2D toybox fighting game Knock Off: The Battle for Imagination launches in 2027 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
Published by Bit Bot.
Bit Bot Media will publish Mechaghidora-developed 2D toybox fighting game Knock Off: The Battle for Imagination when it launches for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam in 2027, the companies announced.
“Everything about Knock Off‘s era of tactile nostalgia and deep yet simple VS combat speaks to me as a gamer and the kid I once was,” said Bit Bot Media creative director Frank O’Connor in a press release. “Action figures, toys and video games have always been about kindling and energizing imagination—not replacing it—and that notion is absolutely incandescent in Knock Off‘s DNA. Combining those things and lensing it through a child’s eyes has been inspiring and above all else, fun.”
Bit Bot Media co-owner Joshua Viola added, “Knock Off is the game we dreamed about as kids, where our favorite toys came to life and settled everything with a fight. We wanted to capture that feeling of dumping your toys on the floor and creating an entire universe in your head. It’s nostalgic and packed with personality.”
Bit Bot Media co-owner and Knock Off composer Klayton said, “It would have blown my little mind if I had known that as an adult, I’d have the chance to write a theme song and full soundtrack for a game that perfectly captured those moments of my youth.”
Here is an overview of the game, via Bit Bot Media:
About
Knock Off: The Battle for Imagination is a 2D toy-box fighting game where action figures come to life in a world inspired by ’80s and ’90s playtime mayhem. Developed by Mecanimal with developer and publishing support from Bit Bot, this hard-hitting brawler offers modern fighting game features, a fistful of retro nostalgia, a complete arcade mode, and online and local multiplayer.
Johnny’s toys were never name-brand, but they were always legendary. When Maximus, Johnny’s first official brand-name action figure, arrives and shakes up the arena, Johnny’s beloved bootleg toys must prove that off-brand doesn’t mean outmatched.
Enter a world of old-school action figures and retro attitude in Knock Off: The Battle for Imagination, where plastic warriors inspired by your favorite ’80s and ’90s toys and action figures come to life and clash in ultra-stylish playtime pugilism. Every fighter brings their own unique strengths, techniques, and playstyle into the arena with strategic matchups, distinct move sets, and awesome skill-based combat.
Key Features
- Master Fast-Paced Combat – Smash your enemies with air combos, launchers, EX moves, and spectacular supers in 2D action that’s easy to pick up yet challenging to master.
- One-of-a-Kind Heroes – Choose your favorite fighter from a roster of epic characters influenced by classic ‘80s and ‘90s toys and cartoons—and the knock-offs they inspired—with handcrafted playstyles, rich move sets, fun assist sidekicks, deep fighting mechanics and each toy’s own knock-off lore.
- Arcade Mode – Choose your fighter and take on a gauntlet of opponents in an arcade-style single-player mode with a fully voiced narrative.
- Head-to-Head Online Battles – Take on all rivals in state-of-the-art online play, with rollback netcode, customizable matchmaking, and global ranking systems. Jump into a casual match or prove your skills in tournament play.
- Vintage ’80s and ’90s Nostalgia – Discover battle arenas packed with hidden Easter eggs and an unlockable retro beat-’em-up minigame with classic side-scrolling arcade action.
- Playtime is Back – The mayhem will keep going after launch with roster expansions featuring new fighters and special guest characters, new stages, and much, much more.
- Retro-Fueled Soundtrack – Turn up the fight with an original soundtrack by Celldweller and Scandroid, packed with high-energy tracks inspired by the sounds of the ’80s and ’90s.
Watch a new trailer below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.