Party games are a more modern phenomenon but certainly nothing new. Online gaming has made it easier than ever before and that’s probably why so many of us enjoy this genre.
So, what do you get if you combine the proto-battle royale action of the Worms series with the somewhat off-kilter humor and presentation of an Adult Swim cartoon?
Probably something sort of like 2015’s Duck Game. Whether you’re into the multiplayer battle genre or not, you might want to check out this title for its unique approach to what can be a stale genre at times.
How to Download Duck Game
You can download the game from Steam, the Nintendo Store, or from the PlayStation Store. To start, click on the Download button at the end of this review.
The Game Review
Presented in an oddly beautiful faux 16-bit art style, Duck Game looks like something we might have seen on the Super Nintendo PlayStation had that ever made it into reality. Far from being the attraction of the game, graphics and sound are nevertheless tight and polished, holding to what you would expect from its aesthetic.
As far as an analog goes for Duck Game, it is really akin to the Mario Party games more than anything else in that it is accessible for general audiences but rewards a kind of mastery of its mechanics. There is a single-player and a challenge mode with two to eight players competing in over 100 different levels using over 50 different weapons.
One thing that fans of games like Duck Game tend to gravitate around after they’ve exhausted much of the core gameplay are things like level editors and gameplay mods. Duck Game does not disappoint because it comes with a level editor to let gamers express their own creativity and design their own stages. Whether you take advantage of this or not, it is a great way for a publisher to extend the life of a game and we’re surprised more of them don’t take advantage of this fact.
Perhaps most praiseworthy is the game’s accessibility. Non-gamers shouldn’t have a hard time playing this and Adult Swim encourages buyers to get a multipack to gift to friends on Steam and elsewhere. That’s probably a good thing, too, as there are a few complaints when it comes to Duck Game and playing with strangers.
Basically, if you want to play with people you don’t know, the game becomes a mixed bag if not downright unplayable at times. That’s to be expected for any game of its age but it can present a barrier to entry for more than a few gamers. The only real way to overcome this is to let friends and others play the game with you. Yet, there is something to be said for the kind of anarchy you encounter in random online games.
An extremely fun game that is surprisingly well-made and accessible, Duck Game could become your go-to party video game in the future. Designed with a look that screams retro without feeling sloppy or dated, Duck Game hits on all cylinders as far as production and polish go. So, round up a couple of friends, gift them with a multipack, and see for yourself.
