Goose Byte Games and Balor Games have announced Sponge Break, a “chaotic 1-4 player co-op rafting adventure.” According to a press release, Sponge Break transforms players into sponges escaping the tyranny of the kitchen sink on a raft held together by little more than wishful thinking.
The game features drop-in co-op, full solo support, proximity voice chat with sponges that lip-sync to players’ voices and physics-driven raft traversal where one mistake can flip the raft, scattering gear, dealing damage and quickly ending the team’s escape.
The press release states that in Sponge Break, the rules are simple: you’re a sponge. You’re on a raft. The river is trying to destroy you. Chaos everywhere. You and up to 3 friends are trying to escape, crammed onto a raft and armed with your trusty plunger-hook.
Use proximity voice chat to work together, steering the raft down the rapids to freedom. Solve puzzles to open pathways, navigate environmental dangers, avoid being set on fire and fight off attacking beavers.
The press release also reveals the game’s key features include:
- 1 to 4 sponges with drop-in co-op gameplay. That friend who’s always “5 minutes away” can show up 40 minutes late and immediately make it worse. Playable solo too, no judgment.
- Proximity voice chat. Will you sing a shanty, scream a warning or calmly listen to your crew panic in real time?
- Real physics, real consequences. Navigate down the world’s most dangerous rapids. Steer wrong, flip it and lose all your stuff. Take a hit, and the raft will come apart under you.
- Actual teamwork tools. A plunger that functions as a grappling hook lets players grab any object that isn’t bolted down, along with a shared raft stash for the loot you’ll definitely lose.
- 100+ unlockable cosmetic options. Customize your sponge’s eyes, eyebrows, mouths, hats, your inflatable buoys, even your plunger. Plus emotes, for celebrating a clean run or pointing very clearly at whoever blew it… It was Doug. It’s always Doug.
- Multiple biomes with a variety of hazards. The full journey will take you through sewers, rivers, abandoned facilities, and more! Hang out at safehouses between levels to patch up, revive, restock and have a quick argument before setting sail again.
To celebrate the announcement of Sponge Break, Goose Byte Games and Balor Games are launching a playtest starting today. Invites will roll out in waves through July 28th. Sign up for a chance to join the playtest here: https://sponge-break.firstlook.gg/