The launch was probably not what the creators of Party Animals expected. The game was number 1 on the most wished titles on Steam, but currently, the game only has 56% positive ratings. Shortly after the release, the game was rated even worse.
What kind of game is Party Animals?
- Party Animals is quite similar to Gang Beasts
- We fight with various animals and mythical creatures in mini-games
- The goal is to throw the other players out of bounds
- There are traps that you can use to defeat your opponents
- An offline single-player mode was announced before the release of the game
- At times, over 100,000 players played the title simultaneously (via steamdb.info)
The game has been available since yesterday for PC via Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. On Steam, the title is already available for €17.99; alternatively, there is a deluxe edition with additional skins and avatars.
Party Animals was at number 1 of the most wished games on Steam until yesterday, shortly behind were Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong (via steamdb.info). But shortly after the launch, the game had mostly negative ratings, and it has since improved to a rating of 56 percent.
You can find the trailer for Party Animals on MeinMMO:
Why is the game performing so poorly? Players complain that the offline mode for single players was secretly removed. There was no announcement that the mode would be removed from the game at short notice, which has left fans wondering where it has gone.
Even the local multiplayer mode is only available for online play. Some users reported that they were queued even for the local mode.
Players suspect that the microtransactions are behind this. The development team must fund itself somehow, which is why it is not possible to play offline and miss the ads for in-game purchases.
Additionally, the online mode does not even function smoothly. At times, players have had to wait over an hour to get into the game. Connection drops are not uncommon.
Furthermore, the skins are way too expensive, with some packages in the shop costing more than the game itself.
MeinMMO has gathered some reviews that provide a good picture of the mood (via Steam):
- Farb: ‘The game is advertised as being playable offline. I cannot play it offline.’
- Hookkshot: ‘The game itself is fun. But the queue and matchmaking feel unnecessary for a party game.’
- Johnny Risk: ‘Gang Beasts + Fall Guys but very very poorly.’
However, there are currently more positive than negative reviews, with some not bothered by the lack of an offline mode and still having fun with the game. To play alone, some simply start a private match and compete against bots.
If you are still looking for an alternative, Fall Guys might be something for you: Fall Guys set a world record in 2020 – Now Free2Play and lets you build your own levels
