The 2007 cult classic dual-screen horror game, Dementium: The Ward, has been announced for Nintendo Switch and is set to release next month just in time for the spookiest season of the year. An announcement trailer was posted online, revealing the retro-horror style graphics and 60fps gameplay improvements made to the DS game.
The game is currently listed on the Switch eShop at a price of $19.99 USD but is not yet available to purchase. It will be released on October 12, but until then fans can stare lovingly at the nostalgic graphics and get excited to play the game on a big screen for the first time.
What is Dementium: The Ward?
For those not in the know, Dementium: The Ward is a horror game originally developed by Renegade Kid and released for the Nintendo DS in 2007. At first, it was set to simply be titled The Ward, and at one point in development, it was even pitched to Konami to see if they could repurpose it as a Silent Hill game for the DS in light of funding challenges.
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Konami declined the pitch, but eventually, it took form and sparked the Dementium franchise, with the first game being published by GameCock, being one of the publisher’s first games. GameCock was eventually bought out by SouthPeak, who published Dementium II in 2009. Founders from GameCock went on to form Devolver Digital.
Dementium II saw a poorly received PC port in 2013, handled by a third-party company without involvement from Renegade Kid. In 2014 the studio regained the rights to the game and in 2015, the first game was remastered for the Nintendo 3DS.
There had been plans for a 3DS remaster of the sequel and a potential third game as well until 2016 Renegade Split off into two companies, Atooi and Infinitizmo, run by Renegade Kid cofounders Jools Watsham and Gregg Hargrove respectively. Atooi held rights to the former studio’s 2D works, such as Mutant Mudds and Xeodrifter, whilst Infinitizmo held the rights to 3D works such as Dementium and Moon.
Unfortunately, Hargrove passed away after a fight with pancreatic cancer in 2018. Ultimately this left Infinitizmo in a limbo state for some time. Earlier this year, Watsham announced that Atooi now held the franchise rights to Dementium.
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In addition to this, Atooi also announced the release date of the long-awaited Hatch Tales, set to launch in March of next year in commemoration of the six-year anniversary of its Kickstarter campaign. The game has been greatly revamped and expanded compared to its original 3DS release, Chicken Wiggle.
Are you excited for the Switch port of Dementium: The Ward? Did you play the original game on the DS, or would this be your first time trying it out? Let us know in the comments and on our social media feeds!
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