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 April 21, 2026. It received mostly 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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80%Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Unique and highly stylized Y2K-inspired art style with strong internet-era nostalgia and surreal horror elements.
Energetic and intense combat combining beat-em-up, bullet hell, and fighting game mechanics with engaging character variety.
Excellent soundtrack featuring loud, distorted electronic music that perfectly complements the chaotic atmosphere.

The game is unfinished, with development discontinued shortly after early access release, resulting in limited content and poor polish.
Combat and tutorial can be confusing and janky, with input inconsistencies, unclear mechanics, and overwhelming visual clutter.
Menu navigation and UI are frustrating and difficult to use, sometimes causing issues with gameplay flow.

graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The graphics of Knockoff are widely praised for their unique, edgy Y2K-inspired art style that blends surreal, abstract, and vaporwave elements to create a nostalgic yet chaotic atmosphere. The polygonal, non-Euclidean visuals effectively enhance the game's eerie, supernatural setting and have been described as both impressive and stylistically cohesive. However, some users note technical issues like lag and framerate drops that affect the overall visual experience.
- “Look, Knockoff is a cool concept, with an awesome art style and I get a lot of time and effort was put into it.”
- “The game heavily leans into a Y2K-inspired aesthetic, creating an experience that feels both nostalgic and surreal at the same time.”
- “With the polygon aesthetics and the abstract, the undetailed environments and bleeding lights do genuinely sell the non-Euclidean nightmare of the mall.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
69%
The game's soundtrack is widely praised for its energetic, electronic style that perfectly complements the bizarre visuals and intense combat, effectively enhancing the unique, immersive atmosphere. Many reviewers describe the music as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's identity and overall vibe.
- “The soundtrack deserves major credit for carrying much of the game’s identity.”
- “The music matches the game’s strange visual direction perfectly and keeps the adrenaline high during combat.”
- “Combined with the eerie mall environments, the soundtrack helps create a mood that feels uniquely uncomfortable yet strangely immersive.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The gameplay combines melee-focused action with bullet-dodging in an isometric perspective, creating a frantic, mobile combat experience with surprising depth once mastered. While initially clunky, confusing, and sometimes abrasive—especially in its tutorial—the unique mix of beat-em-up and fighting game elements offers engaging mechanics that complement the game's distinct visual and musical style. However, some players may find the game's roughness and unconventional design off-putting.
- “Knockoff uses an isometric perspective and combines melee-focused action with bullet-dodging mechanics, forcing players to stay constantly mobile during encounters.”
- “The tutorial sets the scene and lays out the core movement and fighting mechanics well.”
- “Gameplay is a bit clunky and poorly explained, but that adds to the charm in its way.”
- “The controls can initially feel wild due to the game’s frantic pacing, but after spending time with the mechanics, the combat starts to reveal surprising depth.”
- “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.”
story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The story is generally praised for its interesting hooks and compelling premise, standing out among fighting games with a rich background lore. While some find it a bit short and hope for more content, the narrative effectively complements the gameplay and keeps players engaged.
- “It also, unlike most fighting games, has interesting story hooks!”
- “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 bother me doing it again, and doing so made me find extra background lore.”
- “Shaping up to be one of the first fighting games with a compelling story mode!”
- “They expected it to make them $600 in 3 months after giving the game away for free and wanted $600 to make one new character and some more story content.”
- “The story might be a bit short right now.”
- “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 bother me doing it again, and doing so made me find extra background lore.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is richly immersive, characterized by strange, intense, and unstable vibes created through a blend of loud electronic music, experimental audio, and cohesive level design. Every element—from visuals to enemy design—works together to reinforce its unique and energetic personality.
- “Every corridor, arcade, store, and hidden corner feels drenched in strange atmosphere.”
- “Loud electronic tracks, distorted beats, and experimental audio design create an atmosphere that constantly feels unstable and intense.”
- “Every level, soundtrack choice, enemy design, and visual effect reinforces its strange atmosphere and energetic personality.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the character designs visually interesting but desire more detailed views or closer looks at the character models for better appreciation.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find grinding in the game engaging enough to persist through early stages, motivated by curiosity to explore further content beyond the tutorial.