Rubber Bandits

Genre: Top-Down Arcade / Party Game

Players: 1-4 Co-Op / Competitive (Local), 2-4 Competitive (Online)

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Review:

Rubber Bandits, released in 2021 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One and ported to Nintendo Switch in 2023, is a family-friendly Top-Down Arcade / Party Game that has players fighting one another as goofy bandits with rubbery appendages.

The presentation in this game is deceptively good – even though the simple 3D characters are cartoony and look like the titular yellow guys from the Minions movie, this game’s 3D levels have a lot of fun little details to flesh them out, such as great shadows, breakable glass, and good rain effects. This is backed by a whimsical soundtrack that works well for this style of game, even if the music isn’t especially memorable.

The gameplay here is somewhat loose and inefficient – you’ll likely feel at times like you’re struggling to get your character to do what they want. However, there’s also a bit of charm to that, as everyone is struggling with the same thing, almost as if it’s a bunch of drunks on the game’s stages brawling with each other.

Of course, it might not be brawling with each other. This game includes multiple game modes – some are a standard deathmatch or “last man standing”, but some have players competing to eliminate the most computer-controlled “cops”, some have them trying to be the one to exit the level with the most stolen cash, and others have them playing “bomb tag”. There’s even a fill “arcade” mode that has players trying to steal loot and escape the cops in various levels, with full co-op play. The variety of game modes and levels to play on (with some really good level design) is one of Rubber Bandits’ greatest strengths, ensuring that this game has a lot of variety.

Possibly its biggest weakness, on the other hand, is online multiplayer. In the games that I played, my Nintendo Switch struggled to get a solid connection, and it definitely felt like this was a game that just worked better in local play anyway.

However, despite its flaws, Rubber Bandits is a game that should make a strong addition to your Party Game library. It’s goofy and the gameplay is a bit sloppy, but this works just as much to its advantage as it does to its detriment, and the excellent gameplay variety ensures that things will stay fresh. Just be sure you’re looking to get this game for its local multiplayer, though – the online multiplayer doesn’t work nearly as well.

tl;dr – Rubber Bandits is a family-friendly Top-Down Arcade / Party Game that has players fighting one another as goofy bandits with rubbery appendages. The sloppy gameplay is both good and bad, but the excellent variety in levels and game modes make this a great game to bring out at parties. Just don’t expect to get the same experience from the game’s online play.

Grade: B

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2023 Game Awards:

Runner-Up: Best Arcade / Party Game, Best Multiplayer

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