Former Gothic and Elex Developers Announce Rootbound, a Physics-Based Action Game with a Sentient Backpack

German studio Brainlag Games, founded by former Piranha Bytes (Gothic, Risen, Elex), presented its first game – a physics-based adventure action game Rootbound. The announcement was accompanied by a gameplay trailer.

Image source: Brainlag Games

Rootbound takes place on a handcrafted fantasy island called Akara, which is suffering from a mysterious plague. Players take on the role of a bipedal sprout to save their homeland and uncover the secrets of a forgotten civilization.

Users will find themselves in a ruined world where they will meet lost souls, fight dangerous monsters, and solve ancient riddles to unlock powerful weapons and worthwhile upgrades.

On the difficult path, the hero is accompanied by a faithful backpack – and not a simple one, but a smart one (albeit silent). It will not only collect items, but also throw them to the owner as needed (when in the mood).

During the journey, it will be necessary to make stops and light a fire to rest and prepare for the next foray. Users will also have to avoid the local rain, which is rumored to be the cause of all the troubles.

Rootbound’s gameplay trailer showcases pixel art, interactions with the environment that can backfire if you’re not careful, and nights spent hanging out by a campfire with a backpack.

Rootbound is expected to be released in 2026 on PC (Steam). So far, only English and German language support has been confirmed for the game, but the developers will try to implement as many popular localizations as possible.