Awesomenauts

"Awesomenauts" is a 2D MOBA where players control a variety of unique characters, called "Awesomenauts," with different abilities and playstyles. The game features both online and local multiplayer, as well as a single-player campaign. The objective is to destroy the enemy team's base, using a combination of strategy, teamwork, and last-hitting to gain advantages and come out victorious. Character Limit: 399

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 15,087 reviews

gameplay597 positive mentions

grinding61 negative mentions

gameplay
1,370 mentions
44 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Awesomenauts is characterized by its unique blend of 2D platforming and MOBA mechanics, offering fast-paced, strategic matches that are accessible to newcomers while still providing depth for veterans. Players appreciate the diverse cast of characters, each with distinct abilities, and the vibrant art style that enhances the overall experience. However, criticisms include issues with balance, matchmaking, and repetitive gameplay, which can detract from the enjoyment, especially for those seeking a more competitive environment.
- “The blend of platforming and MOBA mechanics works well, and the matches are fast-paced and exciting.”
- “The fast-paced gameplay, coupled with strategic depth, ensures that no two matches are the same.”
- “With its colorful cast of characters, accessible gameplay, and enjoyable team-based action, Awesomenauts stands out as a fun and engaging experience for both MOBA veterans and newcomers alike.”
- “Ronimo deserves their failure for being lazy and refusing to fix core gameplay problems.”
- “The gameplay itself is quite simple, and the characters are not difficult to master.”
- “The gameplay is lackluster and uninspired, and so is the shop.”
music
870 mentions
61 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in Awesomenauts is widely praised for its catchy and diverse soundtrack, with each character featuring their own unique theme song that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the integration of music into the game, such as character-specific tracks that play during kill streaks, adding a rewarding and immersive element. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal, reminiscent of 80s cartoons.
- “The music is fantastic, the atmospheric element of it is gripping and full of life, the personality it shows even in the tutorial hooks you in.”
- “Every character has their own theme song, and if you go on a killing spree, a remixed version of their theme song begins playing, making killing sprees very satisfying.”
- “The soundtrack is one of the best game soundtracks I've ever heard, the level design is inventive and exciting, and the graphics are consistently gorgeous.”
- “Music is also pretty terrible with annoying theme songs.”
- “The combat and interface is fine, yet music, character and announcer is no good.”
- “Quick comment: when you get on a kill streak you have your music play, they've actually made most of the original characters' music worse sadly.”
graphics
814 mentions
57 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of Awesomenauts are widely praised for their vibrant, cartoonish art style reminiscent of 1980s Saturday morning cartoons, which adds a charming and nostalgic feel to the game. Players appreciate the colorful visuals, smooth animations, and unique character designs, which contribute to an engaging and visually appealing experience. While some critiques mention the simplicity of the graphics, the overall consensus is that the aesthetic enhances the gameplay and makes it accessible to a broad audience.
- “Its vibrant, cartoonish graphics and a diverse roster of characters, each with unique abilities and playstyles, make every match an engaging and dynamic experience.”
- “The visuals are bright and colorful, and the animations are smooth, making the game a pleasure to look at and play.”
- “The graphics resemble 80s cartoons, making the game a visual treat for players of all ages.”
- “The game has a lot of flashing visuals and animation stuttering/rubber-banding from certain types of character attacks, especially blinding attacks and pushing/grabbing attacks, and it's a serious accessibility issue.”
- “The graphical menu alone is an embarrassment for this game.”
- “If they put half as much effort into tracking down bugs, fixing matchmaking or getting the game properly balanced, as they put into making new skins and improving visuals, this game could have been a huge hit on the scale of League of Legends.”
humor
370 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its quirky characters, funny voice lines, and a lighthearted, cartoonish aesthetic that evokes nostalgia for 90s cartoons. Many reviews note that the humor enhances the gameplay experience, making it enjoyable both solo and with friends, while some players appreciate the clever references and comedic elements woven throughout the game. Overall, the game's comedic charm is a significant draw, contributing to its appeal as a fun and engaging 2D MOBA.
- “The humor infused into every corner of your games was like a secret code, decipherable only to those who shared in the joy of playing them.”
- “Thank you for the laughter, the camaraderie, and the countless hilarious moments.”
- “You turned a regular MOBA into a hilarious space showdown.”
story
159 mentions
