Beastieball

About

"Beastieball" is a volleyball-inspired RPG where you coach a team of Beasties, each with unique abilities and relationship-driven combo moves. Explore an open world, defeat ranked coaches, and strategize on a tiny tactics grid in turn-based matches. With a diverse cast, intriguing story, fantastic gameplay, and spectacular visuals, this single-player and multiplayer experience will make you laugh and stir emotions, but beware of grueling grinding.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,463 reviews

story169 positive mentions

grinding37 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 delightful soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience.
The relationship system between beasties adds depth and emotional engagement, making players feel more connected to their team.

Some beasties have unfinished animations and placeholder art, which can detract from the immersion.
The leveling system can make it difficult to introduce new beasties to your team, leading to potential grinding.
Certain puzzles and platforming elements can be frustrating and may not be intuitive.

story
517 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
66%
1%
The story of "Beastieball" is widely praised for its engaging and heartfelt narrative, which combines themes of environmentalism and personal growth within a sports-centric framework. Players appreciate the depth of character development and the unique relationships formed between the beasties, enhancing the overall experience. While some critiques mention predictability and pacing issues, the majority find the story to be charming, funny, and a refreshing take on the creature-collecting genre, making it a standout title in its category.
- “But out of everything the game has to offer, what truly surprised me was the characters and story.”
- “The story is shockingly solid, the gameplay and mechanics are crazy fun, and the creature design is just fantastic.”
- “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.”
- “I get the point that, story-wise you're meant to be a 'rigged' underdog with a meteoric rise through the rankings, but sheer contempt that characters like Valerie and Callisto have for you is ridiculous when you end the game undefeated.”
- “It is one of the games that beating the story left me empty; this game has the most heart and soul in every aspect of the game that I would call this game perfect.”
gameplay
498 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
56%
1%
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 battles, where positioning and team dynamics play crucial roles, alongside the charming character designs and engaging narrative. Overall, the game is described as addictive, fun, and filled with personality, making it a standout experience in the monster-taming landscape.
- “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.”
- “Beastieball not only manages to create a unique gameplay system that is innovative, but it also manages to design it to a degree where every match is meaningful and engaging.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay for the matches is a bit awkward at first, but once I got the hang of it (which would be at the end of the very short tutorial), I started getting excited about potential strategies, and the different aspects of the beasties.”
- “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.”
music
375 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
51%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack composed by Lena Raine for its variety and quality. Players describe it as catchy, engaging, and perfectly suited to the game's atmosphere, enhancing both the gameplay and emotional moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, with many expressing a desire to purchase it separately.
- “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 and the gameplay is also incredibly fun, really steps up the challenge as the game progresses often making level advantage not as powerful as a good strategy!”
- “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!!!!”
- “Music: fair (not really much music here)”
- “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).”
graphics
137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming and cute art style, reminiscent of 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 blend of 2D sprites in a 3D world and the overall aesthetic have been well-received, contributing to a delightful and immersive atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, with many expressing excitement for future updates and refinements.
- “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 graphics look great and each area I've been so far has great level design and art direction.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “I the only notable problems I have with it so far are the unfinished visuals in one specific overworld setting and the unfinished sprites for the beasties.”
- “I'll probably wait some time for graphics/animations to get finalized before I continue playing myself, but even now I can wholeheartedly recommend this adorable game!”
humor
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, with many reviewers highlighting the witty dialogue and funny character interactions that enhance the overall experience. The writing balances heartfelt moments with lighthearted humor, making it engaging for players of all ages. Additionally, the game's cute art style and vibrant soundtrack complement its comedic elements, creating a delightful atmosphere that keeps players entertained throughout.
- “The dialogue and story are heartfelt and hilarious.”
- “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.”
- “It's charming, funny, offers a lot of fun exploration, and features a deep combat system.”
emotional
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
2%
2%
The emotional aspect of "Beastieball" is highly praised for its heartfelt storytelling, clever dialogue, and the deep bonds formed between players and their creatures. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke genuine feelings, from laughter to tears, through its charming characters and unique mechanics that emphasize emotional connections rather than mere collection. Overall, it is described as a wholesome and engaging experience that resonates on a personal level, making it stand out in the monster-catching genre.
- “Games have an emotional storyline that pulls at your heartstrings.”
- “Beastieball made me feel things Pokémon never has.”
- “However, even more impressively, the game manages to hook you with such charming characters and emotional moments that by the end, a few tears were rolling down my eyes.”
- “Holy crap, the ending made me cry. t_t”
grinding
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
Overall, players find that "Beastieball" minimizes grinding through enjoyable recruitment conditions and quality-of-life features like speed and auto-battle options, making the experience more streamlined and less tedious. While some players express frustration with level gaps that can make certain creatures feel underutilized, the game is generally praised for its quick grinding and strategic team-building opportunities. The combination of these elements contributes to a gameplay experience that feels engaging rather than grind-heavy.
- “Along with the chance of a beastie becoming injured when used too much, it makes grinding a hassle.”
- “It's even more tedious in expedition and tower modes where a mistake could cost you the game.”
- “It makes experimenting difficult and tedious as you spend time trying to just boost a monster to a usable level.”
character development
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
45%
10%
Character development in the game is highly praised, with players noting the memorable and expressive character designs that contribute to a vibrant narrative experience. The dynamics among team members are likened to sports anime, showcasing engaging relationships and growth throughout the gameplay. Overall, the combination of creative character design, immersive storytelling, and unique interactions enhances the game's appeal and depth.
- “Memorable characters, great character designs, awesome plot twists, and it could totally have a show based off its story alone.”
- “And depending on relationship roles you might see exclusive dialogue that allows you to experience character development within your beastie squad; this is peak gaming.”
- “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 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.”
- “Yes, your team members have character development!”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
"Beastieball" offers exceptional replayability, featuring a charming roster of beasties that encourages strategic experimentation with their moves. Players can enhance their experience through built-in randomizer and ironman modes, as well as additional content like nuzlockes and roguelike elements, making it a standout title in its genre for replay value. Many users express their intent to play the game multiple times, highlighting its engaging and varied gameplay.
- “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.”
- “The replay value is through the roof, and I plan on playing it many more times!”
- “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, 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.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
13%
38%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive design, excellent writing, and engaging music, which collectively enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique and varied elements, including monster and character design, that contribute to a rich and dynamic environment. The game successfully combines strategy and creativity, keeping players intrigued with new features and surprises throughout their journey.
- “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!”
- “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.”
- “The writing and atmosphere are excellent!”
- “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.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, making it hard to get immersed in the game world.”
- “Despite the potential, the atmosphere fails to engage, leaving the experience feeling hollow and uninviting.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game's stability is commendable, with users noting it is surprisingly bug-free for an early access title. Minor issues such as graphical glitches and UI overlap have been reported, but they do not significantly detract from the experience. The game also performs well on the Steam Deck, enhancing its appeal.
- “Surprisingly bug-free even though it's early access.”
- “Runs great on Steam Deck and is a fun twist on the monster taming genre!”
- “Any complaints I have are minor; some small graphical glitches, strange overlapping of UI which can make it hard to read things 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.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while control options are well-implemented for both gamepad and mouse/keyboard users, players have reported occasional performance issues, including stuttering and crashes, particularly after extended playtime. The auto-save feature mitigates some frustration from unexpected closures, but the game still experiences notable slowdowns during critical moments.
- “Control optimization is good; you can use gamepad or 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.”