Bunraku brings ninja theater brawls to Steam, Switch 2 and PS5

Efecto Studios has revealed Bunraku, a platform brawler inspired by Japanese puppet theater. The game is in development for Steam, Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5, and a free Steam playtest is available until June 14.

Bunraku supports up to eight players in local matches or online play through peer-to-peer connection. The core combat loop is built around slashing dash moves, precision parries and ninjutsu abilities, so each round pushes players to move quickly instead of simply trading hits in one place.

The arenas look like staged theater sets, with platforms, ropes, paper lanterns and a visible audience beneath the action. The crowd reacts to impacts, which fits the puppet-theater theme and gives the fights a more performative rhythm.

The studio describes the project as a frantic brawler where players try to become the ultimate battle puppeteer. Efecto Studios is an independent team from Bogotá, Colombia, and Bunraku is one of the studio’s new multiplayer projects for PC and consoles.