Steam Next Fest is here, and I want to try and highlight some of the many demos that you can play during this time. These will be a handful of smaller and shorter posts to showcase some of the many hidden gems during this celebration of upcoming games!
Today I want to introduce to you a game called Stick A Round.
This is a game I discovered on Instagram quite some time ago through a Reel on there and have been following the game’s development ever since. Created by a small team from the Netherlands, it now has it’s first ever demo where players can explore some of what Stick A Round has to offer!
What is Stick A Round about?
Well, it’s easy. It’s a game about very cool sticks.
Find a variety of randomly and uniquely generated sticks that can be used as weapons. All based on what they look like in the real world. Take on friends in combat, play a variety of action packed minigames or even some more relaxing ones, and take the time to explore the ever changing world. Ultimately your imagination sets the rules!
Curious? Check out the trailer!
Take yourself back to your childhood. Playing outdoors, exploring and being in search of the perfect stick. Big or small. It could have been a sword, a magic wand, a bow and so much more. Nostalgic, right?
With an infinite number of sticks to discover, there is always something new and exciting about each stick you find. Some might be decorated with flowers, and some might be covered with thorns. No two sticks are the same.
You can also head to the workbench to help discover its shape. It might be more of a bow, it could be a slingshot. It could be anything you want it to be. Now, you can also make changes to it to make it the perfect stick. These changes can also change its statistics, which really allow you to adapt your playstyle throughout the game.
Combat is chaotic however, you can certainly outsmart your friends or foes. Block, parry or land a huge charge attack to send them flying and rolling in a full ragdoll like tumble.
Mini games? There are plenty!
You can create your own private lobby or join a public lobby and play games like Tag, Infection, Last Man Standing, Capture the Flag, King of the Hill and many many more! Stick A Round also includes a text chat and proximity chat too.
Let’s not forget about the world around us.
The woods change often with the passing time. The full world dynamic includes a day to night cycle as well as seasons where you can play and explore summer, autumn and winter.
How can I not forget to mention the character customisation? With a range of characters to choose from, including shark, hedgehog, fox, raccoon and several more friendly faces, you can also choose your hat and colour of your character!
Final Thoughts of the Stick A Round Demo
Well, what can I say?
I certainly found myself feeling like a kid again, collecting sticks and exploring once again!
I had so much fun exploring the demo, playing the mini games and customising my character. I spent a lot of time just wandering around finding different sticks and seeing how they worked compared to others I picked up. As I had joined the developers’ lobby, I did bump into them a few times and badly completed some of the mini games there.
One we played was called ‘Parkour’, and they set a new record. A rather quick record too. Will it get beaten? Only time will tell!
Overall Stick A Round is already shaping up to be an exciting game you can play with friends or on your own. You can choose to take part in the nostalgic chaos or simply unwind and take in the great outdoors. The choice is yours! I can truly see a lot of hours being played both now and in the future. I’m excited to play more of the demo and can’t wait for the full game to release!
