Beastieball

Beastieball is a charming and unique monster-taming sports RPG developed by Wishes Unlimited (creators of Chicory and Wandersong) and published by Klei Entertainment. Launched into Early Access in November 2024, the game cleverly replaces traditional turn-based monster combat with strategic, team-based volleyball matches, all wrapped in a vibrant, heartfelt world focused on teamwork and relationships.

Plot: Saving the Sanctuary

The game is set in a world where Beastieball—a competitive form of volleyball played with creatures called Beasties—is a way of life. The player takes on the role of a coach who lives near a cherished Beastie sanctuary. The sanctuary is under threat from the "Big Leagues," who plan to build a massive stadium over the habitat.

To save their home and the Beasties within it, the coach must climb the ranks of the official Beastieball League, proving their skill and influence to challenge the powers that be. The story is lighthearted, community-driven, and centers on the protagonist's journey to become one of the world's top coaches.

Core Gameplay: Turn-Based Volleyball

Matches are the core of Beastieball and are played on a volleyball court with two active Beasties per side, and three in reserve. The gameplay is turn-based, but adheres to the spirit of volleyball:

• The Turn Structure: When the ball enters your side of the net, your team is on the attack. You have three moves during this turn to prepare a play—which might include passing, repositioning, or using a special ability—before returning the ball over the net.

• Attack and Defense: Beasties use their unique moves to attack the opposing team. Attacks can target the opponents' Beasties to drain their Stamina (their health) or aim at open court spaces to score points. A match is won by scoring a set number of points or by Wiping Out (reducing to zero Stamina) both opposing Beasties.

• Damage Mechanics: A strategic element is the court positioning: Beasties take more damage the farther they are from the net, forcing players to manage their formation carefully.

Relationship-Driven Strategy

The element that provides the most strategic depth is the Relationship System:

• Bonds and Combos: Beasties' combat effectiveness is directly tied to the relationships they form with their teammates, which can be Partners, Rivals, Besties, or Sweethearts.

• Combo Moves: As two Beasties play and interact together, their relationship deepens, unlocking powerful Combo Moves unique to that pairing. These moves can restore stamina, provide team-wide buffs, or unleash devastating joint attacks that can turn the tide of a match.

• Feelings (Status Effects): Beasties are affected by various Feelings (status effects) during a match, such as Jazzed (offense boost), Sweaty (stamina loss), or Tender (defense reduction), which add an extra layer of tactical complexity to every turn.

By blending the deep character development of an RPG with the tactical movement of a sports simulator, Beastieball offers a charming and refreshingly unique take on the monster-taming genre.