If there's one thing we love about the summer of video game announcements, it's a surprise. And DANGEN Entertainment has one pretty snazzy one for us today. Released on Steam last year, Altari Games' action survival game Lost Ruins is coming to the Switch... today! And it's an absolute stunner.

With anime-inspired pixel art and huge, beautiful-looking bosses, Lost Ruins is — according to the publisher — "so kawaii it hurts"! We'll have to play this to find out what that means, but if controlling a school girl in some dark, dangerous ruins tells us anything, it's that there's definitely something sinister lurking here.

So we could focus on the look of the game for a while (and we'll come back to that, don't worry), but you probably want to know what this Steam hit is like to play. Well, here are the details straight from DANGEN's press release:

A young girl wakes up in a dimly lit dungeon without any of her memories. Surrounded by horrible, bloodthirsty monsters, the girl is rescued by the magician, Beatrice. With Beatrice’s help, the girl goes on a perilous journey to find answers, and unlock the secrets of the Lost Ruins.

Lost Ruins is a 2D side-scrolling survival action game, where you play as a young girl that has awoken in a strange and foreign place without her memories. With the aid of weapons, spells and tonics, and the guidance of the magical and mysterious Beatrice, you will explore a dark and dangerous world, battle hideous monsters, and topple incredible bosses.

ENGAGE IN COMBAT
Combat in Lost Ruins is both strategic and methodical. Slash away at enemies, burn them to a crisp, or even deflect their projectiles back at them. Arm yourself with a variety of swords, axes and other assorted medieval weaponry, and hack monsters to pieces.

MASTER DESTRUCTIVE SPELLS
For those with an affinity for magic, Lost Ruins allows you to cast a variety of spells through wands, tonics, and scrolls. Burn monsters, freeze bosses, and heal yourself when in danger. Choose what works for your playstyle and make a magic casting character that’s totally your own.

CHOOSE YOUR ACCESSORIES
The world of Lost Ruins is a dangerous one and being armed to the teeth with awesome weaponry is sometimes not enough. That’s where accessories come in. Accessories are unique pieces of equipment with all manner of effects. One accessory might protect you against fire, while another might heal you when you’re poisoned. The right combination of accessories can create different strategic options for your adventure.

MAKE USE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
As you explore the depths of Lost Ruin’s dimly lit dungeons, you will find that while everything around you might bring about your death, you can also use the environment around you to your advantage. Elements within the world will react with other elements realistically. Flammable liquids will be set ablaze when in contact with lit lanterns. Ice magic will freeze bodies of water, making them dangerously cold. The more you understand the environment and how to use it to your advantage, the more dangerous you will become.

It sounds like using your environment is key to survival here, which is pretty unique for a survival game of this kind! We love the sound of adapting to each area and learning new skills to change the ruins and get around faster, or even just show bosses who they should be afraid of.

And okay, we can't put it off anymore — let's focus on those bosses and the visuals for a second because we're in awe of them. These huge creatures dominate the screen, and with the gorgeously-lit environments to match the grandeur of these foes, this showcases the very best of indie pixel art prowess.

You can download Lost Ruins today from the eShop. Let us know what you think of the game in the usual spot!