Skip to main content

Divine Knockout

Divine Knockout(DKO) had so much potential, but it falls into the trap many other multiplayer games fall into, focusing too much on one area with every other area being barely touched. It would be doing much worse if it weren’t for the visuals and fun gameplay.
Divine Knockout Game Cover
66%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
monetization, grinding
65% User Score Based on 3,881 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCEpic GamesPlaystation 5CloudPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
Divine Knockout Game Cover

About

Divine Knockout is a multiplayer platformer game. It was developed by Red Beard Games and was released on June 8, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Divine Knockout is a third-person perspective action game featuring gods with unique abilities. Fight in dynamic arenas with shifting environments, and compete in modes like Knockout and King of the Hill. Enjoy full cross-play and cross-progression, and customize your characters to fit your playstyle. Regular updates add new content to keep the game fresh.".

Skip User Reviews

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,881 reviews
gameplay135 positive mentions
monetization31 negative mentions

  • Fun and engaging gameplay, especially when played with friends.
  • Unique concept combining elements of Smash Bros and Smite, with a colorful art style.
  • Fast-paced matches with a variety of game modes, providing a casual yet competitive experience.
  • Severe balance issues with certain characters being overpowered, leading to frustrating gameplay.
  • Poor matchmaking system that often pits new players against highly skilled opponents.
  • Game requires a significant grind to unlock new characters, which can be tedious and discouraging.
  • gameplay
    296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Divine Knockout" is generally described as fun, engaging, and reminiscent of classic platform fighters like Super Smash Bros., with a unique 3D twist. However, many players express concerns about balance issues, repetitive mechanics, and a frustrating progression system that is hindered by pay-to-win elements. While the core mechanics are accessible and enjoyable, the overall experience is marred by inconsistent gameplay and a lack of depth, leading to mixed feelings about its long-term viability.

    • “With its fusion of thrilling gameplay, stunning visuals, and strategic depth, it offers a divine gaming experience that captivates players from the very first moment.”
    • “Dko's gameplay is a perfect blend of action, strategy, and skill.”
    • “The core mechanics are easy to grasp, making it accessible to newcomers, but the game's true depth becomes apparent as you delve further into it.”
    • “The game isn't really free as the developers have infested the game with a cash shop and pay-to-win mechanics, and you're expected to fork over huge amounts of money for access to both basic game systems that are needed to play. The game is heavily pay-to-win and must be avoided for that reason alone.”
    • “The gameplay loop is really dull too.”
    • “The mechanics are solid, and the core gameplay feels pretty good, but the game is unbalanced as hell, hitboxes and hurtboxes are a joke, and there are a million mechanics in place that will just screw you over for no reason.”
  • graphics
    97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the cute chibi art style and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall experience. However, some critics argue that the simplistic graphics and lack of thematic depth detract from the game's appeal, leading to a disconnect between the art style and the game's mythological themes. Overall, while the graphics are generally seen as enjoyable and well-optimized, there are concerns about their depth and fit within the game's context.

    • “The game's graphics are nothing short of extraordinary, with meticulously detailed environments, character models, and special effects.”
    • “Divine Knockout takes the gods from the MOBA game Smite and recreates them in a cute chibi art style and then unleashes them in arenas to brawl.”
    • “It's an amazing brawler, graphics are beautiful, it definitely keeps the feel of Smite characters without you fully knowing what to expect and still feels like an entirely brand new game!”
    • “Graphics, sound, soundtrack, and presentation: the game's art style and theming doesn't mesh well.”
    • “It's insanely boring, and chibi art styles and god theming are usually good styles, how did they mess that up?”
    • “The graphics suck (that does mean toasters can run the game though), there are so many bugs (you get stuck in floor, izanami's fear status sometimes turns players into izanami and none of their abilities work until they die), rounds can end in draws which means the game can end in draws which means no one gets a win and victory XP, abilities have long cooldowns so you end up m1 spamming and it's basically RNG whose m1s land, some abilities have long windup giving enemies a chance to cancel them ('gods' with these abilities suck).”
  • monetization
    85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players labeling it as a cash grab due to its reliance on microtransactions for character unlocks and cosmetic items. While some appreciate that characters can be obtained for free through gameplay, the overall sentiment is that the pricing structure is predatory and discourages player engagement. Critics argue that the game should adopt a more player-friendly free-to-play model, as the current monetization practices detract from the overall experience and may lead to a dwindling player base.

