Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree – Everything We Know

Roguelites tend to be gritty and violent escapades. Or maybe that’s just me. Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, on the other hand, is rather whimsical. It’s difficult to grasp the full extent of the danger the colorful world before you is in. At least until the demons and monsters attacking the world become truly vicious. 

There’s quite a lot to love about this upcoming game. But let’s break it down below, expounding on everything we know about Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree so far.

What is Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree?

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is an upcoming 2D roguelite action-adventure game. It takes you to a mystical realm set far away. Here, ancient forces begin to take hold, alongside unexpected dangers. Your protagonist is Towa, who leads the guardians of the sacred tree in a dangerous mission to save the world. 

The gameplay will need you to form strong bonds between the guardians. But also, master the powerful swords and staff that each guardian wields. On the other side of the enemy lines are Magatsu’s forces, wreaking havoc all across Shinju Village and putting the future of your home at risk.

Story

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree takes place in the most vibrant and whimsical world. It takes an isometric view of the environments and events. From a top-down perspective, you view diverse biomes, explore the sheer beauty of the natural flora and fauna, and anticipate the oncoming danger. 

Magatsu’s evil has disturbed the peace in the world, unleashing demons, monsters, and other enemies. Towa, the priestess of Shinju Village, takes it upon herself to restore order. She’ll need the help of eight Guardians of the sacred tree, embarking on the dangerous quest together, and exploring faraway lands derailed by Magatsu’s evil.

“In a world where even splendor hides a lurking threat, courage is the only way forward,” says Steam of Shinju Village: breathtaking on one end, and descending into destruction on the other. During your quest, you’ll jam to Hitoshi Sakimoto’s lovely tunes. His melodies will marry well with the gorgeous environments and detail of Shinju Village, but also pick up pace when the fight to restore peace escalates.

Gameplay

Your enemies will be demons and monsters corrupted by Magaori. To defeat them, you’ll need to choose two guardians before any fresh run. Using a unique twin-stick shooter system, you’ll control the sword for one of the guardians and the staff for the other. Further, each guardian will have unique abilities. 

Since Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a roguelite, you can expect to take on multiple runs to beat the game. However, the game will keep every new run fresh and engaging using procedurally generated environments. It’ll also add new boss battles as well as special areas to discover that reward you with unique mechanics.

In total, you’ll access eight Guardians, more rightly, playable companions on your quest. The priestess Towa will combine her skills alongside the guardians to tap into the power of the sacred sword and staff. However, every guardian will have their unique set of sword and staff, thus allowing you to experiment with different fighting styles and guardian combinations. 

You’ll explore Shinju Village across different timelines. And each time, the village will evolve, adding new areas and mechanics. You’ll venture into dungeons, as well. With every run, you’ll learn more about the residents, developing stronger bonds with them. Your interactions could lead to training new skills at the dojo, summoning powerful Graxes, or crafting new weapons at the blacksmith.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree will be a single-player campaign. But also, it’ll feature split-screen and online co-op for multiplayer fans.

Development

Developer Brownies Incorporated and publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment are working on Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. The developers have held demos for the game, with the early feedback showing positive interest in the final product. 

It’s clear the world is gorgeous, incorporating hand-drawn mountains, forests, and other natural areas. While the enemies seem vicious, they adhere to the colorful aesthetic in fun, whimsical ways.

Trailer

Brownies Inc. has been pretty forthcoming with early previews of Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. They have revealed a prologue trailer, an opening cinematic video, and a gameplay overview trailer so far.

It seems the narrative may use still images. But also, in-game activities are in plenty, even skipping rope with the residents and fishing. It makes it feel more like a lived-in world, despite the fantasy vibe. The combat looks a bit rough. But hopefully, actually playing it will be exciting, especially with friends in tow.

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree will be ready for launch on September 19, 2025. It’ll be accessible on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC (via Steam) platforms.

Feel convinced? You can pre-order the game on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, or Steam stores today. Currently, you can choose between the Standard and Deluxe editions. Here are the specific features each edition offers.

Standard Edition

• Base game
• Guardians’ Vestments
• Price: $29.99

Deluxe Edition

• Base Game
• Guardians’ Vestments
• Digital Artbook and Soundtrack
• Price: $39.99

Guardians’ Vestments is a costume set that will give you more costume options for Towa and all eight guardians. These include:

• Towa Outfit: Blacksmith’s Clothes
• Rekka Outfit: Lady Towa’s Personal Guard
• Shigin Outfit: Traditional Attire of Jinkai
• Akazu Outfit: Researcher’s Uniform
• Origami Outfit: Traditional Attire of Musuhi
• Nishiki Outfit: Chargrilled Nishiki
• Mutsumi Outfit: Sakura Kimono
• Korou Outfit: Village Hero Regalia
• Banpuku Outfit: Black & Beige Fur

For any information still unclear, feel free to add the game to your wishlist on the various platform stores. That way, you can remain in the loop of future announcements. Alternatively, you can follow the official social handle to keep track of any new updates ahead of launch.