From Press Release:
LOS ANGELES, February 10, 2026 — Prepare to step into the cowboy boots of a game developer at the end of his rope. Legendary publisher Acclaim and the masters of Metroidvanias at Swedish indie studio Elden Pixels are thrilled to announce that The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest is now available digitally on the Nintendo Switch and Steam.
The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest is the latest offering from the team behind Alwa’s Awakening, Alwa’s Legacy, and A Void Hope, and invites players to step into the fractured mind of Fletcher Howie Jr., a developer on the brink of a mental breakdown at the final stages of a massive project. During a post-crunch therapy session, Fletcher becomes trapped in his subconscious and is forced to confront his fears and anxieties in a comedic Metroidvania adventure.
“We put very little thought into marketing viability and a lot of thought into making ourselves laugh,” said Mikael Forslind, co-founder and CEO of Elden Pixels. “Releasing a game is always an anxiety rollercoaster, but this is our fourth time around, so I’m mostly excited to see how people react. And, after all, a few local craft beers usually help smooth out the launch day nerves.”
To kick off The Prisoning’s release on Steam and Switch, Acclaim has unveiled a launch trailer teasing what players can expect from Fletcher’s surreal journey into the recesses of his strained psyche, which you can find below:
About The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest
After a visit to the psychologist that went horribly wrong you’re trapped in the mind of a game developer on the brink of physical and emotional burnout during the last stages of an intense project. Experience a metroidvania drenched in anxiety based on a very true story.
Help Fletcher Howie Jr. escape his mental prison and save the day!
Key Features
- Based on a true story and definitely inspired by real events
- Upgrades, weapons, bosses, enemies and all that jazz
- Contains story*
- これが読めれば日本語が読める。
(* This game is not recommended for anyone with a peanut allergy)
But hey, not down with anxiety? All of these above points can be completely skipped and you can plow your way through another tight roguelike metroidvania with killer mechanics (you can kill basically everything that moves), a banging chipmusic soundtrack built to maximize your nostalgia and more pixel art than you can stomach!
For more updates on the game, follow the devs on Twitter or Facebook!
About the Studio
Elden Pixels was founded in 2016 when a group of friends got together and started making the game Alwa’s Awakening. What started just like a small side project eventually turned into a real studio when the game became successful. Now the goal is to create fun, creative and cool games with a focus on gameplay.
About Acclaim
Originally founded in 1987, Acclaim established itself as a leading global developer, publisher, and mass marketer, bringing beloved franchises such as Mortal Kombat, Turok, and NBA Jam into homes worldwide. Today, Acclaim carries its legacy forward with an unwavering commitment to supporting talented indie developers and delivering high-quality, premium indie games to a global audience. Acclaim’s modern revival stands as a testament to the strength and enduring appeal of its iconic brand.
