Indie dev DIE SOFT has announced a release window for Little Nemo and the Guardians of Slumberland, their new metroidvania game based on the classic cartoons of the same name by Winsor McCay.
Little Nemo and the Guardians of Slumberland is set to launch in Q1 of 2026 for Windows PC (via Steam) and sometime later for Nintendo Switch. An updated demo is available on its Steam page.
“I’m very happy about how the game has come together since we last showed it off publicly, and I’m excited for people to get a better look at the game with this latest trailer,” DIE SOFT founder Dave Mauro said in a press release.
Here’s a rundown on the previously announced game, plus a new trailer:
Inspired by Winsor McCay’s works, Little Nemo and The Guardians of Slumberland transports you into the colorful, hand-animated world of Nemo’s dreams. Once a peaceful place, Slumberland has been besieged by the mysterious Oblivion, which threatens to destroy this precious world and its inhabitants. It is now up to you to push back and stop the Oblivion from spreading, consuming Slumberland and anything within it as it grows.
While Nemo is sound asleep, you’ll be able to explore the many domains that make up Slumberland, each with its unique characteristics, inhabitants, and collectibles to discover. As you progress, you’ll also meet a unique cast of characters ready to guide you through the adventure and work together to prevent Slumberland’s destruction! But beware: this cute dream world is not as safe as it once was. Strange creatures have been emerging from the Oblivion, turning Slumberland from a dream into a dangerous nightmare.
If you want to save Slumberland, you must be prepared to overcome challenges, defeat increasingly more frightening enemies and face off against nightmarish bosses. As you explore Slumberland, you’ll find Nemo’s favorite Toys, each of which will grant you a new ability to help you avoid hazards, defeat enemies, and even find new pathways through Slumberland! Make sure to keep an eye out for Nemo’s Pajamas, Little Buddies, and other collectibles, which will make your journey through Slumberland a little more fun!
Primarily developed by DIE SOFT founder Dave Mauro, Little Nemo and The Guardians of Slumberland draws heavily from its NES-era ancestors. The game’s revamped gameplay is designed with approachability and accessibility in mind, but can also scale up to appeal to more experienced metroidvania veterans.
Features:
- A lush, hand-animated world, composed of many distinct thematic domains, all seamlessly connected.
- Defeat challenging bosses, discover collectibles, and unlock new abilities to progress.
- An original soundtrack composed entirely by Peter Berkman of Anamanaguchi.
- Tight and responsive controls for retro-inspired platforming action.
- Designed with approachable and accessible baseline experience, that can be ranked up for more skilled players.
