官方新聞
Tama In-Between Release Date and Nintendo Switch Version Announced
Guide the mysterious Slime Cat "Tama" through a strange fantasy world filled with mysteries and packed with pixel art charm, and solve each stage by mastering the powers of Absorb, Split, and Possess.
Every challenge rewards both clever ideas and precise execution, creating an adventure where puzzle-solving and action come together seamlessly.
Story
This is a world long after humanity has vanished. Life has taken on new forms and continues to thrive.
Tama, a slime cat, lives a peaceful life with its friends at Kedama House. However, one day, a sinister Hand suddenly appears and abducts all its friends.
Guided by a mysterious butterfly, Tama sets off on a strange adventure to find its missing friends.
Tama’s Abilities
Absorb: Absorb slimes that emerge through each stage, or even reabsorb your own clones. The larger you body becomes, the more clones you can create—opening up new ways to tackle puzzles.
Split: Split your chonky slime body to leave a clone behind. Place clones on switches, or use the recoil from splitting to launch yourself across wide gaps.
Possess: Send your soul to a distant clone and take control of its body. Careful clone placement and choosing the right moment to possess them are the key to solving stages.
Information
Tama In-Between will release on Steam on October 29, 2026 for the price of $8.99. The gameplay is designed to require no reading, and is suitable for players in all languages. The game is also planned to release on Nintendo Switch in 2027.
To celebrate the announcement, we wish to share a special message by Masagomi Studios:
"Tama In-Between was born from my desire to create my own form of the kind of action puzzle games that I love.
I’ve always enjoyed games like Lode Runner, Solomon’s Key, and Donkey Kong on Game Boy. As I tried to figure out what made those games so engaging, I realized that they all shared one single common structure: each room presents a single puzzle, and the satisfaction comes from experimenting with different ideas until you finally discover the solution.
More recently, Celeste has also had a major influence on me. Though it’s an action game rather than an action puzzle game, I found a similar joy in studying each challenge, trying over and over again, and gradually discovering your own solution. That sense of experimentation is similar to what you can find in action puzzle games.
For the game’s design, I also drew inspiration from the book ‘The Art of Creating Experiences People Can’t Resist’ by former Nintendo employee Shinichiro Tamaki. My goal was to create stages that naturally spark curiosity the moment players see them—making them wonder, ‘How does this gimmick work?’ or ‘How do I get through here?’ During playtesting, I told the playtesters that playing only stage 1 would be enough, but some of them ended up finishing the whole game, and that fact gave me confidence that I was on the right track.
The game’s playable slime cat character came from my love for cats. Inspired by the phrase “cats are liquid,” I began imagining a puzzle game starring a creature with that same soft, flexible nature. As the gameplay evolved, ideas like splitting and possessing merged, and combining those mechanics with the properties of a slime felt like the perfect fit.
The character designs were created by fellow cat lover and artist Mocoriinya. Together, we created Tama, the protagonist who has become the face of the game and whom many players have described as adorable. In the end, I was able to create the slightly unconventional action puzzle game that I genuinely wanted to play myself. I hope you'll enjoy experimenting, puzzling over each challenge, and experiencing the satisfaction that comes with finding the solution. It may start off approachable, but don't be surprised if the later stages put your skills to the test.” - Masagomi
Wishlist on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3769030/Tama_InBetween/
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9LkqB9IWEM
For more information, business enquiries and to be included in the press release and review mailing lists, contact Fruitbat Factory at info@fruitbatfactory.com.
Fruitbat Factory, Ltd
English version developer (Homepage, Twitter, Facebook, Discord & YouTube)
Fruitbat Factory is an independent localisation house focused on bringing interesting games from Japan to global audiences since 2012, and co-developer of the popular online board game “100% Orange Juice”.
Masagomi Studio
Developer of original Japanese version (Twitter, Homepage)
Masagomi Studio is a three-person indie game development team whose motto is to "Make what we love, how we love it".
Masagomi Studio's style is to freely create what they "want to make now" without being bound by genre. They prioritize excitement over schedules, and are progressing with development at a relaxed yet steady pace.
All three members love cats and dogs, and that influence is subtly evident throughout the game.
There may be a cat in the corner of the background, or animal motifs appearing in places that don't seem to have any particular purpose, and before they know it, they'd be focusing way too much on adding them even in places that aren't related to the gameplay at all. This sense of playfulness and commitment to what they love is what makes Masagomi Studio unique.
SOURCE: Fruitbat Factory