Beastieball

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Coach a sports team of Beasties in this turn-based volleyball RPG! Your Beasties' relationships power up their teamwork!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 584 reviews

story66 positive mentions

grinding17 negative mentions

Beastieball offers a unique and refreshing take on the creature collector genre, combining volleyball mechanics with strategic gameplay.
The game features charming character designs and a vibrant art style, making the world feel alive and engaging.
The relationship system between beasties adds depth to the gameplay, allowing for unique interactions and combo moves based on their bonds.

Some beasties have unfinished animations and placeholder art, which can be jarring during gameplay.
The leveling system can make it difficult to introduce new beasties to your team, as they may be significantly under-leveled compared to others.
The story, while charming, can feel predictable and lacks the depth found in some other RPGs.

story
216 mentions
31 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The story of "Beastieball" is widely praised for its engaging and heartfelt narrative, featuring memorable characters and a charming blend of humor and emotional depth. Players appreciate the game's unique sports-themed setting, which ties into a personal journey of self-discovery and environmental themes, making it feel relevant and relatable. While some critiques mention predictability in the main plot, the overall consensus is that the story is well-crafted, enjoyable, and enhanced by strong character interactions and a vibrant world.
- “But out of everything the game has to offer, what truly surprised me was the characters and story.”
- “The story is charming and does some fun, new things with the old RPG formula.”
- “The story is engaging, concise, and well-paced.”
- “I do have a major issue with it during the later parts of the story though (spoilers ahead): Riley turns out to be a terrible and selfish person, actively interfering and sabotaging your shared oh so important mission.”
- “The story is much more 'unhinged wrestling promotion goes off the rails' than 'forgettable traipse through pokeregion #25'; individual character writing is solid but straightforward, accounting for a potentially younger audience.”
- “In terms of story, on the surface it's a pretty straightforward 'nature good, corporatization bad' narrative kicked off by the organized beastieball league planning to bulldoze your local nature preserve to build a fancy new sports stadium, which drives you to take over as coach for your local town and play your way up the ranks to become champion and put a stop to it!”
gameplay
206 mentions
44 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Beastieball" is widely praised for its innovative blend of turn-based combat and volleyball mechanics, offering a refreshing take on the creature-collecting genre. Players appreciate the depth and strategic complexity of the battle system, which encourages team synergy and emotional bonds between beasties, while the charming art style and engaging soundtrack enhance the overall experience. Despite some minor issues due to its early access status, the game is noted for its addictive gameplay loop and unique mechanics that set it apart from traditional monster-catching games.
- “Every beastie is so cute and absolutely loaded with personality. The gameplay itself combines a good mix of both challenge and replayability, and even with a smaller roster of beasties, there's always a new strategic combination of moves that can be used to change up how the beasties act.”
- “Not only is it an addictive gameplay loop, with the volleyball turn-based combat being fantastic, but the soundtrack is top tier, and the beasties are really unique.”
- “The gameplay is extremely fun and addictive, and has a lot more depth than you might initially think.”
- “The gameplay is a level of strategy that you rarely see in most monster collectors - aside from a basic volley and an attack that might as well be skipping your turn, your beasties only get three moves and they have to be shared between attacks, volleys, support, and defense, on top of dealing with movement and lanes and statuses and all sorts of different mechanics, meaning your team needs to be cohesive or you might end up getting trounced by an enemy group you didn't expect to see.”
- “While the battle mechanics may get confusing (especially for people who don't know volleyball), I'd give this game a shot to practically everyone.”
- “Gameplay: fair (repetitive, will bore after a while)”
music
166 mentions
50 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and varied soundtrack composed by Lena Raine, known for her work on Celeste. Players highlight the music's ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with unique tracks for different battles and a vibrant overall sound that complements the game's charming aesthetics and engaging mechanics. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and emotional impact.
- “Not only is it an addictive gameplay loop, with the volleyball turn-based combat being fantastic, but the soundtrack is top tier, and the beasties are really unique.”
- “The music is phenomenal, the visuals are cute and concise, the gameplay is simple and easy to understand and yet so much fun, there is so much love and personality and care put into this game that I can practically feel it bursting at the seams.”
- “Lena Raine does a spectacular job both emulating the feeling of the Pokémon soundtracks through the years while also making it completely unique, and some of these tracks are going to be in my head for months.”
- “My only gripes with the game are exactly two tracks that grit my ears a tad but the rest of the music is spot-on!!!!”
