THE CANON OF BALLS

THE CANON OF BALLS

Released Aug 2026

Hardcore, co-op (or solo) platformer. Dark Souls makes a baby with Super Monkey Ball. An easy-to-learn, hard-to-master experience to explore with your friends. All inside a vast open world, with each platforming course bringing its own twist.

98% positive · 354 reviews
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
High confidence
Active Development
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
High confidence
Active Development

Where to buy

Steam $3.99
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Evaluation

THE CANON OF BALLS launched on August 13, 2026, and the developer has maintained an exceptionally high activity level in the weeks since. The most significant post-launch update shipped on August 22, 2026: a Steam Workshop integration with a custom level editor, a new time-racing game mode, and Steam leaderboards — a substantial expansion of the game's content and tools. The most recent developer communication, posted on September 5, 2026, is particularly telling: while addressing a save data corruption issue, the developer noted that the new scene-specific save system was built specifically to support "the new map I am actively working on." This confirms ongoing development of additional map content. The developer has shipped updates on nearly every day since launch, demonstrating an unusually high level of post-launch engagement. No statement has been made indicating development is concluding, and the explicit mention of a new map in active development confirms there is more to come.
Evidence
Developer explicitly states they are actively working on a new map, and implemented a new save system specifically to support it.
news post · Sep 5, 2026 source content planned
high
Major update shipped: Steam Workshop integration, custom level editor, new time-racing game mode, and Steam leaderboards — substantially expanding the game post-launch.
news post · Aug 22, 2026 source content shipped
high

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
Helios Monk
Achievements
5
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · Co-op

About this game





THE CANON OF BALLS is the hardcore, first-person platforming experience you and your friends have been waiting for. Imagine putting Shadow of the Colossus' PS2 aesthetics and Monkey Ball's gameplay into a blender and mixing them thoroughly. What comes out is an easy-to-learn, hard-to-master open-world multiplayer experience to explore and master together with your friends. A vast open world, with each platforming track bringing its own interesting twist, is waiting for you — all of this with no hand-holding. There are no minimaps, quest markers, or tutorials.

The game can also be completed in offline solo mode. No friends required.

I put a lot of work into the sound design to give the BALLS as much weight as possible, all to create a snappy gameplay experience with memorable juice. The world is fully "handcrafted" to be a non-repetitive, non-modular open world. I purposely didn't build a modular "copy and paste" kit to craft the levels. All of the parkour courses feature a specific idea, twist, or thought to make sure everything feels fresh in a different way. No AI art assets have been used.

From the start, I knew THE CANON OF BALLS should be something to experience with friends. Without setting any rules or multiplayer objectives, the world provides its own platform to give birth to fun, memorable, virtual togetherness. The premise was the good old days of playing Minecraft parkour maps and talking about all kinds of things while you struggled together. You can be competitive and see who reaches a crystal first, or play more cooperatively, navigating together and waiting for each other. The freedom is in the hands of the group, and I can't wait to see how you all choose to play it. The word "co-op" might be a bit stretched for the game, as there are no real mechanics that require multiple players—it all works solo. However, the true social moments are what make this experience so special. 

NOW GET IT AND START ROLLING!!!

Last evaluated Sep 7, 2026
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