21 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally perceived as weak, with many players noting the lack of a substantial narrative or campaign mode. While individual characters have unique backstories and personalities that add some charm, the overall plot is often described as simplistic and lacking depth, leading to a desire for a more engaging storyline or single-player experience. Despite this, the game's humor and character design are appreciated, contributing to a fun multiplayer experience.
- “Each character is amazing with a funny backstory.”
- “The storyline is both gripping and enthralling.”
- “Awesomenauts is one of those games I overlooked in the game menu as those typical 2D games, but once I started playing it, the game was ingeniously good, with good character build and story, amazing theme songs and music for the game, and a killer 2D style that I've completely fallen in love with.”
- “The story is weak, almost non-existent.”
- “To be honest, a lot of the characters are just forced jokes, making it extremely hard to get into the universe and storyline.”
- “I was rather enthusiastic following the tutorial mission, but once it ended and I discovered the multiplayer-only aspect, my reaction was a puzzled, disbelieving 'wut?'”
replayability
79 mentions
56 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse roster of characters, unique maps, and engaging multiplayer dynamics, making it enjoyable to play with friends. While some players note matchmaking issues and a potential decline in solo play enjoyment, the constant updates and character progression keep the experience fresh and rewarding. Many reviews highlight the game's fun mechanics and community, contributing to its lasting appeal.
- “The game features a variety of maps, each with its own unique layout and obstacles, which adds to the variety and replayability of the game.”
- “This game has great replayability because it is multiplayer and there are so many characters to choose from!”
- “The customisable games add the most to the replayability with the choice of how you want to customise the game, as well as playing with friends, which furthers the game's replay value.”
- “The gameplay itself requires some work as the combat becomes stale and the replay value is rather low.”
- “But after playing several matches, it kind of lacks that feeling of replayability in the game.”
- “This game has many problems ranging from lack of maps that are playable on online multiplayer, lack of options to kick people from your game, long waits for the matches to start, late joins with the game basically over, and constant inconsistent tweaking in the available characters.”
character development
69 mentions
61 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its diverse and distinct character designs, each accompanied by unique backstories and catchy theme songs that enhance their personalities. Players appreciate the charming artwork and engaging voice acting, although some feel that certain DLC characters detract from the overall quality. Overall, the character designs are seen as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “The character designs have so much personality and charm, the music is spectacular, and I've never had a dull moment playing it.”
- “The artwork is fantastic, consistent and truly unique, along with the respective individual character design and theme song.”
- “The character designs are adorable and you get the distinct impression every detail of the game was lovingly crafted.”
- “A decade ago this was all I ever played as a kid, but they added some really terrible character designs in some of the DLC and yes, the community is mostly just a bunch of 12-year-olds yelling at each other.”
- “The character designs and gameplay are too bad; can't see how you can connect to this game.”
- “The voice acting clashes with the character designs and everything feels like it's moving through molasses.”
grinding
68 mentions
4 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly when unlocking characters and upgrades. While some appreciate the focus on combat over farming, others criticize the excessive grind required to progress, especially in comparison to other MOBAs. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but can become monotonous due to its grindy nature, particularly for those seeking to unlock all content without spending money.
- “Easy to level up, not too grindy.”
- “The focus in this game is fighting, not farming.”
- “It's very easy to get into; all the characters are unlocked within an hour or two of playing, and games are won based on skill, not grinding.”
- “A truly ruined game with terrible design decisions (poison is genuinely mind baffling, as are AoE abilities that stay in one place with nothing you can do to get through them) and awful, incredibly long, grindy unlocks.”
- “It takes insane amounts of grinding to unlock anything; they advertise it as a MOBA but you have better alternatives for free, like Dota 2, League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm, etc.”
- “The game is just too grindy for me at least.”
monetization
47 mentions
6 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the optional cosmetic microtransactions that do not impact gameplay, allowing for a non-pay-to-win experience. However, some users express frustration over the increasing prevalence of microtransactions and the perception of the game becoming a cash grab, particularly after transitioning to a free-to-play model. Overall, while the game offers a fair monetization approach compared to traditional MOBAs, concerns about balance and community engagement persist.
