Beastieball
{{Short description|Upcoming video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Infobox video game
| composer = Lena Raine
| genre = Sports, role-playing
| modes = Single-player, multi-player
| released =
| engine = GameMaker
| publisher = Klei Entertainment
| developer = Wishes Unlimited
| director = Greg Lobanov
| artist = Alexis Dean-Jones
| image = Beastieball_Cover_Art.webp
}}
Beastieball is a monster-taming sports game developed by Wishes Unlimited and published by Klei Entertainment. The player controls a coach, exploring the world to find collectable "Beasties" that can be used to play volleyball to win titles. The game was made available for Microsoft Windows in early access on November 12, 2024.{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/11/beastieball-launches-in-early-access-on-november-12|title=Beastieball launches in Early Access on November 12|website=Gematsu|date=November 1, 2024|access-date=November 1, 2024}}{{Cite magazine |last=Hilliard |first=Kyle |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Chicory Dev Announces Pokémon-Inspired Volleyball And More From Day Of The Devs |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/sgf-2023/2023/06/08/chicory-dev-announces-pokemon-inspired-volleyball-and-more-from-day-of-the-devs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608220046/https://www.gameinformer.com/sgf-2023/2023/06/08/chicory-dev-announces-pokemon-inspired-volleyball-and-more-from-day-of-the-devs |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |access-date=2023-10-04 |magazine=Game Informer |language=en}}
Gameplay
File:Beastieball_Gameplay_Screenshot.jpg
Players tour the world, signing Beasties to defeat the eight ranked coaches.{{Cite news |last=Wales |first=Matt |date=2023-06-09 |title=Here's everything featured in Day of the Devs' latest indie showcase |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/heres-everything-featured-in-day-of-the-devs-latest-indie-showcase |access-date=2023-10-04 |work=Eurogamer |language=en}} When playing volleyball, the player can have two Beasties on the field, with another three on the sidelines. During each turn, the player can make three moves such as passing or changing their position before the ball is hit over to the other side. Beasties take damage when hit, and that damage is dependent on the distance between them and the net. A match ends when a team is wiped or when a team scores a certain amount of points.{{Cite web |last=Dinsdale |first=Ryan |date=2023-06-12 |title=Beastieball Announced, Looks Like Pokémon Meets Volleyball |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/beastieball-announced-looks-like-pokmon-meets-volleyball |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=IGN |language=en}} As Beasties grow closer with each other, they gain access to new special abilities that help during matches.{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=2023-06-08 |title=Turn-based RPG Beastieball announced for PC |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/06/turn-based-rpg-beastieball-announced-for-pc |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}
Development
The game was announced during the 2023 Day of the Devs Summer Game Fest event by Canadian studio Wishes Unlimited, followed by a Kickstarter campaign launched soon after.{{Cite web |last=Mejia |first=Ozzie |date=2023-06-21 |title=Beastieball combines Pokemon-style combat with wholesome volleyball |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/136021/beastieball-preview-summer-game-fest |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Shacknews |language=en}}
Reception
Impressions of the early access version were generally positive.{{Cite web |last=Castle |first=Katharine |date=2024-11-14 |title=Beastieball gives Pokémon an Into the Breach-style sports twist, and I can't get enough of it |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/beastieball-gives-pokemon-an-into-the-breach-style-sports-twist-and-i-cant-get-enough-of-it |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Gould |first=Elie |date=2024-11-15 |title=Beastieball isn't that dissimilar to Pokémon, but instead of straight-up fighting opponents, you have to best them in a game of volleyball |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/beastieball-isnt-that-dissimilar-to-pokemon-but-instead-of-straight-up-fighting-opponents-you-have-to-best-them-in-a-game-of-volleyball/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cichacki |first=Shaun |date=2024-11-27 |title='Beastieball' Proves You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Volley (Early Access Impressions) |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/beastieball-proves-you-gotta-fight-for-your-right-to-volley-early-access-impressions/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Delaney |first=Mark |title=Beastieball Has Finally Given Me The Pokemon-Like Game Of My Dreams |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/beastieball-has-finally-given-me-the-pokemon-like-game-of-my-dreams/1100-6527778/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Lada |first=Jenni |date=2024-11-18 |title=Preview: Beastieball Is Like Pokemon Mixed With Inazuma Eleven |url=https://www.siliconera.com/preview-beastieball-is-like-pokemon-mixed-with-inazuma-eleven/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Siliconera |language=en-US}}