I’ll lay out my tastes straight away. I’m a little more… Garden Warfare than Modern Warfare. A little more Team Fortress than Quake. A little more silly string than regular string. What I love more than any individual, artfully designed videogame is the slapstick party version that inevitably rises in the wake of its success. As a storyteller who thrives on digital innovation, I’m always looking for that unique hook, and the upcoming “dungeon brawler” Awaysis delivers exactly that. It comically warps a blend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures and Diablo through a physics-based funhouse mirror.
It’s one of the most tantalizing demos currently available during Steam Next Fest. While it currently only features a pair of levels and local multiplayer, this brief look at a fat-head-tiny-body version of an action RPG was enough to leave a strong and delightfully strange impression on me here at Digital Tech Explorer.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Awaysis Team |
| Genre | Physics-Based Dungeon Brawler / ARPG |
| Platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release Window | 2024 Releases |
| Key Mechanics | Slide Physics, 4-Player Co-op, Environmental Combat |
Embrace the Chaos: Physics-Based Fun in Awaysis
The immediate highlight is the movement. Specifically, it’s the way each map incorporates slide physics into every encounter. You can slide off inclines and, with enough momentum, soar high into the air. This speed allows you to take enemies with you or use the velocity to give your sword swings an extra punch. Most enemies in the demo are mindless little blue goblins that are easy to bat around, sending them flying into explosive barrels, each other, or off the map into a bottomless abyss.
Of course, you can treat it like a traditional, buttoned-up dungeon crawler—carving through enemies and blocking strikes—but that is a much slower playstyle. The real joy comes from charging up your swing to trigger massive knockback. Both stages I played were festooned with slides, ramps, and half-pipes practically begging for experimental, high-speed combat. This focus on mechanical interaction is exactly the kind of gaming innovation we love to cover.
In areas crawling with enemies, I found glowing spike walls and pools of water (instant death for monsters) which naturally slot into harebrained, improvised fight plans. In one level, I cracked open a wood-blocked water spout, watching the goblins below simply drown before I smacked the survivors into oblivion. The potential for Looney Tunes antics in 4-player co-op reminds me of the accident-prone multiplayer hits of the early 2010s, such as Magicka, Alien Swarm, and Battleblock Theater.
Strategic Depth in a Playful World
Despite the silly exterior, Awaysis is surprisingly brainy. It demands more spatial awareness than the early levels of a standard ARPG because you surrender a degree of control when sliding. Success requires you to think about your surroundings, using the environment to bash enemies or reach the height necessary for a punishing ground pound. While the standard difficulty felt a bit easy, switching to hard mode made the action punchy and far more addictive.
It’s a refreshing hook. In many PC games like Diablo, the world is essentially set dressing for a static labyrinth. Even in complex, systems-driven RPGs, you rarely get to treat the environment like a platformer level. Awaysis makes a toy of its world—the physics aren’t just a gimmick; they are the entire meal.
Visuals and Auditory Delights
The demo is admittedly a work in progress. A prominent watermark sits in the corner, and I encountered a camera glitch that clipped through the floor. However, when the technical issues fade, the game’s unique look shines. It reminds me of Chrono Trigger or Dragon Quest if they were reimagined with the aesthetic of a classic 90s cartoon—a style reminiscent of something Double Fine or Rare might have produced.
Crucial to this vibe is the sound design, most notably the soundtrack by Hip Tanaka. Known for his legendary work on EarthBound, Dr. Mario, and Metroid, Tanaka brings a chunky, funky energy to the game. The fuzz bass, breakbeats, and bouncy synths suit the offbeat sensibilities of the world perfectly.
TechTalesLeo’s Final Take
I’m itching to play more Awaysis. Its zany exterior hides a deceptively deep mechanical core. I’m curious to see how the experience evolves when adding spells, weapon upgrades, and a few friends into the mix. Like many of my favorite titles, the demo prioritizes player expression over rigid, prescriptive combat. We’ll see later this year if the full release can reinforce this foundation with a meaty enough loot system to keep players coming back for more.
Experience the chaos for yourself by downloading the Awaysis demo on Steam.
For more in-depth reviews and the latest in digital innovation, stay tuned to Digital Tech Explorer. To learn more about my journey through tech storytelling, visit my author page.