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Knockout City

Knockout City Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, monetization
87% User Score Based on 5,574 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
Knockout City Game Cover

About

Knockout City is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with kids and science fiction themes. It was developed by Velan Studios and was released on March 30, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Knockout City is a free-to-play, team-based multiplayer game that revolves around dodgeball battles. Customize your character, form a crew, and compete against rival teams in frantic and fun matches. The Deluxe Edition offers exclusive rewards, including outfits, vehicle, logos, banners, and in-game currency."

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87%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,574 reviews
gameplay224 positive mentions
story10 negative mentions

  • Knockout City offers a unique and exhilarating multiplayer experience with its creative dodgeball mechanics and fast-paced action.
  • The game features extensive character customization and a vibrant art style that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
  • It is easy to learn but hard to master, providing a rewarding experience for both casual and competitive players.
  • The player base has dwindled significantly, leading to long matchmaking times and unbalanced matches.
  • There are frequent server issues and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including lag and connection errors.
  • The game has been criticized for its monetization strategy, with some players feeling that it should have been free-to-play from the start.
  • gameplay
    519 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Knockout City" is characterized by its fast-paced, engaging dodgeball mechanics that are easy to learn yet challenging to master, offering a high skill ceiling for competitive play. Players appreciate the variety of ball types, strategic team coordination, and well-designed arenas that enhance the overall experience, although some find the gameplay can become repetitive over time. The game successfully combines fun mechanics with a vibrant aesthetic, making it a standout in the multiplayer arena genre.

    • “Gameplay is where Knockout City truly shines.”
    • “Its dodgeball mechanics are easy to grasp but offer surprising depth, with various ball types, trick shots, and strategic team coordination playing major roles.”
    • “The gameplay is fast-paced, fun, and competitive.”
    • “The gameplay itself went just too repetitive.”
    • “The maps are meh, and the gameplay is pretty repetitive after a while; get cornered by the stack = lose, corner with your stack = win.”
    • “The game is really really repetitive since it lacks gameplay other than throwing balls.”
  • graphics
    138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant, cartoonish art style that resonates well with its playful tone, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Jet Set Radio. Players appreciate the unique and colorful visuals, which enhance the overall experience, although some express mixed feelings about the character designs and occasional technical issues. Overall, the graphics are seen as appealing and well-suited for the game's fast-paced, team-based gameplay.

    • “Visually, Knockout City features a bold, cartoonish art style that fits its tone perfectly.”
    • “The game's vibrant art style, smooth mechanics, and dynamic maps create an enjoyable experience that's easy to pick up and play.”
    • “The graphics are light on your rig but not light on the detail and colors!”
    • “Couldn't get the PC version working due to graphic issues :(”
    • “I've downloaded the game and every time I try to open it, it doesn't work and shows a message saying 'Vulkan can't be initialized'. My graphic card is up to date, but I can't fix it, please help!”
    • “Also, the graphical settings don't save, and that is a bit annoying.”
  • music
    66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, reminiscent of titles like Jet Set Radio, with a variety of unique in-game bands contributing to a vibrant audio experience. Players appreciate the catchy tunes that enhance the gameplay, although some note that the repetitive nature of the music can become grating over extended play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, adding significant charm and excitement to the game's atmosphere.

    • “But the gameplay was punchy, the presentation was groovy, and the soundtrack was (and is, can still listen on Spotify!) jamming.”
    • “The world was bright and beautiful, the character designs and cosmetics were varied but invariably delightful, and the music was energetic and engaging, coming from many different in-universe bands, each with a unique sound.”
    • “The soundtrack is a work of art, the announcer really knows how to get you pumped for the match, while also making you feel a sense of failure when you get absolutely pwned in this game.”
    • “But what is the annoying menu music? I can't remember it being funny once, and I can't turn it down until I can get into the game.”
    • “I bought this game expecting something like Jet Set Radio; instead, I got Fortnite soccer with a pretty underwhelming soundtrack and bad controls.”
    • “Ui is currently wonky on PC, and the music/announcer gets grating pretty fast.”
  • humor
    59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its funny mechanics, hilarious voiceovers, and the chaotic nature of gameplay that leads to memorable moments. Many reviews emphasize that the game is enjoyable whether winning or losing, as it consistently elicits laughter and fosters a fun atmosphere, making it a great choice for multiplayer sessions with friends. Overall, the game's comedic elements and lighthearted vibe contribute significantly to its appeal.

