Party Animals Review

Party Animals reviewed on PC by Charlie Wacholz. Also available on Xbox Series X/S.
With smooth online multiplayer, a handful of mostly distinct maps, and downright adorable characters, Party Animals delivers a fun party game that brings cuddly, chaotic fun where it counts the most. The intentionally wobbly controls take a moment to get used to, but once you do it’s wonderfully satisfying to land a punch and send another player flying into an environmental hazard for a KO. It does commit an all-too-common cardinal sin for contemporary multiplayer games in making local play less enjoyable than going online, but all three main modes are a good time, especially in a full lobby of eight players.

[@alphacat7353]

Genuinely the most fun I've had playing a multiplayer game in a long time. It's absolutely hilarious and so replayable. Let's support the developers 💜

[@yuxia2019]

fun? very. replayable? after you played more maps, it’s on the “party games only” list

[@qO.0p]

They had shared screen local multiplayer in earlier playtests. Dunno why they abandoned it. Looked fine

[@entropydude]

Yeah, like we don't care if it doesn't work perfectly, should still be an option.

[@joshpota8581]

Because they want people to buy it its really that simple just a business move

[@MaxBlackHawk]

Dude this map is too big, you can not use one screen to share them.

[@qO.0p]

@@MaxBlackHawk there are videos showing gameplay of that, looked fine to me. Would it hurt having it optional in the settings? (But yeah the devs at least tested it and there are probably some issues that weren't apparent on the videos)

[@ThrumpFC]

If you look up on their dev logs, they expressed two concerns with it: 1) on some maps, the screen can stretch out to a point where it would be hard to see what your characters are doing 2) you lose the flexibility to rotate for individual people.

[@M0rt86]

Shame about local multiplayer but otherwise this game looks ridiculously fun and cute 💛

[@joeycheckers114]

What is this, 1990? Nobody cares about local multiple unless it's a fighter nowadays lol.

[@terrythekat]

​@@joeycheckers114I do lmao

[@huburtcummings5974]

​@@joeycheckers114nice way to tell people you have no friends

[@Vincentius001]

@@huburtcummings5974Nice one👍 Was about to say the same

[@OgdenMan4Life]

​@@joeycheckers114you clearly don't understand the market for games like this. Your statement is mostly true of the larger industry, but games like this (party games) are still very popular with families and friends for "couch play"

[@Badboynic1010]

Im super bummed about no local coop. Was hoping to play along with the kiddos

[@DavyDave1313]

5:20 there’s local multiplayer.

[@JawiiRed-fs1mo]

​@@DavyDave1313i can't play in split screen today, Xbox series s

[@rey12133]

You can play local, but you can't play offline

[@Glaydable]

@@JawiiRed-fs1mo It is hidden. Go to custom game. Hit RT on the additional controllers. Close your lobby with a pw or close the seats and you play "offline" couch split screen. :)

[@xKaL13uR]

One of our most anticipated games for local multiplayer. That was a deal breaker for us. Disappointing... Maybe when they fix it I'll purchase the game.

[@yolkthosenuts]

Lol too broke for wifi

[@elizabethherrera9350]

A Game pass? Your gonna buying

[@yolkthosenuts]

@@jank85 me and my non broke friends don't need to share a console LOL

[@Allen-R]

@@yolkthosenuts weird flex but ok, mr. rich kid

[@eatxcat]

This game deserves at least an 8 or even a 9, extremely fun!

[@karloaquinde3476]

Agreed!

[@WhySoSerious452]

It’s in gamepass 7/10 -iGN

[@detpistons4l401]

@@WhySoSerious452do they rate sht lower on Xbox or soemthing??

[@_Cetarial]

The score is… a 7.

[@bradleyc6564]

WHAT?!?!

[@FiverrrTang]

XBOXERA will probably give it a high score. “It’s on gamepass” 9/10

[@Timeless338]

“This game is the worst game I’ve played, but its an xbox exclusive” 9/10 XBOXERA

[@Timesplitters253]

“This game sorta reminds me of Todd Howard and starfield” 9/10 XBOXERA

[@paddington2063]

They’ve given plenty of other scores even in the last week?

