7 /10 24

Gang Beasts stands out as a deliberately chaotic multiplayer brawler that prioritizes hilarity over technical precision. Since its full launch in 2017, this indie gem from Boneloaf has built a dedicated following by embracing wonky physics and environmental hazards as core gameplay elements. Players throw one another from speeding trucks, suspended platforms, and wrestling rings while mastering the game’s unconventional control scheme. This review explores why Gang Beasts remains a standout party game despite mixed critical reception, examining its strengths in local multiplayer, cross-platform availability, and what drives its lasting appeal among couch co-op enthusiasts.

How to Play Gang Beasts

Gang Beasts uses simple yet unconventional controls to create surprisingly deep physics-based combat. Characters are soft, gelatinous humanoids that can grab, push, pull, punch, and throw opponents. The game runs on momentum-based movement rather than traditional fighting game inputs. Players advance through melee elimination matches where the goal is knocking opponents off platforms or crushing them against hazards.

1. Controls – Gang Beasts assigns grab and punch to shoulder buttons, requiring players to hold opposing buttons simultaneously to climb. The unintuitive layout creates a learning curve, but mastery rewards players with faster climbing and better positioning during fights.
2. Progression – Players unlock new stages, character skins, and emotes through online play. Solo wave modes and gang modes against AI provide single-player content, though these are minimal compared to multiplayer options.
3. Combat and Mechanics – The core loop involves grabbing opponents, building momentum through swinging, and launching them toward environmental hazards or off-stage. Timing grabs and managing ragdoll physics creates tactical depth beneath the surface-level chaos.
4. Tips – New players should practice climbing walls before jumping into matches, as wall-hugging is crucial for survival. Learning to grab teammates during local matches reveals complex throwing techniques that separate casual players from experienced ones.

Who Should Play Gang Beasts

Gang Beasts thrives as a party game for groups seeking lighthearted competition. It works best in living rooms with four or more controllers connected, though online play accommodates up to eight players. The game demands active participation and communication, making it ideal for casual gaming nights.

• Party Gamers – Friends gathering for couch co-op multiplayer will find Gang Beasts consistently entertaining. The unpredictable physics engine ensures no two matches play identically, keeping laughter flowing across multiple rounds.
• Nostalgia Seekers – Players reminiscing about Nintendo 64-era party games like Smash Bros will appreciate Gang Beasts’ intentionally imperfect control scheme and focus on group fun over competitive balance.
• Online Multiplayer Fans – Gang Beasts supports up to eight online players, though latency occasionally affects grab mechanics. The game works best with friends via Discord communication rather than strangers.
• Skip if – Single-player enthusiasts, competitive esports-minded players, and those seeking technical polish should look elsewhere. Gang Beasts deliberately embraces bugs and awkward physics as features rather than flaws.

Gang Beasts Platform Performance

Gang Beasts runs on nearly all hardware thanks to its lightweight Unity engine. The 2GB install size makes it accessible on budget systems. Performance remains stable across platforms, though Switch receives visual compromises due to handheld limitations.

Gang Beasts System Requirements

Gang Beasts demands minimal hardware, making it accessible across generations of PC builds. Even integrated graphics from a decade ago can run the game smoothly. The streamlined engine prioritizes playability over graphical fidelity.

Similar Games to Gang Beasts

The multiplayer party fighting genre has evolved since Gang Beasts’ 2017 launch. Several spiritual successors offer refined mechanics, better graphics, and expanded content while maintaining the core appeal of competitive couch co-op chaos.

• Party Animals – Direct spiritual successor with anthropomorphic characters, weapons, and more game modes. Features better controls and modern visuals but lacks Gang Beasts’ cult charm.
• Fall Guys – Battle royale format with 60 players competing through obstacle courses. Shares the chaotic physics humor but replaces 1v1 fighting with race-based eliminations.
• Moving Out – Couch co-op puzzle game emphasizing physics-based coordination. Similar cooperative spirit but different gameplay focus around moving furniture through hazards.
• Overcooked – Team-based couch co-op requiring communication and synchronization. Appeals to the same party game audience though gameplay centers on kitchen management rather than combat.

Gang Beasts vs Competitors

Gang Beasts competes primarily with Party Animals as a physics-based multiplayer brawler. The comparison reveals how indie charm stacks against modern polish and content depth.

Gang Beasts Story and World

Gang Beasts forgoes traditional narrative for environmental storytelling. The game takes place in Beef City, a gritty industrial setting filled with hazardous stages that double as interactive obstacles. Each arena presents unique environmental threats: a meat processing plant with moving machinery, a speeding truck bed where platforms shift, a suspended skyscraper under construction. The tone remains deliberately absurdist, treating gelatinous characters as expendable comedy props. Story sequences are minimal; instead, stage design communicates the game’s darkly humorous world through visual details. Character customization lets players express personality through costume choices, from mundane business suits to elaborate thematic outfits.

Gang Beasts Multiplayer and Online

Gang Beasts offers both local and online multiplayer supporting up to eight simultaneous players. The game’s strength lies in local couch co-op, though online matchmaking connects players globally. Latency occasionally affects grab responsiveness, but the physics engine generally compensates.

• Melee Mode – Free-for-all or team battles where players eliminate opponents through environmental hazards or direct throws. Victory goes to the last player standing after three rounds.
• Gang Mode – Cooperative wave-based survival against AI gangs. Teams of up to four players fight successive waves of increasingly difficult opponents while defending objectives.
• Online Matchmaking – Ranked and unranked queues pair players globally. Queue times vary by region and time of day but typically match players within 2-3 minutes.
• Cross-Platform – No cross-platform play; PlayStation, Xbox, and PC maintain separate player pools. Nintendo Switch multiplayer uses dedicated servers requiring Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

Gang Beasts DLC and Expansions

Boneloaf maintains steady cosmetic support for Gang Beasts through seasonal costume packs. The game avoids pay-to-win mechanics, limiting DLC to visual customization options. New stages occasionally release for free.

• Costume Packs – Periodic thematic outfits tied to holidays, pop culture, and game collaborations. Prices range from $1.99 for single costumes to $4.99 for five-costume bundles.
• Free Updates – Boneloaf releases new stages and balance patches semi-regularly. Major updates occur quarterly rather than seasonally, reflecting the studio’s small size.
• Season Pass – No season pass exists; cosmetics can be purchased individually. This approach prevents players from feeling locked out of content through batch purchases.
• Collaboration Content – Limited-time crossover costumes occasionally tie-in with other franchises, though these remain rare for an independent studio of Boneloaf’s scale.

Gang Beasts Community and Support

Gang Beasts maintains an active but modest community of dedicated players. Boneloaf engages directly through Discord and Reddit, providing transparent communication about development priorities. The small studio size means patches arrive slower than AAA competitors but with strong community feedback integration.

• Official Communities – Boneloaf monitors the official Discord server for bug reports and feature requests. The studio prioritizes transparency about known issues and upcoming fixes.
• Community Forums – Reddit communities r/gangbeasts and gaming subreddits host active discussions. Player-created guides help newcomers navigate the unintuitive control scheme.
• Mod Support – Limited mod support exists through Steam Workshop for cosmetic additions. Engine limitations prevent comprehensive gameplay modifications.
• Update Schedule – Boneloaf typically releases balance patches every 4-6 weeks. Roadmap transparency shows planned features in development, though release timelines remain flexible.