As a prequel to the mainline series, the story sees Cereza venturing into Avalon Forest to search for her mother. She encounters Cheshire, the titular lost demon, and the two team up. Both characters are controlled simultaneously, with Cheshire attacking in combat and Cereza using spells to slow enemies.

In true Bayonetta fashion, optional challenges for combat and platforming are available, awarding stat upgrades and opening up new areas. Head here for more details on the exploration and different upgrades each character can use. A free demo is available for Nintendo Switch, with progress transferring to the full game. PlatinumGames hasn’t discussed what’s next, but Hideki Kamiya wants to keep making more Bayonetta games.

As Cereza in her pre-Bayonetta days, you encounter Cheshire, and the two join forces to find the former’s mother. You can control Cereza and Cheshire simultaneously with each Joycon or use Hug Mode to have Cereza carry the latter as a stuffed toy. Cereza’s magic can transform flora into bridges, while Cheshire’s claws destroy obstacles.

Cheshire gains elemental powers, like Water and Fire, that are swappable at any time. These can unlock more areas to explore. Cereza can’t fight but she can bind enemies, while Cheshire’s elemental damage exposes their weaknesses. When Cheshire runs out of magic power, Cereza must use Hug Mode to help him recover.

Items gathered can be used to create potions to restore health, among other functions. Additional skills can also be unlocked, including Charge Strike, where Cheshire uses a powerful pouncing attack that hits multiple foes. Throughout the forest, players will discover illusions called Tir na nOg, which lead to other dimensions with tough platforming and combat challenges. Conquering them opens more areas and provides upgrades for stats like Vitality.

Of course, if the game is too difficult, you can adjust settings like enemy strength, damage received and more. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon also has a free demo on the eshop, with progress transferring to the full game. Head here for more details.

The prequel sees Cereza entering Avalon Forest to save her mother. She encounters a lost demon, Cheshire, and the two team up. Both characters are playable simultaneously, with Cheshire directly attacking enemies and Cereza using her magic to bind them.

They eventually gain new abilities, which increase their combat options, but the game is as much about puzzle-solving and exploration. How this ties into the mainline series, especially as Cereza grows up to become Bayonetta, remains to be seen. The fairy tale aesthetic and narration should make for an interesting change of pace.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is out worldwide on March 17th for Nintendo Switch, so stay tuned for more details and updates in the coming days.

Start your Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon story…today!

Download the free demo to play the first two chapters and carry your progress to the full game: https://t.co/RzkGGEeI4I pic.twitter.com/3NrOQJoSRy

— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) March 8, 2023

Both Cereza and Cheshire are playable at the same time, though their combat functions are different. The former can’t attack enemies directly but uses magic to bind them. The latter is the main attacker, and you’ll need to think carefully to emerge victorious.

As the duo explores the forest, they’ll gain more strength as additional paths open. New abilities also become available, though there’s a big emphasis on puzzle-solving along with combat. The plot is similar to a storybook with narrated story scenes and painted visuals. It’s a somewhat dark tale but presents a nice spin on the traditional Bayonetta story. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

Focusing on talking about what makes Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon a true Bayonetta game rather than just a spinoff, Kamiya talks about how it will be a great jumping off point for the franchise owing to it being a prequel.

Kamiya also talks about how the upcoming game is being designed to be a more gentle introduction to the franchise for players who may not be comfortable with the heavy action from the previous games.

“We created Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon with the hope that fans of the series to date will enjoy this unique take on their favorite badass heroine, and also endeavor to deliver an unforgettable experience to players who may not be comfortable with action games… or even players who are unfamiliar with the Bayonetta series in the first place,” says Kamiya.

In the post, Kamiya has also revealed that Cereza won’t be the only playable character in Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. Named Cheshire, the second playable character is a demon who wandered into the human world.

Players will be able to combine the abilities of Cheshire with the magical powers of Cereza to take on challenges, and Kamiya has described the control scheme for both characters as “truly a one-of-a-kind experience”.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon was announced during The Game Awards, and is coming to Nintendo Switch on March 17.

The game seems to offer a unique twist on the style of gameplay that PlatinumGames is known for. While it still seems to feature combat, the game also seems to focus quite a bit on exploration and puzzle solving.

As its name might imply, players are put in the role of a young Bayonetta—the titular Cereza—as she explores a whimsical fairy tale world.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is set to release exclusively on Nintendo Switch on March 17.

The last major game in the franchise, Bayonetta 3, was released on the Nintendo Switch in October. The game features new playable characters alongside Bayonetta herself, along with new gameplay systems and new enemies to fight.

For more details, check out our review of Bayonetta 3.