Gang Beasts
Gang Beasts is a beat 'em up party game developed and published by British indie studio Boneloaf. The title would originally be published by Double Fine Presents until May 2020 and self-published afterwards, while it would later be published in physical form by Skybound Games. The game released for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, and PlayStation 4 on 12 December 2017, following an early access period for the PC platforms that began in August 2014. It was also released on the Xbox One on 27 March 2019. Gameplay. "Gang Beasts" is a multiplayer beat 'em up party game  with gelatinous and rather floppy characters, melee fight sequences, and hazardous environments, set in the fictional metropolis of Beef City. At initial release, it contained eight multiplayer stages. The core gameplay involves using various physical abilities such as punching or kicking an opponent until they are knocked out, and then attempting to toss them over one of the stage hazards. Opponents that have been knocked down are not completely defenseless however, as they can fight back to be released. Reception. Already in its freeware alpha state, as well as upon Steam Early Access release, the game was met with positive  response from critics and fans. Comments include Keith Stuart of "The Guardian" calling it "probably one of the silliest beat-'em-ups ever made," Jessica Conditt from Engadget calling it "a jolly good time," and Steve Hansen from Destructoid highlighting how its weirdness plays out well. Outside of early access, "Gang Beasts" received mixed reviews from critics on both the PC and PlayStation 4 versions of the game. On Metacritic, the game holds a score of 67/100 for the PlayStation 4 version based on 8 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews." The game was nominated for "Excellence in Multiplayer" at the  2018 SXSW Gaming Awards, and for "Multiplayer" at the 14th British Academy Games Awards.