What Thunder Spikes Volleyball is
Thunder Spikes Volleyball is a 2D volleyball game where you control every move of your players on the court. You can perform spikes, tips, blocks, serves and diving saves, and the game leans on reading what the defense is doing while you're still in the air so you can pick the right move. Reading an attack well can turn into a satisfying monster block on the other side. The whole thing is drawn in a retro style, with over 1,500 frames of hand-drawn animation behind the movement.
Playing it with your group
The straightforward way to play together is local multiplayer: you and a friend sit down and challenge each other on the same machine. If your group is spread across Discord, Steam Remote Play Together lets someone stream the game so others can join in over the connection. There is also an Arcade Mode where you work through national teams, unlocking them as you go and trying to win the cup, which suits a rotation where people take turns or watch someone else's run.
Before you start
Arcade Mode is the singleplayer path, so a group watching one person play gets plenty out of it too. Expect a range of venues along the way: more than 12 courts, from playgrounds and school gyms up to stadiums and world-class arenas. The game is in Early Access, so it may still change over time. It's tagged as retro and arcade rather than a simulation of real volleyball rules, so the feel is quick, readable rallies where positioning and timing matter more than anything else.