Bruisers 2D Boxing, a pixel art boxing game developed by FunOldGames with Halfbrick Studios and published by Halfbrick Studios, launched in Early Access on Steam on October 21, 2026. The developers, who sign their posts as Jevon and Nick, say the launch build brings a rebuilt career mode, reworked combat and full translations compared with the free demo released in June.

What kind of boxing game it is

Bruisers looks like a game from the arcade era, but its Steam page says the boxing underneath is meant to be realistic. Players slip punches, move their heads, parry, counter and control distance, using jabs, straights, hooks, uppercuts and overhands, with clinch fighting up close. Each fighter leans toward one of three styles: Slick, Bully or Balanced.

The career is the heart of the game. You build a boxer from scratch and work through amateur, professional and bareknuckle circuits. Between fights you plan meals, make weight, watch your vitals and hold down a job. Your boxer ages in real time and injuries pile up over a long career. Outside the ring there is a darker side: illegal gambling, shady deals and a mob presence, with “options” for players who want an edge.

What is new in the Early Access build

According to the launch notes on Steam, the main changes since the June demo include:

  • A rebuilt ranking ladder with a 60-deep Contenders list, scaling purses, belt tracking and title defenses
  • A working rival system and a new weight system where coming in heavy or light is a deliberate choice
  • Injuries that carry over between fights, plus a new cut, swelling and blood system
  • New judging with different judge types and predicted scorecards between rounds
  • A new top difficulty level called Pugilist and smarter computer opponents
  • Controller diagrams for PS4, PS5, Xbox and Switch Pro controllers, full keyboard support and custom control mapping
  • A Mac version, and full localization in Spanish, Italian, German, French and Portuguese

There is also a local quick play mode for settling a score with a friend on the couch, and Steam lists Remote Play Together support.

Price, platforms and what it means for you

The game is sold through Steam, which shows each player the price in local currency, so Canadians pay in Canadian dollars and US players in US dollars, and no separate Canadian release has been announced. The game runs on Windows and Mac, and a free demo is also on Steam.

Early Access means the game is not finished. The developers say on the store page that the in ring fighting is close to complete, while the career mode is fully playable but still needs more detail. Their stated goal is a finished version in about 2 years, and they plan to raise the price gradually as more content arrives. In other words, early buyers pay less in exchange for playing a game that is still changing.

The game carries mature content notes for blood, knockouts, gambling and choices involving illegal performance enhancing drugs. If you enjoy deep sports management and old school fighting games, the free demo is the easiest way to check whether the controls click for you before you pay.