Publisher CFK and developer DeerFarm have announced Shikhondo: Blue Pieta, a new sequel to their acclaimed bullet hell series.
Shikhondo: Blue Pieta will launch first for Windows PC (via Steam) sometime in the first half of this year, followed by console ports for Switch, Switch 2, and PS5.
While previous entries in the series were vertical shoot ’em up / bullet hell games, this is the first side-scrolling entry.
“Shikhondo is the culmination of everything DeerFarm has built – their craft, their passion, their dedication,” said CFK CEO Chang-sig Koo in a press release. “Shikhondo: Blue Pieta takes the series in a bold new direction, from the side-scrolling format to everything else packed into it. We can’t wait for fans around the world to experience it.”
Here’s a rundown on the game:
Shikhondo: Blue Pieta follows Shikhondo: Youkai Rampage, which launched on Steam in April 2024 and Nintendo Switch™ in May 2025 to warm reception worldwide. The series traces its roots back to Shikhondo: Soul Eater (2017), DeerFarm’s debut title, and introduced the Soul Collect system — the series’ signature mechanic.
A New Stage for the Series
This new chapter moves the stage to a city across the sea. A rookie grim reaper has crossed the ocean, following the trail of an unknown yokai. In that same city, a vampire hunter has been fighting alone in the dark for years. When the two meet, a new conflict begins — one that draws together two characters from entirely different worlds.
Side-Scrolling: A Series First
Where previous entries used a vertical-scrolling layout, Shikhondo: Blue Pieta makes the jump to side-scrolling — a first for the franchise. The shift brings a fresh perspective to the series’ hallmark bullet hell gameplay, while the Soul Collect system — which rewards near-miss bullet dodging with score multipliers — returns in evolved form. The game also supports ultra-wide resolutions up to 32:9.
Full voice acting is planned for Shikhondo: Blue Pieta. Further details on the voice cast will be announced in the weeks ahead.
