KNOCKOFF

About

KNOCKOFF is a single player and multiplayer arcade role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by plushcatboy and was released on January 22, 2026. It received positive reviews from players.

KNOCKOFF is a first of its kind Mall Brawler / Isometric Fighting Game set in a dead mall, developed by one person over the course of four years...It is a small indie project made in my spare time, in between work and school and the like! It features a blend of bullet hell mechanics and fighting game combo-heavy combat.After beating a spoooooky tutorial and wicked boss fight, you earn the local Pv…

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 32 reviews

story4 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Unique blend of beat-em-up and fighting game mechanics offers fun and engaging combat that rewards skillful use of movesets.
Strong, distinctive visual style paired with an excellent soundtrack that complements the game's surreal, vaporwave-inspired atmosphere.
Intriguing story elements and character designs that add depth to the gameplay experience and promise more content.

The game currently suffers from significant jank and technical issues, including inconsistent input detection, hit registration problems, and confusing or overly long tutorials.
Navigation and menu systems are unintuitive and difficult to use, detracting from the overall user experience.
The combat can be confusing and hard to follow due to visual clutter, unclear enemy behavior, and a lack of clear feedback on hits and blocks.

graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The graphics feature a distinctive polygonal and abstract style with strong vaporwave and analog influences that effectively convey a surreal, non-Euclidean atmosphere. While the unique aesthetic is widely praised for its creativity and appeal, performance issues like lag and framerate drops detract from the overall experience.
- “With the polygon aesthetics and the abstract, the undetailed environments and bleeding lights genuinely sell the non-Euclidean nightmare of the mall.”
- “I'm obsessed with the analog/vaporwave influenced aesthetic and liminal setting.”
- “I saw this game pop up on the new releases, downloaded it instantly based on the art style, and loved every part of it.”
- “The visuals are a bit all over the place sometimes (I haven't played much, admittedly, just the tutorial).”
- “Appreciate that knockoff is free, but the thing barely works; the game is very janky and barely functional at the moment, with constant lag and framerate drops even on low graphics mode.”
- “The visuals have a distinct style and are definitely cool and I think it has a lot of potential but a lot of improvement in the way of combat needs to be made.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
56%
The story is praised for its interesting and compelling hooks, offering a fresh narrative approach uncommon in fighting games. Players find it visually engaging and well-integrated with gameplay, making the story mode a highly anticipated feature. Overall, it adds depth and appeal beyond typical genre offerings.
- “In teaching fundamentals it's got lows (moving light section is slightly too long) and highs (the introduction of heavies is an actual showcase of character, story, and gameplay strength I've never seen done better in a fighting game, genuinely) so overall it's nice and brisk. Didn't mind doing it again, and doing so made me find extra background lore, so again!”
- “Shaping up to be one of the first fighting games with a compelling story mode!”
- “Visually stunning, interesting gameplay and an appealing story that I’d love to learn more about.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The music in the game is widely praised for being energetic, fitting perfectly with the game's style, and enhancing the overall experience with a unique and engaging soundtrack. Many users describe it as catchy, lively, and complementing the visuals and gameplay exceptionally well.
- “The music is an absolute bop.”
- “This game has so much sauce, the soundtrack is bangin' too.”
- “The music pairs with it perfectly.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The gameplay blends beat-em-up and fighting game mechanics with a distinctive style, combining solid fundamentals and character-driven combat that stands out in its genre. While the tutorial effectively introduces core mechanics, some sections feel prolonged and the overall experience can be confusing or janky due to unique design choices. Nevertheless, the gameplay is engaging, visually striking, and complemented by a compelling story and atmosphere.
- “In teaching fundamentals it's got lows (moving light section is slightly too long) and highs (the introduction of heavies is an actual showcase of character, story and gameplay strength I've never seen done better in a fighting game, genuinely) so overall it's nice and brisk, didn't mind doing it again, and doing so made me find extra background lore, so again!”
- “The tutorial sets the scene and lays out the core movement and fighting mechanics well.”
- “The art is great, the music is great, and the gameplay is great, although confusing at first just because it's not really a mix I've seen anywhere else.”
- “Wrap around the game's aesthetics and mechanics as an aid and an issue, to the point I wonder what is real and what is a bug.”
- “In teaching fundamentals it's got lows (moving light section is slightly too long) and highs (the introduction of heavies is an actual showcase of character, story and gameplay strength I've never seen done better in a fighting game, genuinely) so overall it's nice and brisk, didn't mind doing it again, and doing so made me find extra background lore.”
- “The easiest way to describe the actual gameplay is half beat-em-up, half fighting game.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the character designs visually interesting but express a desire for more detailed views of the models to better appreciate their development.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players acknowledge that grinding can feel repetitive, especially early on in the tutorial, but many are motivated to continue due to curiosity about the game's later content.