PALOOKAS!

Fighting 2 Players One Button

Step into the palookas' red or blue tighty whites in this mirror-matched fight! With your quick movements and punches, dish out a heart pounding flurry of fists.

No combos! One button and one stick do it all!

Parry? Move the stick! Defense? Punch back! Counterattack? Punch back!

Play Free Demo Now Support the Campaign

Demo Released July 2025 Free Demo PC & Mac (M1/M2)

500+ Playtests at SOFA

30+ People in line

5⭐ Audience Rating

The Origin of PALOOKAS!

From a simple idea to a movement

The Idea

October 2024

Born from a simple concept: one stick, one button. Inspired by Bushnell's Theorem – easy to learn, difficult to master.

Development

Oct 2024 – Jun 2025

Long nights, golden sunrises, and countless iterations. A visual style inspired by 90s Nickelodeon cartoons.

Demo Launch

July 2025

Released to the world. Within 24 hours, it reached Japan, featured on Warp Door – a Japanese indie game portal.

SOFA Selection

September 2025

Selected for "Tan Grande y en SOFA 2025" by Tan Grande y Jugando. The adventure was just beginning.

Early Concept Art
Character Sketches

Environment Concepts
Arena Designs

Color Studies
Palette Exploration

October 9-13, 2025

The SOFA 2025 Phenomenon

We didn't expect what happened that first day… and the rest of the event.

0-1

minutes rest between matches

30+

groups in line

500+

playtests

Families, couples, adults, kids… everyone came, everyone laughed. They gave us their time and their feedback.

SOFA Crowd Photo 1

SOFA Crowd Photo 2

Cynder Studios Booth

One Stick. One Button. Infinite Possibilities.

Deep mechanics from simple controls

Basic Attack
Animation Loop

Defense
Animation Loop

Special Hook
Animation Loop

Parry
Animation Loop

Basic Attack

One button for attack. Quick jabs, powerful crosses. Simple but effective.

Defense

Run back to defend. Stay too long and the crowd boos – a hairy arm shoves you forward, leaving you open!

Special Hook

Half-circle + button. Stuns opponent, opening them for a flurry of punches.

Parry

Time your punch + stick when opponent hooks. Duck and uppercut – stuns them for a combo.

"Last Chance" Cinematic Attack

If you're losing and have been stunned multiple times, unleash a character-specific over-the-top animated sequence. Bob distracts with exaggerated anime poses, then… plucks a nose hair. Cue tears.

Meet the Palookas

A bizarre roster of fighters

Bob

Poster Boy

Dweeb

Bob's Twin

Sebaceous Phil

The Greasy One

Big Loogie

Expectorator

Hunky Hank

The Heartthrob

Flu Man Choo

Achoo!

Evaristo

Mysterious

Olga

Surstrommina

Jimmy

The Kid

Josephine

Tough as Nails

Fight in these absurd arenas

Underground Boxing Ring

Just a Family Lounge

The Pit

Secondhand Marketplace

Elevator

Kid's Birthday Party

Finca Courtyard

Call Center Floor

The Pit
Concept Art

Kid's Birthday Party
Concept Art

Elevator
Concept Art

The Road Ahead

Help us take PALOOKAS! to the next level

What we've achieved

Playable demo with core mechanics
Over 500 playtests at SOFA 2025
Featured on Japanese indie portal Warp Door
Selected for "Tan Grande y en SOFA 2025"
3 playable characters
2 arenas in demo

What's next (with your help)

More Characters – Expand roster to 10+ palookas
Single Player Campaign – Story mode with character-specific paths
Online Multiplayer – Fight friends anywhere
4-Player Local Chaos – Tag team mayhem
8+ Arenas – From The Pit to a Call Center
Cinematic "Last Chance" Attacks for every character

We're planning a crowdfunding campaign to make this vision a reality. Join us on this journey!

Get Notified When Campaign Launches Play Demo Now

Ready to Brawl?

Download the free demo and experience the absurdity.

Download Demo (PC & Mac)