Using simple twin-stick controls and featuring a vibrant, ’70s inspired art style, Stikbold! is a fast-paced approximation of the game of dodgeball, complete with off-court hazards, random events and boss battles. Up to four players can partake in brutal yet outlandish rounds of dodgeball, where fast reactions, tactics and teamwork combine to create a sports game unlike any other. Always enjoyable but truly shining as a local multiplayer game, Stikbold! is slated to become the next couch multiplayer game of choice.

The game originally began as an entry into the Nordic Game jam three years ago, winning the award for being the “most fun” out of all submissions. Realizing that they had created the framework for something special, the team decided to develop the prototype into a full game, and three years later, Stikbold! is the result.

Stikbold! tells the story of Bjorn and Jerome who set out on a heroic mission in the name of love and glory. When a rival team is kidnapped by a man dressed as the devil, our dodgeball-loving superstars begin a journey that pays homage to the best buddy movies of old. The story mode can be enjoyed in single or co-op mode, and details Bjorn and Jerome’s quest to restore glory to their team, encountering all manner of weird and wonderful characters and scenarios along the way. Spread across five levels, each with multiple dodgeball battles, Stikbold! is a beautifully-paced adventure lasting around three hours, with multiple playthroughs offering plenty of bonus unlockables.

“From game jam to console – it’s been quite the ride,” says Jacob Herold, CEO and founder of Game Swing. “Whether it’s been at PAX or GDC, everyone who’s had the opportunity to play early builds of Stikbold! has enjoyed its accessibility, playability and sense of humor, comparing it to old school multiplayer games like Bomberman. We can’t wait to get it into the hands of console and PC players this April.”

Key Features:

• Single or co-op adventure mode
• Up to four player multiplayer matches
• 18 weird and wonderful characters
• 12 single or multiplayer levels spread across five incredibly varied dodgeball arenas
• Intuitive controls offer deeply tactical gameplay
• Inventive story mode takes around three hours to play through each time, with additional content available to unlock via multiple playthroughs
• Highly customizable multiplayer modes that allow for up to six players on screen (four humans, two bots), providing endless challenge
• Players always involved in the action – even if they’re knocked out of the game

Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure will launch for $9.99/€9.99/£7.99 across PS4 (April 5), Xbox One (April 8), and PC, with a 20% discount for two weeks post-launch.