    • “All characters can be obtained for free via just playing the game; the monetization is limited to skins, which gives this game points.”
    • “The game is not pay-to-win, which is a significant win in the free-to-play games community. The in-game purchased currency is all cosmetic-based, and you can still get really good at the game without spending any money.”
    • “It's hard to complain about monetization when the game is free.”
    • “This is just a cash grab, don't bother.”
    • “Disgustingly predatory monetization killed the playerbase, gameplay was pretty fun while it lasted though.”
    • “The monetization is incredibly predatory, almost compelling people to spend money after the point of the first token (10 level ups) of which you can level up characters from level 1 upwards and get it within about 1 or 2 hours.”
  • grinding
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players expressing frustration over the excessive time required to unlock new characters and abilities without spending money. Many reviewers noted that the grind feels tedious and unbalanced, especially as the requirements increase significantly at higher levels, leading to a perception of the game being pay-to-win. While some appreciate the free-to-play model, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts from the enjoyment and accessibility of the game.

    • “It's not grindy and there are no gods locked behind a paywall.”
    • “Satisfies my Smash Bros itch, but it requires a lot of grinding to unlock new champions if you don't want to spend money.”
    • “To make matters worse, the only way to unlock said characters requires an exorbitant amount of grinding, or money, so the game becomes pay-to-win very quickly.”
    • “The alternative is to sit in your room and no-life to earn all the champions as the amount of grinding per champion increases per champion unlocked.”
  • stability
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and server issues that significantly detract from the overall experience. Players frequently encounter problems such as game crashes, unresponsive mechanics, and matchmaking failures, leading many to describe it as a "buggy mess." While some users note that it runs well on specific platforms like the Steam Deck, the overwhelming consensus is that the game feels unfinished and unpolished, making it difficult to recommend at its current price point.

    • “At the very least, it isn't buggy.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “Runs great, plays great.”
    • “Wanted to be a Super Smash Bros clone, but failed miserably with bugs, glitches, server issues, etc.”
    • “Game regularly crashes and has so many matchmaking glitches.”
    • “It's definitely pretty buggy.”
  • humor
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it amusing, especially in the early hours of gameplay and when playing with friends. Many highlight the funny voice of the narrator and the comedic moments that arise from quirky gameplay and unexpected teammate behavior. However, some players note that the humor can wear thin over time, particularly when faced with game balance issues and frustrating mechanics.

    • “Dko is funny and a coop game to enjoy with family.”
    • “The narrator has a funny voice.”
    • “This game makes fun, and if you play with friends, there are a lot of funny moments.”
  • optimization
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant lag, frequent crashes, and network disconnection issues that detract from the experience. While the core gameplay is enjoyable, many users feel that the performance is subpar for a title from a major studio, leading to frustration during matches, especially against higher-skilled opponents. Despite some players noting that it runs decently at times, the consensus is that substantial improvements are needed to enhance stability and responsiveness.

    • “Runs pretty well, could use a little optimization.”
    • “Even though it's designed for consoles, the gameplay is fun and fast-paced. Although lag plays a major role, sometimes it doesn't feel responsive enough. It's quite unbalanced and unoptimized, but due to being in the early stages of development, it doesn't matter. It's exactly what you expect from a 3rd person smash bros; the servers are stable enough and the player pool is good.”
    • “Pre-bp: The game is fun, a bit unoptimized, but the core gameplay loop is very enjoyable. However, I believe the content is lacking, with only 10 gods and a few skins, and some alternate abilities that don't do much.”
    • “Cute graphics, and nice ideas, but the game is laggy and poorly optimized.”
    • “Seems abandoned by the devs. There are loading optimizations to be made, Zeus needs a buff, and NA servers need to be fixed, but nothing's happening.”
    • “Unfortunately, it's very rough around the edges - terrible stuttering issues for me, crashes, and borderless fullscreen is broken if you use display scaling in the OS.”
  • story
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight a significant disappointment regarding the game's story, with many users expressing frustration over its lack of depth and narrative content. Several comments suggest that the game feels abandoned, with a desire for a more developed story mode that could explore character backstories and enhance the overall experience. Overall, the absence of a compelling story is seen as a major flaw, detracting from the game's potential.