[@DoctorGrapeApe]

I've put dozens of hours into Gang Beasts and this games looks like an upgraded version... can't wait

[@ManoloRibera070]

No local co op tho

[@rey12133]

It has local co op only thing is that it does not let you play offline@@ManoloRibera070

[@indianapolisindiana7856]

Love Gang Beasts, but the developers frustratingly killed it's true potential as a party game by disabling support for more than 4 controllers with their last update. Why why why?? lol

[@pikafanone]

@@ManoloRibera070 ain’t no way you’re this dumb to not watch the entire video to see there was local co-op

[@nathanieltyghe4526]

​@@indianapolisindiana7856why did they do that?

[@eduardocastellanos9197]

Best game I’ve played in years. Made me remember the golden era of Xbox. Just a fun, random, quirky little game to sink your teeth into for a while as it should be.

[@GemsOfRedditStudios]

Once Multiplayer is fixed I’ll definitely play.

[@detpistons4l401]

What’s broken abt it?

[@code066funkinbird3]

Same

[@bryanar4134]

The local co-op camera needs to be fixed to a single camera showing the entire level

[@TheCXRSIN]

Worked horrible on gang beasts what bright idea made u think it should come to a quicker version of gang beasts?

[@chiquita683]

No

[@elliemelmoth1378]

@@TheCXRSINgang beast worked perfectly fine

[@benramirez7678]

Like smash bros

[@RootyTootTootin]

Should definitely be a settings option

[@jovitv3274]

Once they fix local multiplayer I’m getting this lol

[@konvictionXX]

they have local multiplayer 5:20

[@oo7porschemgs995]

​@@konvictionXXthey said fix it, not add it ...

[@lazypanda1493]

Should be an 8 at least

[@smaggie]

​@@IEatFoamFootballshhhh😂

[@mrcraggle]

It's Gang Beasts with a level of polish that GB never had. If that's something that appeals to you, then the score doesn't matter.

[@GameshinbunTV]

Single screen multiplayer wouldn't work, there are maps like submarine that are not ideal and usually you need to rotate the camera in almost every map

[@voodude1074]

It worked in Gang Beasts. They definitely could've done it right.

[@3sgamestudio]

so youre saying taht a feature that other similar game made was possible due to developers choices of camera controls? seems legic.. nothing they could had done about it

[@GameshinbunTV]

@@3sgamestudio In gang beasts there were spots where no one could find you, because some walls or obstacles covered you completely. In some maps it worked, in others it didn't

[@chiquita683]

gang beast has much smaller maps

[@kitics3643]

​@@voodude1074gang beasts were smaller maps with almost no camera control whatsoever.

[@gidds617]

Split screen local is wild

[@dgayle2348]

So we gone act like that train stage not from Def Jam Fight for NY?

[@LuchaGangsta]

Thats what im saying

[@AssasinscreedX29]

Better and more polished than gang beasts

[@Abdullah2061_]

Not available in the PlayStation Store 😢

[@oo7porschemgs995]

It is now!

[@lmclelland2172]

You can also be beat to death. Most of the weapons are instant knockouts players that were eliminated can throw bombs at the other players from outside the arena so there’s nothing you can do and you can’t really throw other players and the knockout time is a little too short we’re trying to eliminate people.

[@CrowFGC]

Can’t you local multiplayer you just have to queue online?

[@anjalis9991]

It's made in unity game engine feel bad for developer😭

[@code066funkinbird3]

Totally

[@jongrant6385]

not sure about the shared split screen... changes the game a fair bit to have a fixed angle

[@vincida7432]

It looks and plays so gorgeous

[@Thegladtrad]

Some of these maps are definitely recycled from gang beasts

[@andrex8003]

the ice, the train station, the airship, the fan...they are BOLD with the rips 😂 i was surprised

[@user-x7dc2pq7n]

It feels like games nowadays are just copies with better graphics

[@Nancyceleste]

@@user-x7dc2pq7nnot true but ok

[@refdelx]

@@andrex8003 what airship its a plane my guy completely different things, and the fans have practically nothing in common with the gang beasts fans map

[@nathanieltyghe4526]

​@@andrex8003none of the maps are similar apart from the ice map

[@pikafanone]

IGN never fails to disappoint us with the scores

[@skyhighsunlight]

Thanks Charlie. Great review.

[@Braxtonhawkins]

I’ve been stoked on this game since announcement, but my dreams of playing with all my friends on the same couch are dead. What a shame.

[@MJGxo]

They really love the number 7 I swear lol

[@SnowTerebi]

Bro ever heard about bell curve?

