What STARWHAL is
STARWHAL is a local multiplayer fighting game where narwhals battle in space. The whole thing runs in 2D with a retro arcade look, and the main way to win is to drive your horn into the other narwhal's heart. Rounds are short and fast, so a match turns into a pile of flailing bodies and last-second reversals pretty quickly. The game grew out of a prototype built in 48 hours with a focus on being competitive, creative, and immediately fun, and it was shaped further through Steam Early Access using feedback from players. The developers describe it as a simulation of dreams in an ocean of the mind, which is about as accurate a summary of the tone as anything else.
Playing it with friends
One to four players share the same screen, and you can fill empty slots with AI players if your group is short. There are 4 game modes, 25 arenas, and more than 90 costumes to pick from, so a group can keep changing the setup between rounds without running out of options. Remote Play Together is supported, which means someone who does not have the game can join your session over the internet while you play locally. The party-game structure suits a Discord call: everyone watches the same chaotic screen, reacts to the same near-misses, and jumps back in for the next round.
Before you start
Alongside the multiplayer, there are 32 single player Obstacle and Target challenges with leaderboards, ghost replays, and achievements, so there is something to grind when nobody else is around. The game is tagged as family friendly and casual, but it is also tagged competitive and fast-paced, so expect the matches to get heated rather than relaxed. The soundtrack and the new graphic effects are part of the package, and yes, you can dress a space narwhal as a burrito.