    • “The fun I had in this game... sad story of destruction :'(”
    • “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “It'd be pretty cool if there was a story mode for the gods with their backstories, so this world can be explored.”
    • “Sadly, Hi-Rez Studios has done it again - I don't know the story behind why this game failed, but there's a horrible recurring trend with abandoned games from this publisher and its subsidiaries, Prophecy Games, etc.”
    • “With the lack of depth, story, or virtually any other aspect, it was the one thing that made this title stand apart.”
    • “End of story.”
  • music
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it enjoyable and fitting for the gameplay, others describe it as generic and repetitive, particularly in menu backgrounds and specific sound effects. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated for enhancing the fun experience, but it can become dull over time. Players have the option to mute the music if it becomes bothersome.

    • “Gonna miss DKO, was just such a fun game to hop on, jam out to some music, and slap some people up.”
    • “It's really satisfying to hit people, it's got a good soundtrack, the gameplay is amazing, it's just a really good game.”
    • “This game is insanely fun with super good character design, levels, and music.”
    • “The sound effects and music are also generic and feel like they were rushed through out of boredom.”
    • “That being said, the background music of the menus can become a little dull after some time, and Sol's Q-skill screeching really gets annoying after hearing it 268 times in a match.”
    • “The music is forgettable, and the program doesn't like to minimize.”
  • character development
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, character development in the game is praised for its unique and appealing designs, which contribute to an enjoyable gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the artistic style and find it engaging, others feel it resembles mobile game aesthetics and may not appeal to everyone. Regular updates and a variety of character combos enhance the fun, though concerns about balance and design quality persist.

    • “This game is insanely fun with super good character design, levels, and music.”
    • “The character designs are very cute and their fighting styles are easy to learn.”
    • “Great character designs, with everyone looking unique.”
    • “Slow patches and bad character design are going to leave this game in the gutter.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is limited due to its single mode and the imbalance between characters designed for different play styles, which can affect the overall experience. While some players find it enjoyable and fun, concerns arise regarding the necessity of purchasing additional content to unlock more characters, potentially diminishing its long-term appeal.

    • “Overall, I think DKO is an excellent game with a lot of fun and replay value.”
    • “Replayability: this game has literally one mode.”
    • “A free game I understand, but if you have to buy the game and only 5 of the 10 are playable and can only be unlocked by purchasing more, then it's kind of a no for me.”
    • “Balance doesn't seem so bad except the fact that some gods are clearly designed with 1v1 in mind and others are AoE 3v3 chaos specialists, but either of these are playable in their 'weak gamemode'.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, indicating that its engaging mechanics and balance have captivated them to the extent that they are reluctant to explore other fighting games until they fully experience this one.

    • “I don't see myself touching another fighting game until I have had my fill of this one.”
Skip Critic Reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy Divine Knockout

8h Median play time
89h Average play time
5-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 13 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Divine Knockout

Games Like Divine Knockout

DKO: Divine Knockout ImageDKO: Divine Knockout ImageDKO: Divine Knockout Image
Warhaven Image
Battlerite Royale Image
MY HERO ULTRA RUMBLE Image
NARAKA: BLADEPOINT Image
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Divine Knockout is a platformer game.

Divine Knockout is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 89 hours playing Divine Knockout.

Divine Knockout was released on June 8, 2022.

Divine Knockout was developed by Red Beard Games.

Divine Knockout has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its monetization.

Divine Knockout is a multiplayer game with local co-op support.

Similar games include DKO: Divine Knockout, Warhaven, Battlerite Royale, MY HERO ULTRA RUMBLE, NARAKA: BLADEPOINT and others.