Who would've thought that this would be one of the biggest games of 2020? Devolver Digital and Mediatonic have thrown their hat into the ring on the ever-popular battle royale genre with "Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout." Personally, I'm not one that plays a lot of the online multiplayer games (I'm more of a local multiplayer gamer), so while I've tried a few of the recent battle royale games, such as "Fortnite" and "Apex Legends," I can only go so far as to appreciate them, without really wanting to return to them all that much. "Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout," though, seemed like a game more tailored to me, though, and when I heard about all the hype and saw the gameplay, I knew I had to try it myself. I'm very glad I did because it is a boatload of fun.
Where most battle royale games are shooters, "Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout" is actually a blend of racing and platformer elements, where instead of trying to necessarily take down and destroy your opponents, your survival is a matter of wits and managing the many hazards of the stages. It's a very fresh take, though, and I absolutely love the chaotic nature of the game's many challenges. It's almost like watching an episode of "Wipeout" come to life, but you're playing as these jellybean-like creatures along the way. It's also a game that's easy to get into thanks to its accessible controls, but very challenging to master because of how hazardous it is. It never stops being fun, though, and even though I haven't won a single game, I love how wild the challenges are and don't mind losing them. The visuals are also extremely colorful and I love how vibrant the overall aesthetic of the game is, and the easy, catchy soundtrack is another great addition, too.
If there's anything holding the game back, I just wish there was more. I know there's gonna be more seasons, but so far, the game still just feels a bit barebones, and that's a shame because this is an incredible concept that's practically begging for more content. I hope they add a bunch more content to the game in the future.
Overall, "Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout" has been one of 2020's biggest breakout titles, and for good reason, because it's actually a very fun game. Even as someone that doesn't play a lot of online multiplayer games, this is a clever and inventive take on the battle royale, and it's a game I highly recommend. I hope it continues to see huge success in the future.
Final rating: 8 out of 10 "Great"