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Battle Vision Network is coming to PC this year. Capybara Games has turned the 1v1 live service game into a single-player puzzle roguelike.
At the end of 2024, a season-based mobile-first 1v1 live-service puzzle game was no longer part of Netflix’s games strategy, therefore Toronto-based Capybara Games (Super Time Force, Sound Shapes) opted to shift Battle Vision Network (BVN) to a single-player puzzle roguelike set in an intergalactic sporting spectacle—a blend of Eurovision Song Contest and major sporting event, as Creative Director Dan Vader put it in an exclusive presentation of BVN to the gaming press. Dan Vader is not only responsible for BVN’s story; he also worked as a designer on the 2009 Nintendo DS puzzle game Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes. On a Friday afternoon before the COVID-19 pandemic, some Capy developers decided to remake this cult-classic, which sparked the idea to produce a contemporary version of it. Eileen Hollinger, President of Capybara Games, emphasizes the studios’ ability to create memorable characters, which is promptly demonstrated.
In BVN, your task is to win an intergalactic championship with one of up to four unlockable teams. To do this, you line up your base units of the starter team Mascot Rejects on a 6×6 grid in order to attack the opposing team on their endzone—such as the mercenary gang Ragtags, the Magiks from the planet Abracadabra, the Holy Rollers featuring their unique take on an death angel named Azraechill, and the Prismaatix with the crystalline muscleman Neon Zoz—, or defend against their attacks on yours. Each team is led by a captain, who, unlike in Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, is fighting alongside you on the grid. The Mascot Rejects’ captain is Rainbow Sparkle, a skull with its intestines hanging out and equipped with a rainbow cape, while the Magiks are lead by shady magician Illusio. The mascots consist of grotesque creatures, once popular with sports teams and brands, and they’re reminiscent of the iconic characters from Promise Mascot Agency by Kaizen Game Works. According to Dan Vader, Texas Toast is particularly popular with playtesters. This trigger-happy piece of toast is equipped with two juice revolvers, serving as a superstar unit. These powerful units are able to influence multiple lanes, in this case, two.
Synergies are paramount in BVN. The Mascot Rejects are able to merge McWally, who can absorb enemy shields and grants up to two additional Strength (+2 POW), and Todd Thumb, who enjoys dealing headbutts and gives you up to +4 POW, thus decimating the entire lane on the enemy team’s endzone.
Each run features three tournament maps with branching paths and notes allowing you to choose to advance the story narrated by two sports commentators, taking advantage of free training to improve the skills of your units, or tackle the next match. Wins earn you Bucks, which you can invest into new units or performance upgrades at the locker room, and pennants for global improvements to your team. Forbidden substances serve as helpful consumables in battle. Over time, you’ll unlock new units, captains, performance upgrades, pennants, and forbidden substances. Your opponents can’t access any of these, but they do have global abilities, such as stealing your points with successful attacks. The championships, called Prism of the Crown, then take place over the course of three final battles.
The soundtrack for this absurd sports spectacle is being contributed by Capybara’s in-house composers Jim Guthrie (Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, Below) and Sam Webster (Grindstone). BVN will be optimized for Steam Deck (Valve’s PC handheld is quite popular at Capy’s office) and feature controller support. While a multiplayer mode with friendlies and ranked matches, as well as versions for other platforms, are planned, these will not be included in the initial PC-only launch, which is expected to happen by the end of the year.
Final thoughts
Battle Vision Network already looks promising with its polished presentation, fresh setting, and sophisticated puzzle mechanics, even though we haven’t had a chance to play it yet. That could soon change, as the team is currently working on a tutorial and is also considering producing a demo of the roguelike puzzler. We’re eager to see if the game will appeal to newcomers to the genre and how it will fare in terms of long-term appeal. Until then, we’re looking forward to hopefully soon playing the one and only Nuggz Bowl with the Tarantino-esque version of Galadriel, Stabdriel, and preacher Masochris.
