''Totally Accurate Battle Simulator'' (''TABS'') is a

ragdoll physics Ragdoll physics is a type of procedural animation used by physics engines, which is often used as a replacement for traditional static death animations in video games and animated films. As computers increased in power, it became possible to do ...

battle

simulation A simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. Simulations require the use of models; the model represents the key characteristics or behaviors of the selected system or process, whereas the ...

fighting Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...

developed and published by Landfall Games. It is a parody of the battle simulator genre. An alpha version of the game was initially released in 2016 to a small audience. The game was released in

early access Early access, also known as alpha access, alpha founding, paid alpha, or game preview, is a funding model in the video game industry by which consumers can purchase and play a game in the various pre-release development cycles, such as pre-alph ...

Steam Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporizat ...

on 1 April 2019, for Microsoft Windows and

macOS macOS (; previously OS X and originally Mac OS X) is a Unix operating system developed and marketed by Apple Inc. since 2001. It is the primary operating system for Apple's Mac (computer), Mac computers. Within the market of ...

, and in December 2019 for

Xbox One The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third base console in the Xbox series of video game consoles. It was first released in North America, parts of ...

. It has since received numerous free title updates that have added new content, such as maps and units, in addition to fixing bugs and improving the performance. The game was released in full on 1 April 2021 for Microsoft Windows and macOS and on 5 October 2021 for Xbox players. A

Nintendo Switch The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a tablet that can either be docked for use as a home console or used as a portable device, making it a ...

port was released in November 2022. Versions for Android and

iOS iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also include ...

are currently in development.

Gameplay

''Totally Accurate Battle Simulator'' is a ragdoll physics battle simulator. The game encompasses two main modes: Campaign and Sandbox. In the former, players are given a limited amount of in-game money to build an army in order to defeat an enemy force. In the latter, there is no monetary limit and players build both armies. The two opposing armies can be placed on either opposite sides of the map, or one can surround the other. As soon as the player clicks "Start", the battle begins and the two armies rush forward to attack each other. Once either army has been defeated, the battle freezes and the player is informed of who the victor is. While armies typically win by defeating all enemy units, a May 2020 update added new winning conditions, such as surviving for a given amount of time, or killing a specific enemy unit. During ongoing battles, players can move the camera around the map to get a better view of the fight, and can slow down or freeze time themselves. With the addition of a May 2019 update, players are also able to "possess" units—controlling them manually from a third- or

first-person perspective A first-person narrative is a mode of storytelling in which a storyteller recounts events from their own point of view using the first person It may be narrated by a first-person protagonist (or other focal character), first-person re-teller, ...

. The game has over 130 units across fourteen factions, which are mostly themed around different cultures and eras of human history. Some of these units are hidden on various maps and must be found by the player before they are unlocked. Many units have special abilities that are unique to them or they share with a few others, such as flight, projectile deflection, and teleportation. The maps in the game are centered around the same themes as the factions and differ in size and geography. The game features twenty maps in total, with twenty-two additional "Simulation" maps. Players can create their own battle scenarios, choosing from any of the available units, maps, and winning conditions. A December 2020 update added the Unit Creator, where players can create their own units, giving them abilities, clothing, and weapons from the already existing ''TABS'' units, as well as the spin-offs '' Totally Accurate Battlegrounds'' and ''Totally Accurate Battle Zombielator''. Both custom battles and units can be shared with other players via the in-game workshop. The full release of the game in April 2021 added both online and local multiplayer modes, and

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. a new update in November 3rd 2021 added the map creator.

Development

The game was made during a week-long

game jam A game jam is an event where participants try to make a video game from scratch. Depending on the format, participants might work independently, or in teams. The event duration usually ranges from 24 to 72 hours. Participants are generally program ...

in a Swedish castle. The game was developed using the

Unity Unity may refer to: Buildings * Unity Building, Oregon, Illinois, US; a historic building * Unity Building (Chicago), Illinois, US; a skyscraper * Unity Buildings, Liverpool, UK; two buildings in England * Unity Chapel, Wyoming, Wisconsin, US; a ...

game engine. Landfall Games released the download for people who signed up to their website in July 2016. The game was released in open alpha in November 2016, while the closed alpha was released in December 2016. The full version of the game was released in

on 1 April 2019 for Microsoft Windows and

. On 9 June 2019 at the E3 convention, Xbox announced via their Indie Developers program that ''TABS'' would be coming to

in the Xbox Game Pass later that year. It was released via

Xbox Game Preview The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third base console in the Xbox series of video game consoles. It was first released in North America, parts of ...

on December 20, 2019. On 1 April 2020, free

downloadable content Downloadable content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can either be added for no extra cost or it can be a form of video game monetization, enabli ...

(DLC) for the game, entitled the ''Bug DLC'', was released; for a limited time, players could buy the DLC, with half the money raised being donated to

Doctors Without Borders Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other role ...

. The game exited early access for Windows and Mac on 1 April 2021. The Xbox One version was released in full on October 5, 2021. A

port of the game is slated for launch in Q3 2022. A port for

and Android is currently being developed by Landfall Games in collaboration with XD.

Reception

The game received generally positive reviews. It has been referred to as a "vibrant and goofy take on chaotic combat", and its "silly graphics and kind of wonky body physics" were told to be part of the "charming appeal of an otherwise realistic simulator". The game has also been described as "brilliant in its simplicity" and "outstanding".

Spin-offs

Two spin-offs, ''Totally Accurate Battle Zombielator'', which is a parody of the

survival horror Survival horror is a Video game genre, subgenre of Survival game, survival of the players as the game tries to frighten them with either horror graphics or scary ambience. Although combat can be part of the gameplay, the player is made to feel l ...

genre, and '' Totally Accurate Battlegrounds'', a parody of the battle royale genre, were released on 1 April 2017 and 5 June 2018, respectively.

References

External links

* {{Official website, https://landfall.se/totally-accurate-battle-simulator 2021 video games Multiplayer and single-player video games Nintendo Switch games Parody video games Satirical video games Simulation video games Swedish satire Video game spin-offs Video games developed in Sweden Windows games Xbox Cloud Gaming games Xbox One games