BeXide, the Japanese studio behind the cult-favorite Fruit Mountain puzzle series, has just announced its biggest project yet. Namco Legendary Mountains is a 3D voxel puzzle game built in cooperation with Bandai Namco, bringing the world of legendary arcade games — five 80s legends including Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Mappy, Xevious, and The Tower of Druaga — into a brand-new physics-based stacking experience. The game launches summer 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
Here's the complete breakdown of platforms, gameplay, the featured arcade lineup, and where to get hands-on with the demo before launch.
Namco Legendary Mountains is the latest entry in BeXide's growing "Mountain" puzzle series — a family of casual stacking games that began with Fruit Mountain and continued through hololive Treasure Mountain and Fruit Mountain Party. Where those earlier titles used fruit and original characters, Namco Legendary Mountains opens the door to one of gaming's most beloved arcade catalogs.
This is classic pixel art meets 3D: Namco's iconic characters are reborn as unique voxels in the classic Namco arcades, ready to be stacked and merged across what BeXide is calling an "ultimate crossover universe" of 80s arcade legends. The premise is simple: players toss voxel capsules into a play field, and when two of the same type collide, they merge into a larger one. Keep stacking, keep merging, and chase the ultimate high score before your stack tips over. Think of it as Namco's answer to the Suika Game phenomenon — but with retro arcade legends rendered in 3D.
Namco Legendary Mountains is scheduled to launch summer 2026. BeXide has not yet locked in a specific date, but with a playable demo confirmed for late May, expect a full release between July and September.
The game will be available on:
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch
PC via Steam
This is one of the few major puzzle launches confirmed for both Switch generations, taking advantage of Nintendo's smooth cross-generation strategy with the Switch 2. No PlayStation or Xbox versions have been announced, though BeXide's previous Fruit Mountain did eventually expand to PS5 and PS4 — so additional platforms aren't out of the question down the line.
Pricing hasn't been finalized, but based on BeXide's previous puzzle releases, expect a launch price between $8.99 and $14.99 USD.
The gameplay loop of Namco Legendary Mountains is built around three simple actions: toss, stack, and merge. Players launch voxel capsules — each one representing one of Namco's iconic characters — into the play field. When two voxels of the same character meet, they merge into a single, larger one. The goal is to chain merges into ever-bigger voxels while keeping the entire stack from falling off the playing field, all while chasing the ultimate high score.
The controls are deliberately accessible. Anyone who's played a Suika-style merge puzzle will pick it up in seconds, but the physics-based stacking adds a layer of skill that rewards careful planning and precise timing. The thrill comes from balancing risk versus reward — going for that one more merge that could push your high score to the next level, or playing it safe to lock in a respectable score attack run.
What separates Namco Legendary Mountains from BeXide's earlier puzzlers is the variety of themed environments. Alongside a main stage that blends elements from multiple classic titles, the game features dedicated stages tied to each iconic arcade — complete with original sound effects, iconic music, and visual themes pulled straight from the source material. For longtime fans, these stages are designed to spark favorite memories of the original arcade experience.
Beyond the core stacking puzzle, BeXide has packed a number of supporting modes into Namco Legendary Mountains that extend the replay value:
Arcade High Score Board — Compete against the global community through online rankings. Climb the leaderboards across each dedicated stage and chase the top spot among voxel-stacking puzzle fans worldwide.
Collection Room — A dedicated space to view and revisit every one of Namco's iconic characters you've unlocked as voxels, organized by source arcade.
Various Challenges — Time-limited and mechanic-specific puzzle modes that push you outside the standard score attack loop.
Fully Customized Experience — Build your own favorite lineup of characters and stages to create a custom playthrough that suits your preferred Namco arcades.
Dedicated Stages and Sounds — Each featured title brings its own visual identity and audio cues, deepening the nostalgia for longtime arcade fans.
The combination of online rankings, collection mechanics, and remix-style customization is a significant evolution from BeXide's earlier Mountain entries.
Five legendary Namco arcades anchor the cast of Namco Legendary Mountains:
The most iconic video game character of all time joins the lineup. Expect Pac-Man, the ghosts (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde), power pellets, and fruit items all rendered as stackable voxels.
