This one genuinely stopped my scroll at The MIX Showcase: BAKUDO, a new game from SAYIL GAMES and Shueisha Games, that mashes together sci-fi school drama, anime sports flair, and hardcore boss rush action. The premise? You’re Yuria, a rookie at a combat sports academy, slinging balls in high-speed duels against the school’s Eight Stars as you search for your missing dad. The whole thing looks like a fever dream between Dodgeball Academia, Furi, and a shounen anime tournament arc. Let’s break down why BAKUDO’s first real showing has sparked so much curiosity-and a healthy bit of skepticism-among boss rush and indie action fans.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Shueisha Games |
| Release Date | TBA |
| Genres | Action, Boss Rush, Sports, Sci-Fi, Anime |
| Platforms | PC (Steam) |
We’ve seen tons of boss rush indies in recent years—after all, games like Furi and Titan Souls proved there’s a hardcore audience for learning attack patterns and mastering tight controls. But what BAKUDO does differently is mash up that punishing format with the kind of fast-tossing, ricochet-ball mechanics you’d expect from an anime sports showdown. Instead of swords or guns, you’re throwing, catching, and countering in a system that looks like dodgeball meets Windjammers—all while unraveling a classic “search for dad” shounen plot.
The pitch is undeniably stylish: Yuria, the main character, isn’t just grinding through faceless baddies, but facing the Eight Stars—each a personality-packed boss in their own right. Anyone who loves school-setting anime or the “elite rival” trope will see the potential for characterization and drama here. The developers are promising dynamic, fast-paced showdowns where pattern recognition, counterplay, and clutch throws are the difference between victory and a quick KO. If they nail the feel, BAKUDO could thread the needle between spectacle and mechanical challenge—a sweet spot many boss rush games try (and fail) to hit.
But let’s pump the brakes for a second. SAYIL GAMES is a new, small team, and this is their first shot at a big, ambitious concept. Balancing strong anime visuals, a functional narrative, and moment-to-moment gameplay that actually feels good is brutally hard. Too often, I’ve seen promising indies get lost in flashy trailers and not deliver on gameplay tightness or enemy design depth. The press release leans heavily on “intense, heart-pounding combat”—but until we see longer gameplay slices, the big question is whether BAKUDO’s ball-combat will really offer the kind of skill ceiling and pattern variety veteran boss rush fans demand.
Still, I’m rooting for them—especially with the unique anime identity and the added touch of language support for English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. That’s not just a checkbox for accessibility; it signals potential ambition for a global audience (always tricky for a first project, but admirable).
If you’re burned out on samey boss rushes or minimalist “one-hit-kill” indies, BAKUDO’s blend of sports action and anime drama might actually feel fresh. For me, the idea of learning unique ball-based patterns from eight distinct rivals reminds me of the old-school excitement when every boss felt like a puzzle—think Megaman X or even Punch-Out!! If (and it’s a big if) the controls are responsive and the bosses are memorable, there’s room here for a game that stands out in both Twitch highlight reels and deep-dive speedrun communities.
But this is a classic indie “wait and see”: will the game’s story and world-building add real heart, or just serve as filler between battles? Will the learning curve be fair for new players, or just punishing for the sake of it? The jury’s out, but I love that BAKUDO is taking swings most studios wouldn’t dare for a debut title.
BAKUDO isn’t just another boss rush—its fusion of vivid anime style, dodgeball-inspired mechanics, and school drama could be a standout for action fans, if the gameplay delivers. With a tiny indie team betting big on their first game, there’s real risk—but also the potential for something memorable. Put it on your radar, wishlist it if the pitch grabs you, but keep your expectations in check until we see more gameplay in action.
Source: Shueisha Games via GamesPress