Battlesloths 2025: The Great Pizza Wars

Battlesloths 2025: The Great Pizza Wars is a chaotic multiplayer party game set in a whimsical fantasy world where pizza-loving sloths battle it out in fast-paced, weapon-filled arenas. Players engage in frenetic 2-stick shooter action, competing in various modes across colorful, flip-screen environments, blending humor and competitive gameplay in a unique, lighthearted setting.

Battlesloths 2025: The Great Pizza Wars – A Deep Dive into Sloth-Fueled Chaos

Introduction: The Rise of the Pizza Wars

In the annals of gaming history, few titles dare to blend the absurd with the adrenaline-pumping quite like Battlesloths 2025: The Great Pizza Wars. Released in 2017 by Invisible Collective and published under the Rooster Teeth Games banner, this twin-stick shooter defies convention by casting players as hyper-aggressive, pizza-obsessed sloths in a post-human dystopia. The premise alone—a world where sloths have evolved into gun-toting, hoverboarding warriors battling over slices of pizza—is a masterclass in surreal humor. Yet beneath its whimsical veneer lies a tightly crafted multiplayer experience that, while flawed, carves out a niche in the competitive party game landscape.

This review dissects Battlesloths 2025 across its development, narrative quirks, gameplay mechanics, and cultural impact, arguing that its legacy is one of unapologetic silliness meets mechanical precision—a rare gem that thrives in local multiplayer chaos but stumbles in the online void.

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Development History & Context: From Humble Bundle to Rooster Teeth’s Backing

The Birth of a Sloth Empire

Battlesloths 2025 is the sequel to the original Battlesloths, a smaller-scale title released in 2016 as part of the Humble Monthly Bundle. The first game’s modest success caught the attention of Rooster Teeth Games, the gaming arm of the popular internet production company known for Red vs. Blue and Achievement Hunter. With their backing, Invisible Collective—a “secretive group of artists and friends,” as described on GameCompanies.com—expanded the concept into a full-fledged multiplayer shooter.

Technological Constraints & Design Philosophy

Built in Unity, Battlesloths 2025 embraces a retro pixel-art aesthetic, a deliberate choice that aligns with the indie twin-stick shooter renaissance of the mid-2010s (see: Nuclear Throne, Enter the Gungeon). The game’s fixed/flip-screen perspective and diagonal-down camera angle evoke classic arcade shooters, while its direct-control interface ensures accessibility for both keyboard/mouse and controller players.

The development team, led by figures like Cody Adams and Randy Greenback, prioritized local multiplayer chaos over online stability—a decision that would later haunt the game’s reception. The inclusion of AI sloths was a necessity, given the unpredictable nature of online matchmaking, but the lack of a robust online community at launch left many players relying on bots or local couch co-op.

The Gaming Landscape of 2017

Battlesloths 2025 arrived in a crowded market. Twin-stick shooters were experiencing a resurgence, with titles like Helldivers and Assault Android Cactus dominating the genre. Meanwhile, party games like Overcooked and Gang Beasts proved that absurd premises could translate into commercial success. Battlesloths attempted to bridge these worlds, offering a hybrid of competitive shooting and lighthearted party antics.

However, its June 2017 release coincided with the rise of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), which monopolized multiplayer attention. For a niche title like Battlesloths, standing out required more than just charm—it needed a dedicated community.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: The Slothpocalypse

Plot: A Post-Human Pizza Dystopia

The game’s lore is delivered via a short animated intro: In the year 2024, humanity goes extinct. By 2025, sloths have evolved into sentient, pizza-craving warriors who will stop at nothing to claim every slice. This absurd setup is the game’s greatest strength—it doesn’t take itself seriously, and neither should the player.

The narrative is minimal, serving as a backdrop for the gameplay. There are no cutscenes, no character arcs, and no moral dilemmas—just sloths, guns, and pizza. The “Great Pizza Wars” framing is a clever parody of over-the-top military conflicts, reducing geopolitical strife to a battle over fast food.

