Spine was first announced in 2021 as a multiplayer game, but after a couple of years in development, developer Nekki changed course. Today, Spine is a cinematic single-player game that draws heavy inspiration from action-packed blockbusters like John Wick. Using free-flow gun-fu combat, Spine has drawn the attention of a large population of players, attracting more than 400,000 wishlists according to the publisher. Today, Nekki showed off new gameplay footage of the cyberpunk action title, announced a new ultra-difficult Hardcore mode, and shared that the game will arrive on Nintendo Switch 2.
In Spine, you control Redline, the highly trained protagonist who can seamlessly move from enemy to enemy by parrying them, disarming them, and defeating them with her weapons, in hand-to-hand combat, or by turning their own weapons against them. She can also resourcefully use items in the environment as makeshift weapons and smash enemies into various surfaces in the world. The camera is specifically designed to put the player in the action so they feel like they are in an action movie.
In addition to announcing that the game is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, Nekki also revealed Hardcore mode. In this mode, Redline cannot take any damage, which is represented by a special pair of sunglasses she wears in this mode. In order to keep the sunglasses intact, she must make it through untouched by enemy fire or strikes.
You can check out the latest trailer showing off the combat below.
“Freeflow Gun Fu combat means constant tactical awareness – both of your enemies and of the surroundings in which you fight,” game director Dmitry Pimenov said in a press release. “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.”
Spine doesn’t currently have a release date, but it was originally scheduled for a 2025 release. However, the Steam page currently says “To be announced,” while the press release makes no mention of a release window. It is currently slated to come to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC.
