" Tokyo Game Show 2026 (hereinafter TGS2026)" was held from Thursday, September 17, 2026, to Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Although it unfortunately did not become the first-ever five-day event in the show’s history, there’s no denying that it was four days of tremendous excitement.
In this article, we’ll bring you a report on the “GungHo Online Entertainment (hereinafter referred to as GungHo)” booth—one of the exhibits that helped fuel the excitement at TGS!
What We Learned from the “Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet” Hands-On: How Serious They Are About a New Direction
I visited the GungHo booth again this year, just as I did last year.
At TGS 2026...
- Ninjala 2: The Unknown Planet
- B.L.U.E. NOVA
- Group Chat Party
...these three titles were featured!
" B.L.U.E. NOVA," a co-op bullet hell shooter for Steam, is holding a campaign where you can get original label cans and stickers by adding the game to your wishlist or following on social media!
And the title that took up the largest area of all was the Nintendo Switch 2 game " Ninjala 2: The Unknown Planet "
Over 40 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles were lined up in a row, and many attendees were playing this unreleased title.
...So I gave it a try myself!
In the version prepared for the TGS 2026 demo, you can choose between the “Planet Exploration Course” and the “Photo Shoot Course,” but this time, I was given the special opportunity to play both to my heart’s content.
It retains the same exhilarating feel while overcoming the mobility challenges typical of open-world games
"Ninjala" is a free-to-play online competitive action game released in June 2020.
Combined with the demand driven by people staying home , it surpassed 12 million cumulative downloads worldwide, growing into one of GungHo’s flagship IPs despite being a completely new title.
“Ninjala 2: The Unknown Planet” is the long-awaited sequel, but the key point is that it has shifted its focus to an “open-world action game.”
It carries over both the series numbering and the game’s world, but will it live up to expectations…?
After finishing the tutorial, I arrived at the “Gu-Arm Mine.”
Right away, I was greeted by a vast field that hardly feels like something you’d expect from *Ninjala*.
Ninjala’s appeal lies in its catchy design and exhilarating action.
On the other hand, the fast-paced combat can make the controls feel overwhelming, and some casual players have commented that it’s “difficult.”
However, since this title is primarily PvE, only easy enemies appear at first.
Take your time to get used to the controls.
Defeating enemies rewards you with materials, experience points, and Zeny.
You can also discover cooking recipes from treasure chests scattered throughout the field.
The design is so eye-catching that it’s easy to overlook, but it seems the game is packed with all the elements you’d expect from an open-world game.
Personally, one thing that bothers me about open-world games is the stress of getting around.
While vast fields go a long way toward building the game’s world, it’s also common to get “bored” along the way.
In *Ninjala 2: The Unknown Planet*, “Ninja Gum Action”—such as moving at high speeds across gum or gliding on it—is fully integrated into the movement mechanics.
Furthermore, the skateboard—which was a gum weapon in the previous game, *Ninjala*—can now be freely deployed and retracted in this installment.
It’s highly maneuverable and can reach impressive speeds, so be sure to make full use of it as your primary means of transportation.
Cute.
Action that feels even more exhilarating with Just-G!
Combat is *Ninjala*’s specialty.
The cool-and-cute “Ninja Gum Action” has been further enhanced.
What I particularly liked was the “Just Guard.”
If you Just Guard a ranged attack, you can deflect it, setting up a counterattack.
Although I played solo this time, there are special moves that let you summon allies, making it feel just like you’re playing in multiplayer.
The scene where a giant robot is summoned in the released trailer has already become a hot topic.
Perfect for Screenshots! Camera Mode
In the “Photo Mode,” I was able to freely explore WNA Academy and take photos with the characters.
Combine filters like “Sepia” and “Vivid” with lenses, frames, and stickers to take photos!
The photos you take are saved on your Nintendo Switch 2.
Click!
Click!
Click!
I had so much fun taking photos with all the different characters that I completely lost track of time.
Even on the “Planet Exploration Course” I mentioned earlier, lots of enemy characters appeared—it would be fun to try taking a selfie challenge with the boss, too...!
Once I cleared either course, I was able to take on the Gumga Challenge, where I had a chance to win prizes like a Nintendo Switch 2, an original T-shirt, and stick balloons.
Ninjala has taken a major shift away from online multiplayer.
It seemed like quite a challenging endeavor—an open-world action game—but for those playing this title for the first time, it felt so natural that you might even think, “Isn’t this what Ninjala is all about?”
While the finer details of the game system will likely be revealed in the future, this looks like a sequel we can really look forward to.
"Ninjala 2: The Unknown Planet" is scheduled for release in spring 2027.
For more details, please check the official "Ninjala 2: The Unknown Planet" website or the official Ninjala series X account ( @Ninjala_JP ).
| Title Overview | |
|---|---|
| Title | Ninjala 2: The Unknown Planet |
| Genre | Ninja Gum Action |
| Supported Platforms | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Release Date | Scheduled for release in Spring 2027 |
| Developer and Publisher | GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc. |
| Number of Players | 1 player (1–4 players in online or local co-op) |
| Price | TBD |
| Supported Languages | Japanese, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Chinese (Traditional/Simplified), Korean |
| Rating | To be determined |