French comics meet cozy RPG charm in this heartfelt new release from Ankama and Blue Banshee.
If you’ve ever wished your favorite comic book could spring to life as a playable, time-traveling adventure — Maliki: Poison of the Past might be exactly what you’re looking for. Launched today on Nintendo Switch and PC (via Steam and the Ankama Launcher), this vibrant RPG is inspired by the long-running Maliki graphic novels, and it’s tailored for both long-time fans and total newcomers.
From Webcomic Roots to Gamepad Realms
The Maliki universe began as a webcomic in 2004 and has since sold over 300,000 copies across eight volumes. Now, two decades later, creator Souillon and his studio Blue Banshee are inviting players into a standalone, narrative-driven experience packed with emotional beats, charming characters, and a unique blend of comic art and 3D animation.
“Our goal was to create a gateway into the Maliki universe that anyone could enjoy — no prior knowledge needed,” Souillon explains. “It’s a fresh beginning, filled with emotional depth, quirky charm, and comic-style expressiveness brought to life in 3D.”
Time Twists, Talking Cats, and a Living World
At its core, Poison of the Past is a cozy RPG that’s as much about found family and nature as it is about puzzles and turn-based combat. The story follows Maliki and her eclectic crew as they battle an invasive magical entity called Poison, which spreads through time itself.
Key features include:
- Temporal Combat Mechanics – Bend time during battles to combo with allies, rewind enemy actions, or set up slick future attacks.
- The Domain – A peaceful, upgradeable hub where players can garden, cook, craft, and care for the world’s mystical life-giving tree.
- Chibi-Inspired Visuals – A colorful, expressive art style fusing French comics with Japanese chibi aesthetics.
- Emotionally Rich Storytelling – Themes of ecology, memory, and resilience ground this magical journey in something deeply human.
And yes — you can pet the cats.
A Soundtrack That Hits Home
The game’s score blends the emotional power of French rock band Starrysky with an exclusive composition by legendary Japanese composer Motoi Sakuraba (Tales of, Dark Souls, Golden Sun). It’s a sonic mix that underscores the game’s shifts between intimate moments and time-warped battles.
“Composing for this world was an honor,” says Sakuraba. “If my music can support the story and stir the players’ hearts, then I’m deeply satisfied.”
Available Now
Maliki: Poison of the Past is out now for $29.99 USD on PC via Steam, Ankama Launcher and Nintendo Switch. Below is an overview via Steam and trailer. Here you can find my preview about the game.
About This Game
In the near future, humanity is teetering on the edge of extinction, subjugated by the fearsome Poison, a plant monster that alters the space-time continuum. Led by the enigmatic Maliki, a handful of temporal survivors have joined forces and are coordinating their efforts from the Domaine, a haven outside of time that is so far safe from the threat.
Play as Sand as you travel through the ages to repair the continuum. Use your Chrono Pack to manipulate time, fight the monsters that have infested past worlds alongside Becky, Fang and Fenimale, a wacky and slightly magical band of characters.
Wage strategic battles altering time to trigger devastating joint attacks with your teammates. MALIKI: POISON OF THE PAST is a fantastical odyssey with great depth, offering a surprising mix of roleplaying, exploration, temporal riddles to solve, and turn-based combat.
Rest and prepare in the Domaine, take care of the Thousand-Root Tree that protects it from the monster, harvest, cook, improve your equipment and send your hero into the bisections of time with every more powerful and wacky accessories.
In Maliki: Poison of the Past, you’ll find a universe full of magic, a family of endearing characters, and a story full of nuance and emotion, all of which carried by a sharp wit and satisfyingly original anime visuals. Bring harmony back in this unforgettable ecological fable!
In a world where defeated humanity clashes with invasive, vengeful natural forces, a small group of colorful adventures struggle to right the world’s balance and save their home. But who is Poison? What is Maliki hiding? And can we pet the cats?
Use an original mechanic in turn-based combat: time manipulation! Alter the course of time to create powerful combos with allies, send your opponents into the past, and link your attacks by sliding them toward the future!
Between sessions exploring time, the Domaine is the perfect place to recharge. Develop your peaceful haven: plant, harvest, cook, craft, and take care of the Thousand-Root Tree holding back time!
Thanks to the combined talents of graphic novel greats and experienced video game creators, MALIKI: POISON OF THE PAST offers dynamic graphics with a tang that embody a marriage between French visual culture and Japanese chibi.
The graphic novel series Maliki is a touchstone for many readers. It’s making its first incursion into the world of video games and opening a door to easily enter its delightful universe.