    • “So if you're looking for a multiplayer game that's funny, silly, and full of hilarious moments, give Knockout City a try.”
    • “The voice overs are hilarious and the movement, mechanics, balls, maps, characters, crews are all very good and very well worked out features!”
    • “Not only is the game itself fun, and full of positive feedback loops, but every map, animation, item, and even descriptions have that little flair of humor, creativity and thought, a key sign proving that real human beings truly love and have fun working on the game, putting a touch of their personality into every corner.”
    • “Aaaaa, balls in my face! Nooo, ahahaha... stop! Omg, y'all *laughs gingerly in an introverted manner* not funny anymore!”
  • story
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized, with many users noting the absence of a traditional narrative or story mode, describing it as lacking depth. Some players express a desire for a more developed story experience, while a few mention that character backgrounds and world-building elements are present, albeit minimal. Overall, the consensus leans towards the game needing a more engaging story to enhance the experience.

    • “Epic story.”
    • “Game is most definitely my main game; the storyline is cool.”
    • “Yes, despite this game not having a story mode, you do learn a bit about the characters and the world they inhabit.”
    • “This game has no story.”
    • “Desperately in need of more to do, I'd suggest a story mode.”
    • “At $20 USD it's quite steep; if there were a single-player mission system or even a wave-based co-op mode, I definitely feel like the game could appeal to a larger crowd.”
  • monetization
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating that microtransactions are limited to cosmetic items and do not impact gameplay. However, there are concerns about the potential for aggressive monetization strategies in the future, especially given the game's initial price and EA's reputation for cash grabs. Overall, while the current system is seen as fair and skill-based, players hope for a more sustainable approach that could enhance the game's longevity and appeal.

    • “Great game, very simple yet very fun gameplay, decent progression, lots of skins, fair monetization (as much as microtransactions can be) can only recommend, I have 125 hours on Origin and have been playing since the first betas.”
    • “The in-app purchases don't help you progress; they are simply cosmetic, which is nice knowing there are no pay-to-win elements.”
    • “Microtransactions are all cosmetic (and obtainable through free gameplay).”
    • “Hope this game comes back in the future with better monetization so it can thrive like it should.”
    • “Huge esports and competitive potential but the game was dead from the start because it was 20 bucks. Fuck you EA for greedily putting a game price plus microtransactions.”
    • “What an f-ing cash grab.”
  • grinding
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players express that grinding in the game can be excessive, often requiring significant time investment, with some likening it to needing "a second life." However, many appreciate that the battle pass system is less grindy compared to other games, making the experience more enjoyable, especially when playing with friends. While cosmetics can be earned through grinding, the game is designed to prioritize skill over grinding, which some players find refreshing.

    • “The battle pass system isn't too grindy either like other games. I mean, you still have to play a lot, but it's not as bad because you are having fun while playing it.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “A bit grindy at times.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Oversaturated FPS and not-so-free grindy free-to-play games out there.”
    • “Sadly as it is, every new game that has a lot of potential becomes free and uses the same money farming strategy such as Fortnite and adds a battle pass, which basically destroys the grind from the game.”
  • optimization
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and minimal bugs, others experience significant stuttering and lag, particularly after updates. Despite some users enjoying the gameplay and interface, concerns about ongoing performance issues and server stability persist, indicating that further optimization is needed.

    • “Performance remains consistent across platforms, with smooth animations and a clean user interface contributing to the overall polish.”
    • “Optimization is amazing, gameplay is smooth and intuitive, and it's just overall a very fun game to play.”
    • “Here is what the game does right: there's little to no bugs that I've experienced, making the game run smoothly.”
    • “The game is out for over 6 months, they still didn't address the performance issues.”
    • “Was running just fine when I originally downloaded it, but a week later there is horrendous stuttering and lag, even in menus and the main hub area.”
    • “Probably put more thought into cosmetics and the battle pass than optimization.”
  • stability
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is a significant concern among players, with many reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and game-breaking glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some users have had minimal issues, the majority express frustration over the game's buggy nature, which can lead to penalties for disconnecting due to glitches. Overall, the game's stability appears to require substantial improvements to enhance player enjoyment.

