We previously reported that Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden would be the next indie game to be brought over to the Nintendo Switch by the prolific indie publisher Flynn’s Arcade, following its release on Steam earlier this year, back in May.

Since then, we’ve managed ti get our green-fingered hands on Nintendo Switch version  of Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden, and here’s what we think of it…

Flynn’s Arcade seem to have an uncanny knack of picking great single-screen platformers to release on Nintendo Switch, as you may have gathered from our previous reviews of Super Spy Raccoon and Freddy Farmer, and we’re pleased to report that Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden is continues to grow the trend!

Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden differs slightly from most other single-screen platformers in a few ways, the first being that the story plays an integral part of the game, rather that feeling tacked on. The game tells the story of  of a vampire gardener’s children, the titular Flora & Fang, being left to look after his garden, and it’s very charmingly told by  cartoonish still images and text, which feels like a very 16-bit era storytelling devivce that contrasts with the solidly 1980s gameplay of the game.

Ah, yes, the gameplay. The gameplay of Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden owes a heavy debt to the Taito classic Bubble Bobble, but rather than trapping your enemies in a bubble, you trap them by spraying them with insecticide, and once they’re completely surrounded by a solid layer of insecticide, you can “pop” them to dispose of them.  But make sure you’ve given them two sprays, as one won’t cut it, as they’ll still be able to attack you if you try to pop them before they’re completely engulfed in insecticide! So some patience is required.

The game’s primary baddies are the  insects who are trying to steal the garden’s pumpkins, which you must protect, and once disposing of these insects, thy burst pleasingly into a shower of coins, which can also be stolen by the insect invaders, and which can be collected for more than just points, as they can be used to upgrade your weapons, adding an extra layer of depth to the game.

And the baddies come in different varieties, this being a vampire garden, you have more than just insects to contend with, as ghosts will also attack, but luckily, they’re also susceptible to pesticide. All of the game’s characters have been charmingly designed in an appealing cartoon horror style, from the titular protagonists to the invading insects, to the haunting ghosts.

But Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden doesn’t just look good, it also plays well, with intuitive controls ad challenging levels that keep you playing, whether it’s to improve your grade on completing a level or to progress through to the next level. The grading system adds extra longevity to the game, as you’ll feel motivated to keep playing as you try to reach that desirable S grade on each level. On the subject of levels, Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden may be a single-screen platformer, but there’s plenty of variation in level designs on each level to stop the game getting  repetitive. Also of note is the game’s two player co-op mode, as much like its inspiration, Bubble Bobble, Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden is the perfect game for two-player co-op.

Overall, with Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden, Flynn’s Arcade has grown yet another 80s-style arcade single screen platformer that not only looks and sounds great, but also plays great. And with its unique level design, upgradable weapons and atmospheric graphics and sound, Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden is likely to become a perennial favorite of all who play it. In a weird way, Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden reminds me of the sort of budget game you’d buy for an 8-bit home computer that you’d end up spending more time with than your full-price games, just vbecause it’s so enjoyable to play and so addictive!

Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden highlights one of the best things about modern retro-style games, in that it combines strictly retro gameplay with more modern elements, such as storytelling and upgradable weapons that can be purchased using in-game currency.

 If single screen platformers are your bag, then Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden is well worth plucking from the Nintendo eshop when it’s release on July 10th, 2025,  as long as you don’t get sprayed with insecticide while trying to do so!