Wanderstop, the cozy narrative game from developer Ivy Road and publisher Annapurna Interactive, is now live on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, with a launch trailer released to mark the occasion. The port went live digitally on June 23, 2026, bringing one of 2025’s most acclaimed indie games to Nintendo’s platforms for the first time.
What Is Wanderstop?
Wanderstop is a narrative-centric cozy game about change and tea. Players take the role of a fallen fighter named Alta, managing a tea shop within a magical forest and tending to the customers who pass through – though Alta does not want to be here, and would prefer the whole experience to be nothing but a brief, painful memory.
The gameplay loop centres on growing and harvesting ingredients, blending teas in an unusual contraption, and listening to the stories of travellers who stop by. The tension at the game’s heart is the mismatch between Alta’s identity as a warrior and her forced role as a shopkeeper – a conflict that drives the narrative forward.
Wanderstop is a game from the team at Ivy Road, including Davey Wreden (creator of The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide), Karla Zimonja (co-creator of Gone Home and Tacoma), and Daniel “C418” Rosenfeld (the music of Minecraft).
Platform Timeline
| Platform | Release Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X/S | March 11, 2025 | Digital |
| Nintendo Switch / Switch 2 | June 23, 2026 | Digital |
| PS5 / Switch (Physical) | August 28, 2026 | Physical |
Wanderstop originally launched on March 11, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. Annapurna Interactive announced the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 ports in April 2026, targeting a June 23, 2026 release. Physical editions for the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch versions were also announced in May 2026, set to arrive on August 28, 2026.
Critical Reception
The Switch port arrives carrying a strong critical reputation. On Metacritic, the PC version holds a score of 80 out of 100 from 43 critic reviews, while 84 percent of 76 critics on OpenCritic recommended the game. Wanderstop also received nominations at the Golden Joystick Awards and The Game Awards 2025, where it was nominated in the Games for Impact category.
A Bittersweet Launch
The Nintendo release carries an added poignancy. Though the studio had plans for a follow-up title called Engine Angel, Ivy Road announced it would shut down on March 31, 2026 due to a lack of funding. Wanderstop took nearly nine years to complete, and revenue from its March 2025 launch was not sufficient to fund the studio’s planned second project. The Switch version is therefore the final release from Ivy Road as a studio.
Where to Buy
Wanderstop is available now on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 – pick it up for [price] via the links below.
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For deal hunters, Wanderstop‘s arrival on Switch opens up a larger potential audience for what is genuinely one of the more thoughtful cozy games of recent years. If you missed it on PC or console in 2025, the handheld form factor of Switch suits its unhurried, meditative pacing well.