Shacknews had the chance to preview Awaysis, the slapstick, physics-fueled co-op dungeon brawler featured in Day of the Devs: The Game Awards Edition 2025, from 17-BIT, (GALAK-Z, Skulls of the Shogun). Revealed back in June 2025, Awaysis will be available later this year on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.
Awaysis drops you and up to three of your friends into a variety of combat arenas where experimentation is encouraged. The hack-and-slash sandbox gameplay is emphasized by players’ momentum and the verticality of its levels, providing ample opportunities to shove, slam, and knock foes into a conveniently placed abyss. Crucially, Awaysis never takes itself too seriously. That loose boulder you meant to send sailing into the nearby enemy can just as easily end up flattening your friend to hilarious effect.
There’s a verticality to the level design that invites players to jump from ledges or knock enemies off of them. Several areas had a rail I could grind to pick up speed, flinging myself at enemies with a sword in hand. Because of Awaysis’ sandbox nature, the environment itself becomes a weapon. There were explosive crates that I’d toss at enemies, and hazards I needed to clear in order to reach the next stage of a level. There’s an inherent comedy to all this, as character models go flying and ragdoll as you smack into them or blow them up.
While Awaysis doesn’t have a firm launch date yet, it will make its debut on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam later this year. If you can’t wait that long, you can currently sample the gameplay of Awaysis yourself with a free demo on Steam. For even more updates on Awaysis, make sure to follow 17-Bit Studios and Shacknews on X.
