Rubber Bandits is Beautiful Chaos

Do you need a new end of the evening game to unwind with your friends?

This might just be the game you need!

Introduction

So if you’re anything like me you’ll be playing with your friends most evenings, usually Warzone in my case, but whatever your poison I’m sure there’s that winding-down game at the end of the night. Ours for so long has been Golf with your Friends, but especially on XBOX (though I have both, my friends play XBOX), the lack of content updates has seen us take longer and longer hiatus from playing it. So we were on the search for an alternative and Rubber Bandits happened to drop at just the right time for us.

The World

The colour palette is as light-hearted as the title itself, the art direction is playful and full of energy. But best of all, the physics sandbox is hilarious. Almost everything in the world can be interacted with, to pick up and throw at other players, drag for a new route to high-ground, and switches that change the environment when you press them (or shoot them, or throw something at them). Even lighting changes can throw up new challenges to conquer.

Gameplay

I haven’t laughed playing a game like this since Human Fall Flat. The physics sandbox on offer here is great, and it’s easy to pick up and play. Though I would probably make the options, once you are in a friend lobby, a little more obvious. But quickly we figured out the ropes and were good to go!

Game Modes

Below are the current selection of game modes. The mechanics in-game remain the same but the goals change between them, so let’s have a look at what the options are!

Heist

Heist mode gives you and your fellow players some cash to steal. The goal is to steal $21, with $10 being available inside each level. It is up to you to stop other players from escaping with the money by any means necessary!

Brawl

This one does what it says on the tin. Each player has 3 lives and must survive to win! Whether you’re playing alone or with friends the variety of maps and weapons is good enough to keep you entertained for hours. Well let me tell you, there’s nothing quite like K.O.ing your samurai sword-wielding friend with a fish. Careful you don’t blow yourself up with the grenades though… It happens.

Arcade

Arcade gives you and your friends arenas where you must figure out how to steal all the loot, whilst trying not to get killed by guards who have a variety of weapons to stop you with. This is effectively the same as Heist but instead in a more cooperative manner. It doesn’t take too long to get to the end but it’s worth running through if you and your friends fancy playing together for a change!

Currency

All of the above game modes reward a single in-game currency. It’s easy to obtain by playing and can only be spent on one thing…

Shop

The shop simply has new characters to buy inside it. You can also get a couple of exclusive characters in a paid DLC that is there to support the developer. It’s simple and un-intrusive, I like it.

Conclusion

Honestly, I hadn’t heard anything about this game going in but it surprised me in all the right ways. A great game to jump on for an hour every now and then with friends (or even to just play with strangers in the open matchmaking). If you’re on XBOX it’s on game pass and a small download so why not try it? If you have to pay for it, the £15 asking price is still exceptionally reasonable. You now have all the info you need, so go and have some fun!