It's not "Fortnite," and that's part of why this plucky battle-royale-meets-obstacle-courses is the hottest game right now.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (developed by Mediatronic) is the hot new thing with the kids (says I, an honorary child). The game easily hits over one-hundred-thousand concurrent players. The Fall Guys Twitter account has a million followers. It's the third most-streamed category on Twitch. And the game is auctioning off in-game representation to brands, and the bid is at about half a million. All this is to say, Fall Guys is in.
All of this, for these weird little beans.
Courtesy of Mediatonic
Fall Guys is a battle royale—like many other popular games like Fortnite or Apex: Legends—that pits dozens of players against each other until only one winner remains. Up to 60 players each control a colorful little jellybean with arms and legs (that you can dress up!) and compete in obstacle courses and team games. Each round, only the best players qualify to go on until the winner is determined.
Unlike many other popular battle royales, Fall Guys is easy to play. You waddle around, jump, and grab. But that doesn't mean it's easy to win. Over a million viewers on Twitch rallied behind one player called TimTheTatman, who played almost 700 games before winning.
A moment fit for a king. pic.twitter.com/6GKtj4hhoy
— Twitch (@Twitch) August 20, 2020
But for most players, Fall Guys is a zany way to unwind with friends. The game is designed to evoke laid-back chaos. Players bounce and wobble and fall over through various Mario-Party-like minigames, then probably lose in some tragic and hilarious way. You might get walloped by a spinning hammer, or plummet into the goo with 20 other players when everyone piles on to the wrong side of the see-saw. Perhaps you might be squashed by a giant banana.
Courtesy of Mediatonic
The spirit of fun, the bright colors, the chance to hang out with friends and compete with strangers, and yes—even the disembodied fury of being shoved off an edge all seem to capture the zeitgeist of what people want to play right now.
If you have a PS4, the game is free to play on PlayStation Plus. It's also available for PC on Steam. If you're looking for a fun diversion that anyone can play, you might fall in with Fall Guys.
Have you played any Fall Guys? Do you have an opinion on Yellow Team? Comment below for good luck in your next Fall Ball!
