A surprise announcement from Bandai Namco reveals the publisher will be releasing a new game called Slashy Souls for the iOS and Android platforms today.

Bandai Namco is also the publisher behind Dark Souls 3, and has teamed up with GameStop to release the new mobile title Slashy Souls, which will draw inspiration from From Software's series of incredibly challenging action RPGs. Bandai Namco was quick to point out, however, that Slashy Souls is only inspired by Dark Souls, and is not an entry into the series, nor was the game developed by From Software. The similarities begin and end with the medieval gothic aesthetics and the same focus on challenging, Dark Souls-esque gameplay.

Slashy Souls reimagines the traditional Dark Souls gameplay experience as an endless runner mobile game, embracing nostalgia-inducing 16-bit graphics rather than attempting to create a fully 3D experience. While the gameplay looks closer to games like Temple Run and Robot Unicorn Attack than a full-fledged Dark Souls game, Slashy Souls will feature a number of spells, weapons, and bosses that will be familiar to fans of the From Software's punishing series of RPGs.

Those looking to play the game will be pleased to hear that Bandai Namco has commited to making the game free-to-play and that Slashy Souls is available now in the respective app stores of its platforms. Some might even consider the fact that Slashy Souls is a game far removed from the actual Dark Souls universe a good thing, as From Software's story-telling has become widely regarded as one of the most convoluted narratives in modern gaming. Bandai Namco is even offering fans $10,000 to explain the Dark Souls story, a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment of the series' narrative shortcomings.

While the announcement of Slashy Souls certainly came as a surprise, the fact that Bandai Namco is making news headlines again is not. Bandai Namco also released the prologue trailer for God Eater Resurrection, an upcoming JRPG title that is set to hit North America and Europe this summer. It's been a busy weekend for the publisher, and given that most of Bandai Namco's recent news has been dedicated to Dark Souls 3 updates, it's also been a welcome change of pace for everyone involved.

While it remains to be seen just how close Slashy Souls gets to capturing the charm and difficulty of its inspiration, Bandai Namco believes it has a mobile winner on its hands. The game is being marketed with the tagline "Why Wait? Die Today!", while its in-store app bio describes it as "the hardest game ever". We're sure the community might have some qualms with that bold a claim, but hopefully Slashy Souls makes for an entertaining and challenging addition to public transit commutes and boring boardroom meetings everywhere.

Do you think it's possible to make a mobile game as challenging and fun as Dark Souls? Are you going to download Slashy Souls? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Polygon (via Game Informer)