Introduction
Fall Guys (formerly known as Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout) is a free-to-play platform battle royale game developed by Mediatonic and originally published by Devolver Digital for the PlayStation 4 and Windows. It was acquired by Epic Games and subsequently made free-to-play on 21 June 2022 and released on additional platforms including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with full cross-platform play support among all platforms. As part of the transition, the game adopted a paid battle pass system for its monetisation. On 16 August 2024, the game was released on mobile via the Epic Games Store, worldwide on Android and only in the European Union on iOS.
The main game involves up to 32 players who control bean-shaped characters and compete against each other in a series of randomly selected mini-games, such as obstacle courses and survival challenges. Players are eliminated as the rounds progress until, eventually, the last remaining player or team is crowned the winner. There are also many other modes, such as Explore, with different game rules and player counts. The game draws inspiration
From game shows like Takeshi’s Castle, It’s a Knockout, Total Wipeout, and playground games like tag and British Bulldog. Fall Guys received generally positive reviews from critics for its chaotic gameplay and visual appearance. The game was a commercial success, selling more than 10 million copies and attracting more than 50 million players after the game went free-to-play. Since launching in 2020, Mediatonic has continued to release consistent updates containing new features, cosmetics, and levels.
Gameplay
In the standard “Classic” and “Knockout” modes, up to 32 players compete in matches with battle royale style gameplay. Players, represented as jellybean-like figures, move around in a three-dimensional playing field, with abilities such as jumping, diving, dive sliding, piggybacking, and grabbing. Players can also use power-ups in select levels, which grant players unique abilities for either a limited amount of time or until the round ends. The aim is to qualify for subsequent rounds by successfully
Completing each of the randomly selected mini-games, many of which have randomly selected variations. There are currently seven different types of levels in Fall Guys: Course, Survival, Points, Team, Logic, Invisibeans, and Final. The winner of the Final level is usually the winner of the match, except in Squads-based modes where the winning player scores the victory for their whole team.
In the “Explore” and “Creator Spotlight” modes, up to 20 players can play continuous creative levels until they choose to finish. Players are able to skip levels and load into the next once qualified, earning 5 crown shards per completed level.
Season Updates
Season 2 added banners, nicknames, and the ability to choose different shows with a different selection with the Game Selector.
Season 3 added the Crown Rank system. The same season added exclusive rewards only accessible if the user had an Amazon Prime subscription.
Season 4 added a basic daily challenge system. It also added the “Crown Shards” currency. In a mid-season update, they added the ability to host custom shows.
Season 5 added limited time events, and Duos/Trios shows. Later in the season, the main lobby was redesigned.
Season 6 added cross-progression, cross-play, and a game mode called Sweet Thieves, where one team is invisible (only being visible when moving fast) while the other team is not. The invisible team (Thieves) needs to bring sweets to the goals while the other team (Guardians) tries to prevent them by using the grabbing mechanic to capture the Thieves and put them in a jail. A button can be pressed every 30 seconds to remove the jail barrier.
Season 1: Free for All introduced Show-Bucks and added Bean Hill Zone, the first collaboration level, with Sonic the Hedgehog. On 5 March 2024 the level was removed from the game, including ‘The Vault’ show, for unknown reasons.
Season 2: Satellite Scramble added a Halloween-exclusive game mode called Treat Thieves, a Halloween-themed version of Sweet Thieves, containing unique gimmicks such as wormholes.
Season 3: Sunken Secrets added dive sliding and a Time Attack show. The maximum lobby size was decreased from 60 to 40 players for faster queue time. The same season also added ‘The Vault’, which features all levels regardless of vaulted status in one show, only available in Custom Games.
Season 4: Creative Construction added Fall Guys Creative, alongside a revamped Fame Pass system to replace the previous Season Pass.
Post Season Updates
The Power Party Update introduced power-ups. The same update also added the Discovery tab, a new tab in the Show Selector that shows Creative levels. Every few hours it refreshes with new levels.
The Survival Update added the ability to create Survival-type levels in Creative.
The Fall Forever Update added the ‘Piggyback’ mechanic. The same update also added the Explore and Knockout modes.
The Scrapyard Stumble Update added the ability to create Points-type levels in Creative, along with many items to score points. This includes the Rubber Chicken power-up, which can be used to break or move destructible and physics objects.
The November Update added the Creator Spotlight mode, which refreshes on a consistent two-week basis and features specific creator-made levels approved by Mediatonic.
The Ranked Knockout Update introduced the eponymous Ranked Knockout mode. Players must place well in Knockout games in order to achieve the Superstar rank and earn the highest rewards in each eight-week cycle.
The Yeetropolis Update brought back the ability to earn Kudos at the end of games, a feature absent since Season 1: Free for All.