The titular hero, Pookas, Fygars, and the rocky terrain of Namco's classic digging arcade. Dig Dug's pump weapon and the inflating-enemy mechanic are perfectly suited to voxel form.
The acrobatic mouse police officer chasing cats across trampolines. Mappy is a less obvious choice than Pac-Man but a beloved cult classic that still holds up.
The vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up that defined Japanese arcade design. Solvalou, the Andor Genesis, and a full bestiary of alien enemies all return in cubic form.
The pioneering action-RPG dungeon crawler. Gilgamesh, the hero of Druaga's tower, joins the cast alongside the title's iconic enemy roster.
For attendees of BitSummit PUNCH 2026, BeXide will have a playable demo of Namco Legendary Mountains on the show floor. The Japanese indie festival runs May 22-24, 2026 at Miyako Messe in Kyoto, Japan. This will likely be the only public hands-on opportunity before the summer launch, so if you're in the area, it's worth swinging by.
A wider digital demo on Steam or the Nintendo eShop hasn't been confirmed, but BeXide has typically released demos for previous Mountain entries closer to launch — so a digital preview window is plausible later this summer.
Yes, an official announce trailer for Namco Legendary Mountains is available on YouTube. BeXide published both an English-language announce trailer and a Japanese "official PV" shortly after the game's May 2026 reveal. You can also watch embedded gameplay footage on the official Steam store page.
Here's where to find the official trailers and gameplay videos:
English-language announce trailer — Posted on YouTube alongside the announcement, this is the most accessible version for international audiences and runs roughly 60 seconds.
Japanese official PV (公式PV) — A separate trailer cut with Japanese marketing positioning, also on YouTube. Some shots and music cues differ slightly from the English version.
Steam store page — The Namco Legendary Mountains Steam listing includes embedded gameplay footage and additional screenshots beyond what appears in the trailer.
BitSummit PUNCH 2026 — For the most extensive look, the BeXide booth at BitSummit (May 22-24, Kyoto) will be running extended demo footage on loop alongside the playable build.
The current trailer footage primarily highlights the voxel-based merge mechanic, briefly showcases all five featured arcade properties (Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Mappy, Xevious, and The Tower of Druaga), and gives a first listen to the dedicated stages' iconic music cues drawn from the original arcades. A more detailed gameplay trailer is expected closer to the summer 2026 launch.
As of the May 2026 announcement, no formal reviews or early impressions of Namco Legendary Mountains have been published yet, since the game doesn't launch until summer 2026. The first hands-on coverage is expected from BitSummit PUNCH attendees in late May 2026, where BeXide is showing the playable demo.
After the demo wraps at BitSummit, expect first-impression coverage from Japanese gaming outlets like Famitsu and 4Gamer, along with English-language sites including Nintendo Everything, Gematsu, and Nintendo Life. Full review coverage will likely arrive closer to the summer 2026 launch window.
For context on what kind of reception to expect, BeXide's previous Mountain entries have been well received in the casual puzzle space — Fruit Mountain holds a "Mostly Positive" rating on Steam, and hololive Treasure Mountain built a strong following among VTuber fans. The Bandai Namco licensing deal should significantly expand the audience for this entry, but early impressions from BitSummit will be the first real test of whether the formula translates to nostalgic arcade IP.
For arcade enthusiasts, Namco Legendary Mountains is a love letter to the golden age of 1980s arcade design. Five of Namco's iconic characters, including namco’s iconic characters from their most influential titles, are being reintroduced to a new generation of players through a charming, accessible puzzle format that emphasizes nostalgia without alienating newcomers.
For BeXide, this is a meaningful step up. The studio has built a steady niche following with its Mountain series, but a Bandai Namco licensing deal puts the studio's work in front of a significantly wider audience than its previous hololive collaboration reached.
For Switch 2 owners, this is one of the most charming indie puzzlers confirmed for the new console — and with global rankings driving long-term competition, the replay value should keep players coming back well past launch week.
Mark your calendars for summer 2026. Pac-Man, Mappy, Dig Dug, Xevious, and Gilgamesh are about to stack up.
Alice Robbins · Editor
Editor
