Pocket Rumble
Early access since Feb 2016
Pocket Rumble is a streamlined, beginner-friendly 2-button fighting game that retains all the gameplay elements that make traditional 2D fighters great, but reduces the level of execution and memorization necessary to the bare minimum.
76% positive · 206 reviews
Not yet
In early access, content planned but development status unclear
Low confidence
Content Planned
Development Uncertain
Not yet
In early access, content planned but development status unclear
Low confidence
Content Planned
Development Uncertain
Where to buy
Steam $9.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
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Evaluation
Pocket Rumble entered Steam Early Access on February 1, 2016 as a streamlined 2D fighting game. Over the following year, Cardboard Robot Games shipped a series of patches that progressively added characters, modes, and balance changes — bringing the roster to a playable state and making all modes available by February 2017. However, the developer's own patch notes from that period consistently listed known issues, including placeholder artwork and animations, and missing mechanics for at least one character (Quinn had no meter or super as of early 2017).
The last recorded developer communication was the v0.4.5.x patch posted on April 27, 2017. Since that date — now more than nine years ago — there have been no further updates, no blog posts, no announcements, and no developer statements about the game's status. The game remains listed on Steam as an Early Access title and is still purchasable, but it has not received any communication or updates in an extremely long time.
Given that the game was explicitly unfinished at the time of the last update (with placeholder art and incomplete character mechanics acknowledged by the developer), and no 1.0 release or completion announcement has ever been made, the current status is deeply uncertain. It is unknown whether development has quietly ended, whether the developer intends to return to the project, or whether the studio is still active.
Evidence
Last developer communication: v0.4.5.x patch notes. Includes balance changes and bug fixes, but the game's known issues (placeholder art, incomplete character mechanics) were still present at this time.
v0.4.0.0 patch notes list known issues including Quinn having no meter/super, moves turning characters into green boxes, and placeholder animations — confirming the game was still unfinished.
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Chucklefish Games
Achievements
0
Platform
Windows
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · PvP · Local/Split Screen
About this game
Pocket Rumble is a streamlined, beginner-friendly 2D fighting game inspired by SNK's classic fighters for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. It retains all the gameplay elements that make traditional Street Fighter-style fighters great, but reduces the level of execution and memorization necessary to the bare minimum. That way experienced players can learn the game fast and be able to focus on deeper elements of strategy and mindgames, new players can learn the ins and outs of fighting games without being overwhelmed, and everyone can get their skills to a competitive level without too much grinding alone in training mode.
Features:
- Simple, 2-button controls and universal, easy special move inputs with no complex joystick motions
- Short combos with easy timing and a straightforward cancel system
- On-screen frame data bar and visual indicators for properties like invulnerability help players understand fighting game mechanics and how individual moves work
- Simple, unambiguous health and damage system: All characters have 12 HP and all hits do 1 damage
- Diverse cast of characters each with their own unique meter and mechanics
- Quickly swap characters after a lost round to counterpick, just like between matches in a tournament, without slowing down the pace of the match
- Near-flawless online multiplayer with GGPO netcode
Offline Modes:
- Arcade: Face off against the rest of the game's cast
- Versus: Play local matches with friends or the CPU, and get competitive with hidden cursors for double-blind character select at the touch of a button
- Career: Take part in fictional fighting game tournaments around the globe, playing against AIs based on some of Pocket Rumble's top players from the beta, and eventually facing off against AIs from some familiar faces in the FGC
- Lessons: tutorials that teach you the fundamentals of the game
- Training: A fully-featured training mode with a variety of hotkeys and options including viewable hitboxes, save states, dummy recording and more
Online Modes:
- Ranked: Get matched up with players of your skill level online, earn points and rank up with Elo ratings, leaderboards including character-specific rankings, and a rematch button to challenge someone to an unranked set when you need that runback
- Friendly: Invite friends to a friendly match that will not count against your rank
- Arcade: Face off against the rest of the game's cast
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 27, 2026
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