Survival Kids: Everything We Know

What would you do if you were stranded on a living island with nothing but your friends to rely on? How would you survive in a mysterious world? These are the thrilling questions that upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 game “Survival Kids” asks, and they’re questions you’ll soon have the chance to answer for yourself.

Konami has announced a cooperative survival adventure game for Switch 2 that promises to blend old-school survival mechanics with modern co-op magic. Imagine crafting tools, cooking meals, fishing in crystal-clear waters, and facing off against unexpected dangers — all while working together with friends either. Built to fully leverage the enhanced capabilities of Nintendo Switch 2, Survival Kids offers a colorful, easy-to-learn experience that’s both nostalgic and fresh. Want to learn more? Here’s everything we know about Survival Kids — from its release date and platforms to its gameplay and story.

Survival Kids Story

If you're a gamer from the Game Boy Color era, you might remember the original Survival Kids – that clever little 1999 survival game that was way ahead of its time. Now, Konami's bringing it back with a fresh twist. This time, the story of Survival Kids follow four adventurous kids who discover a mysterious tattered map and decide to chase the adventure it promises. They set sail, eager to uncover its secrets, but their journey takes a wild turn when they’re swept into a hidden world. Now, they’re stranded across a chain of mysterious islands, except these aren’t ordinary landmasses. The islands rest on the backs of massive Whurtles (described as whale-turtle creatures).

With no easy way home, the kids must rely on each other to survive. They’ll explore the ever-changing islands, gather resources, and craft tools to overcome challenges. Danger lurks everywhere and environmental puzzles stand in their way. But if they work together, they might just uncover the truth behind this strange world, and maybe even find a way back.

Survival Kids Gameplay

In Survival Kids, you can team up with your friends and survive together. The game lets up to four players chop trees, catch fish, cook meals, and solve puzzles. You can play sitting next to your friends at home or join them online. While you explore, you’ll also face unexpected dangers, so sticking together is the smartest move.

The game brings fresh co-op features that make everything feel more connected. Players will need to survive, explore new places, and adapt to whatever the world throws at them. It’s not just about doing things alone. Working as a team will help you get through challenges faster and smarter.

Crafting and exploring are designed to be easier and more fun when you work together. If you try cutting down a tree alone, it’ll take a while. But if a friend jumps in to help, the job gets done much quicker. So, whether you’re building tools or gathering food, this game is best played with others by your side, either at home or online.

Moreover, the game also keeps everything simple. Crafting doesn’t need long menus or tons of item management. Just collect what you need, and you can start crafting right away. The islands are bright and colorful, the music is playful, and the controls are easy to understand. Plus, with Nintendo Switch 2’s new features, teaming up and sharing your game will be faster and smoother than ever.

Survival Kids Development

Survival Kids is being developed through a direct collaboration between KONAMI and Unity. The game is built entirely on Unity 6, optimized specifically for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 hardware.

This marks the first time Unity has developed a full game end-to-end in partnership with a publisher. Survival Kids leverages several of Unity’s core technologies, including URP (Universal Render Pipeline) for enhanced graphics, Netcode for stable multiplayer support, and live services like Lobby and Relay to power smooth online co-op gameplay.

By designing this game specifically around the Nintendo Switch 2 features, the development team has ensured tight integration between hardware capabilities and game systems. The result is a survival adventure built to fully utilize the Switch 2’s upgraded performance, connectivity, and multiplayer potential.

Trailer

Konami has released a brief announcement trailer that gives fans a glimpse of what’s coming. It shows off the vibrant island environments and teases some of the activities players will be able to enjoy, like cooking, fishing, chopping trees, and more. If you haven't checked it out yet, make sure to watch the trailer to get an early look at the co-op survival adventure awaiting you on Nintendo Switch 2!

Survival Kids – Release Date, Platforms, and Editions

The wait won’t be long! Konami has announced that Survival Kids will launch alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025. Players will need the new console to experience the game, as it’s built exclusively for NS2. As of now, no special or limited editions have been announced. However, the base game will be available at launch for $49.99.

FAQs

Q: When is Survival Kids coming out?

Survival Kids will launch on June 5, 2025. It releases on the same day as the Switch 2.

Q: Is Survival Kids only for Nintendo Switch 2?

Yes, Survival Kids is exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. You won’t be able to play it on older Switch models or other consoles.