Smash It Wild: Everything We Know

Not to be confused with Super Smash Bros., Smash It Wild is all about smacking a volleyball into your opponent’s face. It pits teams against one another, with the player taking control of anthropomorphic animals. The characters don’t come to play as they grab onto your competitive edges and dash for the win. This one’s bound to get chaotic pretty fast. So, if you want to slot your calendar in time for the release, be sure to read through to the end of our Smash It Wild: Everything We Know article. 

What is Smash It Wild?

Smash It Wild is an upcoming tactical turn-based volleyball roguelike game. However, it introduces a special twist to the usual volleyball rules, where players also engage in dodgeball mechanics. All of the gameplay takes place in a fantastical universe, where animals take center stage vying for the top crown. Additionally, you’ll be free to level up your characters’ skills and abilities while looking to get a leg up on your opponent. No matter the team you choose, battles will surely grow intense by the minute, with roguelike mechanics further spicing up the flow.

Story

Smash It Wild will, first and foremost, take place in a fantasy world where animals can jump up and smack a volleyball to the opponent’s side. The games are a tournament where the best team wins. However, the tournament will be spread across a spree of different matches. The matches themselves are a mix of volleyball, complete with the net in the middle and dodgeball. Also, you’ll play in turn-based form, with each player in your team getting a shot at smacking the ball. But there’s also a decent level of strategy involved. 

Ultimately, your goal will be to level up your team to outmatch the opponent. This includes empowering them with more powerful items that haven’t been specified in the game’s Steam description, as well as experimenting with different player synergies. Combined, you’ll exercise your team’s strengths across a roguelike gameplay system where competitive spirits thrive. Being a roguelike, it also means that losing a game will kick you all the way back to the beginning, albeit with the items and abilities you’ve acquired.

Gameplay

Thanks to Steam, we have a good idea of the gameplay you can expect. 

• Team-based gameplay: You’ll be controlling a team of different animals that have varying skills and abilities. Depending on the team you choose, you’ll have access to unique strategies. Also, the variety in teams ensures that the game remains fresh and challenging across each match. Moreover, you can unlock new abilities as you progress, with the freedom to experiment with different team synergies that marry well with your individual play style.
• Learn from your mistakes: Being a roguelike, Smash It Wild will have lots of repetitive play. You have to play through matches without losing. Otherwise, you have to go all the way back to the beginning. Despite the setback, you can learn from your mistakes and perfect your next run. Further, you can improve your skills by taking the time to choose the best skills and items against your opponent, as well as engaging in the training sessions.
• Strategy and team management: Gameplay will go beyond the court to managing your team. Before you start a new game, you’ll make strategic decisions that upgrade your players, entrust them with new abilities, or jump into “unexpected events.” Each decision you make off the court will impact your team’s on-court performance. 
• By completing missions, you’ll earn rewards. These include more challenging goals and what Steam calls “unpredictable events.” There’ll be an element of risk versus reward as you strive to scoop up the crown.

Key Features

In summary, here are the key features Smash It Wild will include:

• Turn-based tactics: Enjoy a mix of volleyball and dodgeball across a series of matches.
• Sailpunk world: Control anthropomorphic animals who compete in a tournament staged in a fantasy universe. Each animal has unique abilities.
• Roguelike gameplay: Play on and on without losing a match. Otherwise, you have to backtrack all the way to the beginning.
• Improve as you progress: With each new match, you’ll try out different combos, synergies, and more, discovering the play styles that work best for you.
• Experiment with combos: Your players will need training to master new attacks and adopt powerful items.
• Secondary goals: Unlock additional objectives that grant you more rewards.

Development

Developers Goblinz Studio and Ernestine are working on Smash It Wild, in partnership with Goblinz Publishing. Goblinz has been great at experimenting with different genres, though most of them lean more on the strategy and management space. The publishing wing, on the other hand, has an impressive collection of games they’ve worked on. Some of the games you may know of include Dungeon Tycoon, Shogun Showdown, Spin Hero, Terraformers, and much more.

Trailer

Goblinz has released the first reveal trailer for the upcoming Smash It Wild on YouTube. It’s a pretty hands-on first trailer that dives deep into the gameplay you can expect in the final game. While the animations are a little bland, the gameplay itself seems genuinely chaotic and fun. It’s a shame the game is single-player, as there is a high potential for some great multiplayer fun.

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

It’s official. Smash It Wild will be coming in the second quarter of 2025. As we draw closer to the launch window, Goblinz will surely give us a more specific release date. Meanwhile, PC owners will be the only ones who get the chance to play the game via Steam. Steam is also where you can add the game to your wishlist to know when it has launched. As for the editions, we’re keeping our eyes peeled for any announcements on that front. However, feel free to follow the official social handle here, where you can receive fresh updates as they come.

So, what’s your take? Will you be grabbing a copy of Smash It Wild when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here.