Survival Kids Preview: Cook, Craft, and Cooperate

Konami are poised to release one of the first co-op games available for the Nintendo Switch 2 with Survival Kids, a reimagining of the 1999 title for the Game Boy Color. This new release is vastly different from the original, and marks the first time Konami and Unity have worked together to design and develop a game. Dubbed a “social co-op puzzle adventure game” by the devs, Survival Kids allows for up to 4-player co-op and supports new Switch 2 features GameChat and GameShare. 

We didn’t get to test out the Switch 2’s co-op features during our Survival Kids hands-on, and instead experienced a more classic approach; sat side-by-side, at individual stations, LAN party-style. We were given three levels to play through; two levels to test out our team working skills and identify the weak link, thereby forcibly assigning them the role of “camp cook” so they can’t mess up the puzzles, and one level to explore solo. It’s worth mentioning that all levels can be completed on your own, but the game is designed to be better enjoyed with friends.

Players will find themselves washed up on a series of islands (levels). The goal is to work together through the level, solving puzzles as you go, to find and rebuild a raft to move onto the next island. Each player starts off with basic tools, such as an axe and pickaxe, which can be used to chop wood and collect rocks. Players will then carry and place these collected resources to solve puzzles, craft additional items, and build a base camp at designated locations. Whether it be mining rock, or carrying a log, tasks are completed faster in a few ways: players can work together to complete a task, such as by hitting the same rock, or having one player carry each end of the log. Alternatively, increasing Stamina also makes completing tasks more efficient. Stamina can be temporarily increased by cooking and consuming food, allowing players to climb for longer, lift heavier objects, or chop wood faster (making the “camp cook” role extra important). 

Cooking is all done at base camp, which is a moveable base for all players. In each level, players will come across a set location where a base camp can be built with a handful of resources. Here, players can cook food by bringing nearby flora over to a cooking pot and throwing it in. New tools can also be constructed at base camp, such as a fan or fishing rod, should the blueprints be found in the level. Building and crafting is simplified; players only need to bring their resources over to a crafting box and the game will take care of the construction. Additionally, any tool will only need to be built once and it will become available for all players, and nothing degrades over time or with use. 

While the original Survival Kids, and later Lost in Blue entries, focused more on the ‘survival,’ in this Switch 2 reboot it’s in name only. Survival Kids is a puzzle game rather than a survival game, designed to be playable in short bursts with friends. The game feels very much on rails, though there’s room for creativity in how puzzles are solved. They may encourage players to use the environment to their advantage, combine tools or to use physics. 

After testing out the co-op levels with my fellow journalists, of which I will equate it to group work in a high school assignment and finding out that you are what’s keeping everyone’s grades afloat, it was time to go it alone. Each level can be completed solo, ensuring the friendless and the ever-busy can play Survival Kids at their own pace. Despite this and my love of solitude, I found that game was certainly more enjoyable as part of a team. The natural absurdity and sabotage that comes with co-op play shines through. Without it, the puzzles and resource gathering begins to feel more chore-like, though the time it takes to chop wood or carry logs is significantly reduced.

For some, the simple mechanics of Survival Kids will hit just the right spot as a charming, laidback puzzle game. A ‘point A to point B’ goal, with some added treasure hunting to lead you off the path without any real stakes. For those that gravitate towards more survival adventures, the lack of agency might feel a bit stunting. A group of friends, stranded on a series of mystical islands — the concept begs for a creative adventure. But, this is a puzzle game, and one that aims to remove as many barriers as possible to ensure that anyone can pick it up and play. 

Survival Kids launches on June 5, 2025 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.