Seasonal Updates
| Season | Nickname | Theme | Start date | End date | Length (Days) | New Rounds | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout | |||||||
| Season 1 (Legacy) | Ultimate Knockout | Original | 4 August 2020 | 8 October 2020 | 65 | 25 | Game release |
| Season 2 (Legacy) | Medieval Knockout | Medieval | 8 October 2020 | 15 December 2020 | 68 | 5 | Show SelectorInterface Customization |
| Season 3 (Legacy) | Winter Knockout | Winter | 15 December 2020 | 22 March 2021 | 97 | 8 | Crown RankCustom Shows |
| Season 4 (Legacy) | Fall Guys 4041 | Future | 22 March 2021 | 20 July 2021 | 120 | 9 | SquadsCrown Shards Cross play |
| Season 5 (Legacy) | Jungle Adventure | Jungle | 20 July 2021 | 30 November 2021 | 133 | 7 | Live EventsDuos and Trios |
| Season 6 (Legacy) | Party Spectacular | Party | 30 November 2021 | 21 June 2022 | 203 | 6 | Cross-platform progressionCross platform parties |
| As Fall Guys | |||||||
| Season 1 | Free for All | Sports/Stadium | 21 June 2022 | 15 September 2022 | 86 | 8 | Free to Play relaunchWeekly/Marathon Challenges Show-Bucks |
| Season 2 | Satellite Scramble | Space | 15 September 2022 | 22 November 2022 | 68 | 9 | VarriationsEvents |
| Season 3 | Sunken Secrets | Underwater/Alantis | 22 November 2022 | 10 May 2023 | 169 | 5 | Time AttackThe Vault Dive Slide |
| Season 4 | Creative Construction | Digital/Low Poly | 10 May 2023 | 16 August 2023 | 98 | 50 | Level Editor (Creative)Redesigned Show Selector |
Post-Season Updates
| Name | Date | Theme | New Levels | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Breeze Update | 16 August 2023 | Digital/Low Poly | 14 | The ability to emote in the lobbyObjects in Creative |
| Fall Force Update | 27 September 2023 | Evergreen | 4 | Options for CreativeUI changes |
| Tool Up Update | 7 November 2023 | 0 | Creative budget extendedOverlapping for most Creative objects The ability to choose specific music for Rounds | |
| Power Party Update | 6 December 2023 | 3 | Bean Ball power-upThe ability to scale objects in Creative Round tags Improved Discovery tab | |
| Shapes and Stickers Update | 23 January 2024 | 2 | Various objects of geometric shapes and stickers to CreativeUI changes | |
| Survival Update | 28 February 2024 | 7 | Survival-type Rounds in CreativeInvisibility and Party Crasher power-ups Hex tiles Elimination zones The ability to like and dislike Creative rounds | |
| Fall Forever Update | 7 May 2024 | 23 | “Explore” and “Knockout” modesPiggybacking Social wheels UI changes Game Selector updates | |
| – | 11 June 2024 | 3 | Physics changesCamera changes | |
| 16 August 2024 | 25 | Mobile Release3D backgrounds Faster load times | ||
| Scrapyard Stumble Update | 3 September 2024 | Scrapyard | 19 | Points-type Levels in CreativeDestructibility and physics options for objects Rubber Chicken power-up |
| Falloween 2024 Update | 8 October 2024 | Halloween | 5 | Quality of life improvementsCreative objects |
| November Update | 7 November 2024 | Original | 0 | Creator SpotlightCustom object colors in Creative Customization for emoticons and phrases |
| Winter Update | 10 December 2024 | Wild West | 5 | Slime’ material for CreativeCreative budget increase to 2500 “Improved” version of Time Attack |
| Fall and Fantasy Update | 4 February 2025 | Fantasy | Fantasy-themed decorations, background and musicThe ability to see other players’ Crown Rank | |
| Ranked Knockout Update | 1 April 2025 | Wilderness | “Ranked Knockout” modeWilderness-themed decorations and background Creative VFX | |
| Yeetropolis Update | 27 May 2025 | Metropolis | 4 | Metropolis-themed decorations, background and VFXRotation Controller improvements Earning Kudos after games |
| Tropical Tides | 29 July 2025 | Tropics | Summertime themed decorations, background,movement controllers | |
| Slime Factory Update | 16 September 2025 | – | 0 | Unvaulted variants |
Release
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout was announced at E3 in June 2019 and was released on 4 August 2020 for PlayStation 4 and Windows. Several updates ensued for the first season, and on 8 October 2020, the medieval-themed second season was released. The success prompted more hiring.
The Chinese company Bilibili announced in August 2020 that it would develop a mobile version for Android and iOS that would be exclusive to China. The deal expired in 2022, and Fall Guys announced that their exclusive content and accounts on Bilibili would be run by Epic from then on.
Awards
| Golden Joystick Awards 2020 | 24 November 2020 | Best Multiplayer Award | Won | [143] |
| Best Family Game | Won | |||
| Best Gaming Community | Nominated | |||
| PlayStation Game of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Ultimate Game of the Year | Nominated | |||
| The Game Awards 2020 | 10 December 2020 | Best Community Support | Won | [144] |
| Best Multiplayer Game | Nominated | |||
| Best Indie Game | Nominated | |||
| PlayStation.Blog Game of the Year | 18 December 2020 | Best Independent Game-Platinum | Won | [145] |
| Best Multiplayer Game-Gold | Won | |||
| 17th British Academy Games Awards | 25 March 2021 | British Game | Nominated | [146] |
| Evolving Game | Nominated | |||
| Family | Nominated | |||
| Multiplayer | Nominated | |||
| Original Property | Nominated | |||
| 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards | 22 April 2021 | Online Game of the Year | Won | [147] |
| Family Game of the Year | Nominated |
Notes
- Additional support provided by Wushu Studios, Red Kite Games, The Multiplayer Group, Room 8 Studio, Super Spline Studios, Lionbridge Games, Bosi, Infinsteam and Rocket Science Games
- 2020–2021
- 2021–present
- 2020 – October 2022
- May 2024 – present
- ‘Chill Your Beans’ Soundtrack
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