Nippon Ichi's action platformer Gobble is coming West in 2027

NIS America is bringing Nippon Ichi Software's 2D action platformer Gobble to Western audiences in 2027. The localization will launch across PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.

Nippon Ichi originally revealed the game in Japan back in March 2025. It actually comes out there next month on September 24. This new announcement confirms the English localization timeline and gives a closer look at the gameplay.

A playable comic book

The development team previously worked on Mad Rat Dead. Gobble shares some of that same vibrant energy. The game uses a hand-painted 2D art style heavily inspired by comic books and manga. Story sequences play out in actual comic panels. Characters like the protagonist, Howard the Coward, and a figure simply named Grandpa talk through stylized text bubbles.

The core mechanic involves a demonic scythe. You use it to literally eat monsters and save your village. The combat looks fast. The player character dashes through colorful forest environments while massive sound effect text pops up on screen. You chain attacks together in mid-air, bouncing off enemies to reach higher platforms.

The platforming also looks fairly involved. The protagonist jumps off walls and uses the scythe to grapple across wide gaps. Boss fights take up a large portion of the screen, requiring quick dodges and well-timed scythe swings. It is a distinct shift from the slower, methodical pacing of Nippon Ichi's strategy games.

Current gameplay footage still uses Japanese text, accompanied by a small note promising English localization in the finished game. Translating comic book sound effects and stylized text bubbles takes time, which likely explains the gap between the Japanese and Western release dates.

Beyond PlayStation

If you only watched the announcement on Sony's YouTube channel, you might think this is a PlayStation 5 exclusive. It is not. NIS America is casting a much wider net. The 2027 release window applies to the Switch, the upcoming Switch 2, and Steam alongside the PS5 version. Platform holders routinely omit competing consoles from their marketing materials.

The mid-budget appeal

Nippon Ichi Software is mostly known for the Disgaea series and its endless grids of tactical combat. Their smaller action games often fly under the radar. Mad Rat Dead was a bizarre but excellent rhythm platformer. Yomawari explored isometric horror. Gobble seems to be aiming for that same tier of experimental action.

These smaller projects give the studio room to try weird ideas without risking a massive budget. A game about a coward using a demonic scythe to eat monsters fits perfectly into that strategy. The 2027 release date is a bit of a wait, especially considering the Japanese version is just weeks away. Still, getting a localized release confirmed for multiple platforms is better than wondering if it will ever cross the Pacific.