- “If you can put up with unfinished art and the fact the music is incomplete you get a full campaign with post game and a bunch of social link events for you and the human characters (and more areas and social links on the way).”
- “Music: fair (not really much music here)”
graphics
51 mentions
41 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming and cute art style, reminiscent of classic titles like Paper Mario, with vibrant character designs and engaging visuals that enhance the overall experience. While some players noted minor graphical glitches and unfinished elements due to the game's early access status, the unique aesthetic and attention to detail in the world-building and creature designs have been well-received, contributing to a delightful and immersive atmosphere. Overall, the combination of appealing visuals and a lively soundtrack creates a captivating environment that players find enjoyable.
- “The art design and direction is stellar, with a striking contrast of a 3D modeled map to serve as a backdrop against 2D, Paper Mario-esque cutout sprites, the colorful cast of characters which vary so widely in shapes, sizes, and art styles while all managing to feel like they belong in the same world, and last but certainly not least, the titular beasties which range from squee-inducingly adorable to jaw-droppingly awesome.”
- “The music is phenomenal, the visuals are cute and concise, the gameplay is simple and easy to understand and yet so much fun, there is so much love and personality and care put into this game that I can practically feel it bursting at the seams.”
- “The graphics look great and each area I've been so far has great level design and art direction.”
- “Its early access definitely shows; I've crashed a few times out of nowhere, found some weird graphical bugs, and you're guaranteed to find a beastie with unfinished art if you play for more than an hour.”
- “One mild graphical glitch and two instances of the same soft lock knocking down the ropes with the ball (which I fixed by engaging a nearby beastie in battle).”
- “Any complaints I have are minor; some small graphical glitches, strange overlapping of UI which can make it hard to read things in battle, and of course, like any wonderful game, I wished there was more.”
humor
27 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and wit, seamlessly blending heartfelt moments with hilarious dialogue and interactions. Players appreciate the clever writing and funny character dynamics, which enhance the overall experience without overshadowing gameplay. The game successfully balances lightheartedness with deeper themes, making it engaging and enjoyable for players of all ages.
- “The dialogue and story are heartfelt and hilarious.”
- “Couple that with a fantastic soundtrack, fun animations, and good humor, and you have a wonderful game that captures the fun of a Pokémon game, even for someone like me who's played through every generation and become tired of the series.”
- “Honestly, though, I think the thing that completely won me over was that the besties interact with each other, developing different kinds of relationships (rivals, friends, etc.), unlocking along the way combos and funny dialogues in the midst of the matches and out of combat as well.”
emotional
25 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Beastieball" is highlighted by its heartfelt and humorous storytelling, which resonates deeply with players, evoking genuine feelings and connections to the characters and creatures. The game successfully transforms typical monster-catching tropes into a wholesome experience, emphasizing emotional bonds and relationships, making players care for their beasties beyond their appearances. Overall, it is praised for its charming narrative, clever writing, and the ability to create a unique emotional dynamic that enhances the gameplay experience.
- “Games have an emotional storyline that pulls at your heartstrings.”
- “The story is intriguing and emotional.”
- “This game has so much heart it makes me want to cry.”
grinding
18 mentions
6 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding in Beastieball to be manageable and less tedious than in many other RPGs, thanks to various quality-of-life features like speed and auto-battle options. While some express frustration over level gaps that can make certain creatures feel underutilized, the game’s design encourages strategic team-building and minimizes the grind through engaging gameplay mechanics. Many reviewers appreciate the focus on narrative and fun, which helps to alleviate the typical grind associated with monster-catching games.
- “Despite being a monster-catching RPG, this game is not grindy at all.”
- “If I could change one thing (and this is my only complaint), it would be making the level gap smaller for a game based on collecting creatures. Beastieball has a big level gap; some beasties are just not worth using because of their level. Take note of that because most, if not all, beasties have something that makes them unique, be it design or gameplay. That is one of the best parts of this game, but some of them you get at such a low level that it would be more trouble than they're worth sometimes. This sucks; it makes me so sad when I stroll into an area with my level 40 team and see the silliest little guy only to see he's level 20. To get him to scale, I would have to labor harder than a medieval serf working his lord's land (I'm exaggerating, but grinding sucks). I would attribute this to the open world; if you mainline a certain path or destination, you end up ruining the levels of the beasties.”
- “Along with the chance of a beastie becoming injured when used too much, it makes grinding a hassle.”