[@bobdylan1968]

​@@SnowTerebinah, they are playing favorites and being hyper critical someplaces and not others. They are not being remotely consistent in their own reporting. Sometimes it feels like an outright advertisment, and sometimes they act like an edgier gamer video essay channel.

[@SnowTerebi]

@@bobdylan1968 I'm simply pointing out a real thing for his statement, the bell curve is real, which can explain more 7s than 8s, 9s and 10s.

[@ForsakenGod96]

if this game was made by Sony it would have been 10/10

[@mljh11]

​@@bobdylan1968You do realize IGN has different reviewers right, and each has their own subjective tastes?

[@zowui8471]

How do you shoot weapons like taser or ice gun

[@Redshief1]

Tap "punch" button.

[@redemption44]

Wait. We can't do private matched with our friends?

[@refdelx]

we can, just not local

[@thiago4santos]

This game is godlike fun.

[@lmclelland2172]

Yeah, it’s pretty annoying. When you have someone knock you out with nunchucks stand over you and then proceed to beat you until you can’t get up and you’re in eliminated.

[@Tangledangle-oj2uf]

Skill issue

[@chiquita683]

Rated 7, it must be a masterpiece. 0day purchase

[@meowfia4032]

Ign moment

[@johndaltonbaguio4740]

how to play 8 players for 1 ps5? for my family and friend

[@onyxthesnowy]

Local play is online only and the devs updated the description post launch

[@D_Infamous_Boss]

It seems like I'm the only one the button delay is bothering. The game is unplayable with that 2 second delay.

[@nathanieltyghe4526]

What are you playing on

[@john_hunter_]

There needs to be a rule where they can't give a game a 7.

[@THE_DEEZLE]

Game Pass getting yet another banger

[@kv7735]

Why can’t they put this on ps4 and ps5 and not just xbox and pc

[@unknownsoldier6731]

Gamers: lol xbox has no games 😂😂 Gamers: why is this game only on xbox and not on my ps4/5 😡😡 The sheer brilliance of this community

[@cloudsavage2001]

@@unknownsoldier6731 Bro you alright? He was just asking why it was only limited lmao

[@21zacc]

Would be great if teammates weren’t always afk

[@Zazzalamel]

This game will be great on Switch playing with friends locally honestly.

[@szlszlszl]

Will it be on nintendo anytime soon ?

[@mrcraggle]

Would definitely be a great fit for Switch.

[@s1mq]

Diablo 4 - 9 Party Animals - 7 Retire IGN

[@kennypowers1945]

Yea party animals should be an 8 or 9

[@MyBoyDBryan]

Hopefully it will come to the PlayStation eventually

[@JD9943]

Is there another KZbin channel that does unreleased reviews?

[@edenk8898]

We all knew 7 in IGN means masterpiece

[@onkelhiphop]

It’s so sad that it’s not coming to ps4 ore switch 😢

[@mishmishb]

Damn that local multiplayer implementation is weird! Why did they do split screen that way lmao

[@chiquita683]

So that each player can rotate their screen and move easily on the large map.

[@PopularNobody]

Bro said "smooth online multiplayer".

[@yuhboimarcyuh5582]

*sigh* guess the modding community is gonna have to create local multiplayer since devs want to remove gaming with real social interaction once again

[@LilRaynare]

Shame that game not in to PS5

[@LordYellow7666]

When’s Nintendo switch?

[@NevermoreOG]

Ign is so bad at reviewing 😂

[@eclipsicalbluestocking1182]

Any chance you saw the latest Dunkey video?

[@chummygun]

How is someone bad at reviewing 💀

[@NevermoreOG]

Yeah.@@eclipsicalbluestocking1182

[@fulldreem9009]

Dunkey video

[@pikafanone]

@@chummygunCuphead tutorial guy

[@maverickpence3104]

Will this game ever go on ps

[@overscoreSX]

Anyone know if/when this will come to the Nintendo Switch?

[@withnongownemphum2302]

Can Anyone suggest me pc games like bomb squad, I want co op multiplayer party game but everyone plays on the same screen with controllers, I hate splitscreen

[@smaggie]

😮 I thought it's gonna be 8 at least

[@fox_foo]

Developers please bring this to Switch!

