There is something immediately appealing about the absurdity of Smash it Wild: Tactical Volleyball Roguelike. Goblinz Publishing and Ernestine take the framework of a fantasy sports tournament and twist it into a hybrid of volleyball, dodgeball, tactical RPG combat, and roguelike progression, resulting in a game that feels genuinely unusual in today’s indie landscape. Beneath its colourful cast of animal competitors and breezy sailpunk presentation lies a surprisingly demanding strategy game where positioning, momentum, and calculated risk-taking matter far more than quick reflexes. It is an inventive premise that largely succeeds because the developers commit fully to the blend rather than treating the sports angle as a novelty gimmick.
Matches unfold in turn-based fashion, with teams moving across compact arenas to set up attacks, intercept balls, and exploit environmental positioning. At first glance the rules appear straightforward, but Smash it Wild gradually reveals a satisfying tactical depth through status effects, character abilities, and synergistic team compositions. Different squads encourage radically different approaches, whether focusing on mobility, defensive control, or aggressive power plays, and the roguelike structure constantly pushes players to adapt instead of relying on a single dominant strategy. That flexibility keeps the tournament structure engaging across repeated runs, although the learning curve can occasionally feel steeper than the game initially suggests. Understanding advanced tactics and optimal positioning sometimes requires trial and error rather than clean onboarding, which may frustrate players hoping for a more immediately accessible experience.
The roguelike framework does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to long-term engagement. Between matches, players manage upgrades, equipment, training opportunities, and random encounters that can dramatically alter the direction of a run. Some decisions create powerful synergies that can completely reshape how a team functions, and discovering those combinations becomes one of the game’s biggest hooks. There is a compelling tension between playing conservatively to preserve a successful run and chasing optional objectives for better rewards. At the same time, the structure can occasionally amplify frustration because a single bad match or unlucky sequence may abruptly end a promising campaign. The repetition inherent to roguelikes is softened by the variety of teams and upgrades, but unsuccessful runs can still sting due to the time investment involved.
On PlayStation 5, the controls generally translate well to a controller setup despite the inherently tactical nature of the gameplay. Navigating the arenas, selecting abilities, and lining up attacks feels responsive once the systems click into place, and the pace remains brisk enough to avoid the sluggishness that sometimes affects turn-based titles. However, some interface decisions are less elegant than they could be. Menu navigation and ability information occasionally lack the clarity needed during more chaotic matches, especially once multiple status effects and overlapping abilities begin stacking on the field. While veteran strategy players will likely adapt quickly, newcomers may find themselves wrestling with readability issues during the game’s more demanding moments.
Visually, Smash it Wild leans heavily into charm. The anthropomorphic animal athletes are expressive and memorable, and the colourful fantasy aesthetic gives the game a distinct identity that separates it from more sterile strategy titles. Animations are lively without becoming visually noisy, and the arenas maintain a clean readability that is essential for tactical play. The presentation may not push technical boundaries, but it consistently supports the gameplay well. Audio design follows a similar pattern, with upbeat music and energetic sound effects reinforcing the competitive atmosphere of the tournament structure. The soundtrack may not be especially memorable outside of play sessions, but it keeps the momentum flowing during longer runs and complements the game’s quirky tone effectively.
What ultimately makes Smash it Wild stand out is how confidently it commits to combining genres that normally have little overlap. The game captures the strategic satisfaction of turn-based tactics while preserving the unpredictability and pressure of a competitive sport, and that balance gives matches an identity unlike most roguelikes currently available. There are rough edges in its onboarding, some occasional interface frustrations, and the inevitable repetition that comes with repeated failed runs, but the core design remains refreshingly inventive. Players willing to invest time into understanding its systems will find a deeply rewarding tactical experience hidden beneath its playful exterior.
For the PlayStation 5 audience in particular, Smash it Wild feels like the kind of indie release that thrives through originality rather than scale. It does not always explain itself gracefully, and it occasionally demands patience when luck and difficulty collide, but its combination of tactical planning, sports-inspired mechanics, and roguelike progression creates a surprisingly compelling loop. In a market crowded with familiar formulas, Smash it Wild earns attention simply by daring to attempt something different – and more importantly, by making most of those risks pay off.
Score: 7.4/10