- “From the FOMO to the artificial playtime bloat, to gatekeeping features of the game towards only those who are willing to put in dozens if not hundreds of hours of effort that isn't even spent playing the game, and is often tedious and repetitive tasks that only exist to waste time, Beastieball says 'what if we said screw that, and spotlighted a hyper-polished, hyper-focused narrative-based game design.'”
character development
11 mentions
45 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highly praised, showcasing memorable and expressive designs that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the dynamic relationships among team members, likening them to the character growth seen in sports anime, while the creative art style and engaging plot twists contribute to a rich narrative. Overall, the game successfully combines fun character interactions with impressive design elements, making it stand out in the monster collector genre.
- “Yes, your team members have character development!”
- “Memorable characters, great character designs, awesome plot twists, and it could totally have a show based off its story alone.”
- “Usually I'm skeptical on monster collectors as they tend to lack one thing or another a certain corporate monopoly does: monster design (especially rare in indie monster collectors ironically), character design, atmosphere, immersion, party synergy, strategy, difficulty, uniqueness, etc.”
- “The team relationship dynamics are also a lot of fun to watch and a bit like watching your team go through sports anime character development.”
- “The character design?”
replayability
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game offers impressive replayability through its charming and diverse beasties, strategic gameplay, and various modes such as randomizers and ironman challenges. Players can continually experiment with different combinations and strategies, enhancing the overall experience and longevity of the game.
- “Every beastie is so cute and absolutely loaded with personality. The gameplay itself combines a good mix of both challenge and replayability, and even with a smaller roster of beasties, there's always a new strategic combination of moves that can be used to change up how the beasties act.”
- “There are built-in randomizer and ironman modes, which may offer some replayability if you're into that.”
- “There are built-in randomizer and ironman modes, so that may offer some replayability if you're into that stuff.”
- “This isn't even talking about the actual content of the game, like the randomizers and nuzlockes and roguelike mode for replayability.”
- “Beastieball has a level of replayability I have yet to see come out of this genre in a long time.”
stability
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with users noting it is surprisingly bug-free for an early access title. Minor issues such as graphical glitches and UI overlaps have been reported, but they do not significantly detract from the experience. The game runs well on various platforms, including the Steam Deck.
- “Surprisingly bug-free even though it's in early access.”
- “Runs great on Steam Deck and is a fun twist on the monster taming genre!”
- “I encountered several graphical glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
- “The overlapping UI elements made it difficult to read important information during battles.”
- “While the game is enjoyable, the stability issues detract from the overall experience.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive design, engaging music, and unique monster aesthetics, creating a captivating experience that keeps players invested. Reviewers appreciate the blend of various gameplay elements, which contribute to a dynamic and evolving environment that continually surprises and delights. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a standout feature that enhances its appeal and longevity.
- “The design, atmosphere, music, level of strategy, field management, various plays to be made, plus an amazing roster of beasties all blend together into a wonderful game that I know I’ll be happy to play for a long time!”
- “Usually I'm skeptical of monster collectors as they tend to lack one thing or another that a certain corporate monopoly does: monster design (especially rare in indie games ironically), character design, atmosphere, immersion, party synergy, strategy, difficulty, uniqueness, etc.”
- “Every time I think I've seen everything, something new comes around the corner, be it new beasties, traits, mechanics, battle types, methods of evolution, or just cool designs and atmosphere.”
- “Usually I'm skeptical of monster collectors as they tend to lack one thing or another that a certain corporate monopoly does: atmosphere, immersion, party synergy, strategy, difficulty, uniqueness, etc.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, with effective control options for both gamepad and mouse/keyboard users. However, some players have reported occasional performance issues, including stuttering and crashes, particularly after extended playtime, though the auto-save feature mitigates the impact of unexpected closures.
- “The game has had a few performance issues, though they are few and far between. The auto-save feature helps whenever the game unexpectedly closes or encounters an issue.”
- “Control optimization is good; you can use either a gamepad or a mouse and keyboard.”
- “As I was playing, at about the 10-hour mark, the research complete pop-up got slower and slower, stuttering in loading, before it froze entirely and crashed the game during a battle.”
- “The game has had a few performance issues, though few and far between, and the auto-save helps any time the game has unexpectedly closed or encountered an issue.”