Punchimals, an upcoming 2.5D fighting game about cute animals and mechs from indie developer and publisher Two Lives Left, is officially arriving in 2024. It currently does not have a concrete release date.
In Punchimals, players can enjoy physics-based combat with adorable mechs in a single player campaign, or through multiplayer battles, all in a variety of arenas.
Punchimals will be available on Steam, where you can wishlist the game now. There’s currently no word on a console port. Here’s the announcement tweet from Two Lives Left’s official feed:
You can also review a brief gameplay trailer for Punchimals on the Two Lives Left YouTube channel, featuring pre-alpha footage:
I have a personal affection for mechs, from MechWarrior to anime, so I’m pleased that Punchimals has so much verve and charm.
Its theme alone will be enough to interest fans of the mecha and fighting genres, with colorful and distinguishable characters. The art design is clever and tidy, with a hint of comedy. The cat timer is such a nice touch.
Today’s announcement trailer is full of upbeat music and a busy world that would feel at home in any arcade. The animation also seems far smoother than expected, and that’s crucial for a physics-based game.
Using physics-based combat was a smart move. It adds a natural sense of humor to fighting and basic movement, as in the ragdoll classic Gang Beasts. It also adds some unpredictability to the titular punches.
And although the mechanics look fairly simple, the Steam page reveals there will be more complex movement and “unique abilities”.
Local multiplayer and strong thematic gameplay could have been more than enough. It’s a delight that players will even get a campaign mode. Punchimals looks short, cozy, layered, and promises to be a knockout.
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