Double fine’s kiln prepares to dive into chaotic pottery battles in april

Double Fine Productions, the studio behind beloved titles like Psychonauts 2 and Brutal Legend, is set to unleash Kiln upon the gaming world in April. The multiplayer party brawler, featuring character creation centered around pottery, arrives after a period of closed playtests and an open beta, promising a uniquely tactile and competitive experience.

Sculpt, smash, and strategize

The game, initially conceived as a game jam project in 2017, refocused into a surprisingly deep and cartoonish brawler. Players will mold their own characters from clay using a variety of tools – sponges, shapers, and even bare hands – crafting unique pots with distinct capabilities. These creations then enter 4v4 battles in a mode called Quench, where the goal is to douse opponents' kilns.

The type of pot a player creates dictates their abilities. Larger pots can hold more water, but move slower, presenting a strategic trade-off. Battlefields themselves are themed around ancient societies, featuring tunnels and pathways designed for specific pot shapes and sizes. Every pot boasts unique movement and attacks, with special moves ranging from popcorn popping to transforming into a sword or flinging pies. This level of detail suggests a surprising amount of tactical depth within the chaotic gameplay.

The open beta will run from April 9-11 on Steam, with the full release planned for April 23 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. This release follows a series of closed playtests, allowing the developers to refine the experience before the public launch. The game’s core loop – sculpting, battling, and adapting – appears poised to deliver a refreshingly inventive take on the party brawler genre.

IGN's hands-on preview in January offered a detailed look at Kiln's mechanics, solidifying the anticipation surrounding its release. The blend of creative character customization and strategic combat hints at a game that rewards both artistic flair and tactical thinking.

The sheer ambition of Kiln – taking a simple concept and expanding it into a multifaceted battle system – is remarkable and suggests a promising addition to Double Fine's impressive catalog.