- “I would not play if I had to pay, so I'm glad they went with optional microtransactions for skins instead.”
- “All microtransactions are purely cosmetic; you can unlock every single character by just playing the game.”
- “What I also enjoy is that this game is perfectly not pay-to-win since all of the in-game purchases are skins for the Awesomenauts and buying the Awesomenauts, announcers, and drop pods.”
- “Sadly, Awesomenauts is just another so-called 'free to play' (or 'free to pay') cash grab rife with in-game transactions.”
- “It used to be good but the devs have now left it to work on other games; the only time it was ever good was when it had a paywall. I was happy buying skins, but now it feels like a massive cash grab buying both the Naut and the skins for the average price of a full game.”
- “The way the microtransactions are handled, you're underpowered by miles unless you've played for hours upon hours, or paid extra.”
optimization
44 mentions
23 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report stable performance and smooth gameplay on low-end systems, many others experience significant issues such as lag, unbalanced matchmaking, and server performance problems. The shop interface and player rating systems are criticized for being poorly designed, and various animations can lead to frustrating stuttering and accessibility concerns. Despite these drawbacks, some players still find enjoyment in the game, provided they manage their expectations regarding balance and performance.
- “Optimization is great, it can run on very low-end rigs.”
- “Also, Awesomenauts is an incredibly optimized game.”
- “Overall game performance with animations and individual skill hit-boxes is almost comically inaccurate, and it's baffling that the programmers kept on putting out broken content despite future nauts being increasingly unbalanced.”
- “The game has a lot of flashing visuals and animation stuttering/rubber-banding from certain types of character attacks, especially blinding attacks and pushing/grabbing attacks, and it's a serious accessibility issue.”
- “I don't want to mention the optimization of this game, when I open the game and wait several minutes and I start to feel the passion of my PC's fan; this will not happen in other well-known AAA titles.”
stability
36 mentions
8 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous game-breaking bugs, glitches, and performance issues, leading to a frustrating experience. While a few players have noted minimal bugs and decent performance, the overall sentiment reflects a lack of updates and significant stability problems, including connection issues and lag. Many consider it to be poorly optimized and abandoned, contributing to a perception of it being "buggy abandonware."
- “The graphics are great, the gameplay is fast and fun, and the game runs great.”
- “On the bright side, it is just about bug-free, really.”
- “Runs great on my old laptop.”
- “Devs have abandoned the game with tons of game-breaking bugs and glitches.”
- “The engine is so horribly buggy it makes Rocket League look well-polished.”
- “Its okay nowadays, it's still a frustrating, buggy, poorly optimized, questionably balanced MOBA; it just doesn't get updated anymore and pubstomps in this game will make you want to kill yourself.”
atmosphere
32 mentions
44 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Awesomenauts is characterized by its charming, cartoonish art style and upbeat soundtrack, creating a lighthearted and welcoming environment reminiscent of 80s cartoons. While the game offers a fun and engaging atmosphere filled with humor and vibrant graphics, some players express concerns about the toxic community, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully combines a playful aesthetic with a unique arcade feel, making it an enjoyable choice for those seeking a more relaxed MOBA experience.
- “Awesomenauts features a charming, cartoonish art style and a catchy, upbeat soundtrack that complements the game's lighthearted atmosphere.”
- “The music is fantastic, the atmospheric element of it is gripping and full of life, the personality it shows even in the tutorial hooks you in.”
- “The best thing about Awesomenauts is probably the atmosphere; it has a very arcade feel to it, like you are in an arcade.”
- “I love this game to death, but I could really do without the toxic atmosphere in the community.”
- “There is a deeply engaging multiplayer game somewhere here, but the lack of dedicated servers, and a non-competitive friendly atmosphere bogs down the experience.”
- “The graphics are cartoon-like, with a cheerful (yet dark at the same time) atmosphere.”
emotional
18 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, experiencing a mix of nostalgia, joy, and frustration. While many appreciate the fun and wholesome gameplay, they also report moments of heartbreak and anger, particularly due to technical issues and player behavior. Overall, the game elicits strong feelings, ranging from laughter to tears, highlighting its impact on players' experiences.
- “Never has a game made me feel such pain before, and I have played BBQ Simulator.”
- “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “It's the only game that has made me want to cry from happiness and throw my monitor out of the window at the same time.”