Who hasn’t wanted to swing a broadsword at their boss by 5 PM on a Friday? Australian studio We Made A Thing Studios is turning that universal workplace fantasy into a reality with Box Knight. This upcoming title blends classic beat-’em-up action with deep roguelike mechanics, wrapped in a hilariously “low-budget” aesthetic where your armor is made of Amazon packages, and your enemies are your mutated coworkers.
The Premise: Corporate Ladder, Literally
The office has been consumed by a dark, toxic energy, transforming everyone from HR to Accounting into grotesque monsters. As a humble office worker, you suit up in your cardboard regalia to fight your way to the top floor and take down the CEO.
- The Transformation: Every Friday at 5 PM, the “Box Knight” rises.
- The Combat: Inspired by side-scrolling beat-’em-ups like Streets of Rage, but with a modern twist. You’ll need to manage stamina, execute precision attacks, and deal with environmental hazards (like exploding employees).
- The Growth: Death isn’t the end—it’s just a performance review. Use resources gathered during your “run” to buy permanent upgrades, unlocking new weapons and abilities for next week’s attempt.
“Hades meets The Office.”
The developers aren’t shy about their inspirations, and the community is already buzzing with the comparisons.
“It’s like Hades and The Office had a baby, and that baby was raised on a steady diet of South Park humor.” — We Made A Thing Studios
The visual style uses a sharp, comic-book aesthetic to emphasize the absurdity. From exaggerated execution animations to the sight of a knight wearing a refrigerator box for a chest plate, the game oozes personality.
From Hollywood VFX to Indie Gaming
One of the most fascinating aspects of Box Knight is the team behind it. Founded by Jeremy Kelly-Bakker and Tom Phillips, the studio brings some serious heavyweight experience to the table:
- VFX Pedigree: Jeremy Kelly-Bakker is a veteran artist with credits on Iron Man 3, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
- Pivoting to Games: When the pandemic halted film production in 2020, the team dove headfirst into Unreal Engine to build what would become Box Knight.
- Award-Winning: The game has already won “Best in Exhibition” at the 2024 South Australian Game Exhibition.
Game Profile: Box Knight
| Feature | Details |
| Developer | We Made A Thing Studios (Adelaide, Australia) |
| Genre | Roguelike / Action RPG / Beat-’em-up |
| Platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release Date | Q2 2026 (Expected) |
| Multiplayer | 2-Player Co-op (Planned for full release) |
| Art Style | Hand-drawn Comic Book / 2D Side-scroller |
Try the Demo Now
The demo is currently available on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest (running until March 2nd). It features three solo runs where you can battle up to the first boss and experiment with a variety of cardboard gear. If you like what you see, adding it to your Steam Wishlist is the best way to support the developers.
Steam Store Page: Box Knight on Steam