[@eddie6133]

Nah PlayStation

[@Bebrue.]

no way this got the same rating as starfeild lol

[@Bebrue.]

rateing*

[@Wallace4MVP]

you had it right the first time

[@SirPancakethethird]

@@Bebrue.rating*

[@CrowFGC]

This clears midfield

[@kennypowers1945]

IGN gave alien isolation a 5/10 🤣. IGN is HORRIBLE at rating games

[@sz7011]

This is a 10/10 in it’s genre! Beautiful

[@peterGchaves]

Great, now release this on PS5 as well, please!! 😊🙏

[@WuTangKlanKiller]

Get a xbox

[@xxfratosxx8257]

Xbox exclusive

[@miksaneksmind4399]

Gang beasts was ps4. They need to do the same.with this. Ps5 is soo much better. But I'll deal with it on X for now

[@xxfratosxx8257]

@@miksaneksmind4399 elaborate how the Playstation is so much better against series X. I don't see your point

[@GH05T-S0LDI34]

@@xxfratosxx8257(1)frame rate (2)capabilities (3) Quality The list can go on But we all know that PC will always be better 😂😂

[@mohdx77]

IGN gives every game pass game a 7. Starfield, lies of P and Party Animals.

[@jimmythegamer2231]

They didn't give Lies of P a 7

[@Oxy404]

Does anyone actually take IGN reviews seriously anymore? They haven’t been accurate since 2015

[@verixer4032]

basketball? what do you mean?

[@johnnysomething153]

Its a.. 7/10 IGN never fails to deliver

[@Kastor0311]

Having way more fun with this than starfield

[@jimmythegamer2231]

Yeah right

[@HighLanderPonyYT]

Lol, "punch fuzzy, get dizzy". Yoshi's Island fans represent.

[@JustSonicShorts]

Touch fuzzy get dizzy- yoshi island 🏝️

[@travisgraham5176]

This looks like Gang Beasts meets Fall Guys meets Overcooked.

[@REE-Animation]

It has nothing in common with fall guys or overcooked

[@saints3824]

It has nothing in common with falls guys or overcooked

[@travisgraham5176]

Riiight.

[@Crayzily]

It has nothing in common with fall guys or overcooked

[@nericbotello224]

How to play it early

[@ltvtv8540]

Geez another 7?

[@zekeperez5623]

Maybe if it’s on sale I’ll get it

[@ttkZacrielus]

This game had always had local multiplayer.

[@Deezeone]

Here is where dual hdmi for split screen comes in

[@DevilJin.]

Why these type of game never come to PlayStation

[@funswae]

Because PlayStation keep spiderman and etc away from people,so people keep their games away

[@GhostlyBear-_-]

Why this game not on ps5 :/

[@chicken.mp4]

for every Ign review that is a 7 name one that is not rated 7

[@iam_nick]

Not on PS5? lol

[@Itsmesmoothy]

stop giving EVERY GAME UNDER THE SUN A 7

[@aidendavies4648]

This isn’t a 7. It’s higher. Ever since u rated Texas chainsaw ur opinion no longer matters

[@Curvooooo]

Yeah IGN, you're just saying that Party Animals has the same grade as Starfield...of course..

[@amriddle01]

You've joined Yong Yea in your inability to say "particularly" correctly lol

[@rishotube1]

More quality party games on steam

[@Moe_Lester_fromUptwn]

When u mix the blue💊 with sum 💎

[@bdotontop134]

is this gang beast 2 or a whole different game

[@smaggie]

Completely different developer, completely different game

[@SinisterRising]

did somebody say Gang Beasts?

[@hrfdude4234]

is the score "7" becoming a trend for ign reviewing xbox games?

[@sircartier2723]

It's become a trend with basically 80% the games they review

[@hrfdude4234]

@@sircartier2723 they are clearly favoring ps exclusive games!

[@Thrak360]

Is it 7?

[@x-ray3431]

I'll pass

[@aynrandom3004]

6 for me. No local coop.

[@permanenthaze6050]

Gang beats with worse local mode

[@mrrmgaming6922]

So this game is pretty much gang beast 2

[@irvinhoh5819]

Their score was 7/10

[@BluntSmoke4200]

Wow PC, Xbox But not PlayStation 🤦🏽

[@DrinkyPeebis]

A 7?????

[@Elibbb-sx3kg]

It's makes you FEEL like an animal

[@HunterW2021]

If you have friends the game is a 10 lol

[@vibes8763]

It has a lot of the maps gangbeast has

[@noobsaibot7006]

10/10