopefully you will too.
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up
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