Smash It Wild

It may be severely lacking in replayability, and its roguelike nature means with the right luck some runs will simply become trivial, but it still serves up a very fun and stylish package for sports and RPG fans alike.

An interesting tactical turn-based experience that combines dodgeball and volleyball in a fantasy universe

Goblinz Studio wants us to see volleyball from a different perspective—one that’s more strategic and more measured.

Smash it Wild quickly ends up feeling like every run follows the same pattern. A match begins, you swiftly dismantle or control the opposing team however you like, and then it devolves into a drawn-out endurance phase. This creates a sluggish, repetitive loop that personally didn’t provide much enjoyment. I’ve noticed this issue increasingly this year with various roguelite titles, where the core gameplay tends to wear itself out quickly. In those cases, it was often the language barrier, the resulting need to constantly reorient oneself, and the time investment that contributed to the fatigue. In Smash it Wild, however, the problem lies more in the lack of variety and the overly simplistic approach to strategic decision-making. Forming a final judgment is difficult. I do like the concept of Smash it Wild as well as its “expanded” form of run progression. Yet after only a few runs, the game gradually worked its way out of my interest—not through a sudden, decisive strike to my taste, but rather slowly and insidiously. Ultimately, Smash it Wild fails to keep its gameplay loop engaging and varied over the long term.

An unusual mix of strategy, sports, and some roguelike elements that works but falls short on likely staying power