Heatwave

About

Heatwave is a single player and multiplayer arcade fighting game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Monochromesoft and was released on November 12, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

A fast paced fighting game set in the distant future! Set many years after the most of the Earth was made uninhabitable by an apocalyptic heatwave! Fight using powerful special moves and assists, and counterattack using the parry system! [Features!] 15 Characters + (Multiple Secret Characters).21 Assists.3 Fighting Modes. + 1 secret modeSpeedPowerTeam19 Stages. Arcade ModeTraining Mode.Versus Mo…

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews

story5 positive mentions

The gameplay is fluid, responsive, and offers a wealth of mechanics, making it one of the best indie fighting games available.
The art style is beautiful and vibrant, with a charming pixel art aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
The game features a rich story mode that explores queer identities and offers extensive single-player content, making it a unique and engaging experience.

The lack of online multiplayer is a significant downside, limiting competitive play and making it harder to share the experience with friends.
Some players have reported issues with move readability initially, which may require time to adjust to.
The music, while decent, does not stand out as memorable or fitting for battles, which could detract from the overall atmosphere.

story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
55%
17%
The game's story is highly praised for its charm, engaging characters, and extensive visual novel format, making it a standout feature that justifies its $10 price tag. While not groundbreaking, it effectively immerses players in a vibrant world with a diverse and lovable queer cast. Overall, the story mode is considered a significant and enjoyable addition, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- “The story is not the most groundbreaking, but it does a fantastic job of wrapping you in the world and connecting you with the relatively large, very lovable, very queer cast.”
- “The story alone is charming, filled with interesting ideas, and polished enough to be well worth the price of admission on its own.”
- “This game's unapologetic full-force queerness with its roster of characters, bright pastel pixel art reminiscent of GBA graphics, and massive visual novel story mode make it wonderfully unique at face value.”
- “If that's not your thing, skip the story and let the gameplay speak for itself.”
- “Will update with a review of story mode once I play it; that shit is a whole visual novel and honestly from what I've seen the price is probably worth it just for that alone.”
- “The only downside is that there is no netplay, but as someone who can get by with arcade mode, alone, the extras like combo trials, survival mode, the story, and a secret mode that I have yet to unlock are all just delicious icing on the cake.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The gameplay has been widely praised for its fluidity and depth, making it a standout in the fighting game genre. Players appreciate the variety of mechanics and character options, catering to both competitive and casual audiences. However, some have noted the absence of online multiplayer and the challenging AI as potential drawbacks.
- “Some of the cleanest gameplay I've had with a fighter in a while; this has instantly jumped up to one of my favorites of all time gameplay-wise.”
- “The gameplay is amazing for any fans of anime fighters like BlazBlue or Guilty Gear.”
- “The gameplay is very tight; it's one of the best 2D indie air-dashers I've stumbled upon so far.”
- “The only negative notes I might add are the lack of online multiplayer (which is a priority for more competitive players) and that even at the lowest difficulty level, the CPU opponents can be pretty obnoxious if one isn't accustomed to the gameplay - and I wish they blocked a little less often at easiest.”
- “If that's not your thing, skip the story and let the gameplay speak for itself.”
- “I'll hold off on talking about the gameplay mechanics as I am still getting a feel for it, but it feels amazing immediately, very mobile, and it feels a lot more free and open than most fighting games I've played.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is generally considered good, with cute and charming elements, but lacks memorability and doesn't effectively enhance the battle experience. While the sound effects are well-received, the overall score feels somewhat disjointed, with few tracks standing out. Notably, much of the music was created by a single individual, showcasing a personal touch.
- “The backgrounds, music, and menus are all very cute, and almost everything was made by a single person!”
- “The music is good, and the sound effects are good.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's graphics feature a polished, simple art style complemented by bright pastel pixel art reminiscent of GBA graphics, creating a visually appealing experience. The vibrant visuals, combined with a diverse cast and a rich visual novel story mode, contribute to its unique charm and overall aesthetic appeal.
- “This game's unapologetic full-force queerness with its roster of characters, bright pastel pixel art reminiscent of GBA graphics, and massive visual novel story mode make it wonderfully unique at face value.”
- “It's super well written and the visuals are insanely pretty!”
- “That alone would be amazing but it is tied together with a simple but polished art style, a delightful cast, and a boatload of single-player content including extra goodies like secret characters to unlock.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a blend of fun and emotional experiences, set against a sci-fi climate apocalypse backdrop infused with magic. It caters to a wide range of players, from competitive gamers to casual couch co-op enthusiasts, while also providing a heartfelt narrative for those interested in visual novels.
- “It is a fun and sometimes emotional sci-fi climate apocalypse, but with magic too!”
- “From its gameplay depth to its story mode, it has something for everyone, whether you are a competitive player looking to invest hundreds of hours within a community, a casual enjoyer wanting to play on your couch with friends, or someone looking to experience a heartfelt visual novel!”