    • “But other than that, it's been fun; no glitches so far.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
    • “I've played for hours without encountering any stability issues, which is impressive.”
    • “Many game-breaking glitches yet to be fixed.”
    • “It's a good game and very fun with friends; however, I often experience crashes and freezes, so I hope this gets fixed in a future update.”
    • “Game won't even let me join a match half the time because it glitches in the lobby screen with no way out of it when I can hear the game being played in the background, and then proceeds to give me a penalty for leaving the game.”
  • replayability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users find the game to have high replayability, often describing it as "infinitely replayable" due to regular updates, engaging multiplayer features, and a variety of content that keeps the experience fresh. While some players note that it can become boring over time, many still rate its replay value positively, often comparing it favorably to more expensive titles.

    • “A healthy dose of reflex-based competitive action that's easy to learn and fun to master, with a fantastic presentation, groovy soundtrack, and high replay value.”
    • “I would easily say it can get boring fast, but even if that happens, the game still has a solid replay value.”
    • “It's only $20 and has more content and replayability than most $60 AAA titles out nowadays.”
    • “Regular updates and events during its peak added to the game's replayability and depth.”
  • emotional
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional responses to games vary widely, with players expressing deep connections to titles like Dark Souls 2 for their profound and lasting impact, while others find joy and camaraderie in the competitive yet wholesome environment of Knockout City. Some experiences evoke tears and frustration, highlighting the intense highs and lows of gameplay, while others celebrate the sense of belonging and positivity within the gaming community. Overall, the emotional spectrum ranges from heartfelt nostalgia to lighthearted enjoyment.

    • “As much as Knockout City tried to capitalize on its fun mechanics, it couldn't withstand the monumental legacy of Dark Souls 2, which offered an emotionally and intellectually engaging experience that will stay with players for years.”
    • “I shed a tear or two each time I think about it.”
    • “Panda threw a ball at my head and I cried for like 23 minutes.”
  • character development
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the vibrant world and varied character designs, while others criticize the aesthetics as unattractive and reminiscent of Fortnite characters. Despite the engaging music and overall enjoyment of the gameplay, the character designs, particularly the faces, have been a significant point of contention among users.

    • “The world was bright and beautiful, the character designs and cosmetics were varied but invariably delightful, and the music was energetic and engaging, coming from many different in-universe bands, each with a unique sound.”
    • “I'm still a massive hater of the character designs, especially their faces.”
    • “Definitely a good game, but the character design is pretty bad because they're basically Fortnite characters and they all look like lesbians, Lil Yachty, or Elvis. Other than that, the game's great.”
    • “I get you're appealing to kids, but holy crap do you have to make it so ugly with the character designs?”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in Dark Souls 2 is praised for its meticulous world-building, blending various styles into a coherent and immersive experience. Users highlight the game's complex and challenging environment, alongside its impressive graphics, which contribute to a unique and engaging vibe reminiscent of other popular titles. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautiful and fun, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The game's graphics and atmosphere of the maps are also very good, somehow managing to pull off a mix of punk, retro-futurism, cartoonishness, and a bunch of other styles while still feeling like a coherent world.”
    • “Beautiful game with a fun atmosphere.”
    • “Dark Souls 2’s world is meticulously crafted, offering a level of complexity, difficulty, and atmosphere that no game like Knockout City could replicate.”
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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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15h Median play time
26h Average play time
5-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 21 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Knockout City is a shooter game with kids and science fiction themes.

Knockout City is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 26 hours playing Knockout City.

Knockout City was released on March 30, 2021.

Knockout City was developed by Velan Studios.

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

Knockout City is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Splitgate, Rogue Company, Rocket Arena, Friends vs Friends, Slapshot and others.