Characters & Dialogue: The Silent Sloths

The sloths themselves are silent protagonists, distinguished only by their customizable hats (a whopping 700+ options, including Rooster Teeth-branded gear). Their lack of dialogue is compensated by exaggerated sound effects—a high-pitched “eep” when reloading, a satisfied “nom” when collecting pizza. These auditory cues reinforce the game’s cartoonish tone.

Themes: Capitalism, Consumption, and Absurdity

Beneath the chaos, Battlesloths 2025 subtly critiques consumer culture. Pizza, a symbol of instant gratification, becomes the ultimate prize, reducing warfare to a capitalist free-for-all. The sloths’ evolution from docile creatures to hyper-violent consumers mirrors humanity’s own destructive tendencies.

The game’s humor also leans into internet meme culture. The “nuke” power-up, the over-the-top weaponry (including a “Pizza Launcher”), and the sheer ridiculousness of the premise all align with the era’s love of surreal, shareable content.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: Chaos by Design

Core Gameplay Loop: Shoot, Collect, Repeat

Battlesloths 2025 is a twin-stick shooter at heart, with players controlling movement with one stick and aiming/shooting with the other. The controls are responsive, though the sloths’ hitboxes can feel slightly larger than their sprites, leading to occasional frustration.

The game offers four primary modes:
1. Slice Hunt: Collect pizza slices dropped by defeated enemies and return them to your base.
2. Golden Slice: A single pizza slice spawns at a time; the first to grab and secure it wins.
3. Sloth Hunt: Standard deathmatch with a set number of kills to win.
4. Last Sloth Standing: Stock-based elimination (e.g., best of 5 kills).

Each mode supports up to four players (human or AI), with team-based and free-for-all options. Matches are fast-paced, typically lasting 3–5 minutes, making it ideal for quick sessions.

Weapons & Progression: A Loot Box Controversy

The game boasts 20 unique weapons, ranging from pistols and shotguns to rocket launchers and light sabers. Each weapon has distinct handling, encouraging players to adapt their strategies. However, the lack of a traditional progression system is notable—there are no unlockable weapons, only cosmetic hats.

Instead, Battlesloths employs a loot box system for hat unlocks. Players earn coins during matches, which can be spent on randomized “hat boxes.” While this system is purely cosmetic, its inclusion in 2017—amid growing backlash against loot boxes in games like Star Wars Battlefront II—feels tone-deaf. Fortunately, the sheer volume of hats (many of which are hilarious, like a “Rooster Teeth logo” or a “taco head”) mitigates frustration.

AI & Difficulty: The Bots Are Brutal

The AI sloths are surprisingly competent, often outmaneuvering human players in higher difficulty settings. This makes solo play viable but punishing. The lack of a proper single-player campaign or arcade mode is a missed opportunity—imagine a “Sloth Survival” mode where waves of enemies attack while you defend a pizza fortress.

UI & Customization: Simple but Effective

The menus are straightforward, with options to adjust match settings (e.g., hazard frequency, weapon spawn rates). The hoverboard mechanic, which allows for brief speed boosts, adds a layer of mobility but is underutilized—it’s more of a novelty than a tactical tool.

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World-Building, Art & Sound: A Pixelated Pizza Paradise

Visual Design: Retro Meets Ridiculous

The game’s pixel-art style is vibrant and chaotic, with stages ranging from urban ruins to jungle temples. The sloths themselves are adorable yet menacing, their oversized weapons contrasting with their tiny bodies. The “pizza” sprites are delightfully detailed, with toppings visible even in the heat of battle.

However, the fixed/flip-screen perspective can feel limiting. Unlike Enter the Gungeon’s dynamic cameras, Battlesloths’ stages are static, which can lead to visual clutter during four-player matches.

Sound Design: The Symphony of Sloths

The soundtrack, composed by Jason Graves and Thomas Hansen, is a mix of upbeat electronic tracks and quirky chiptune melodies. The music fits the game’s tone but isn’t particularly memorable. The real auditory stars are the sound effects:
– The “eep” of a sloth reloading.
– The “splat” of a pizza hitting the ground.
– The “ka-boom” of a rocket launcher.

These cues enhance the game’s comedic timing, making even losses feel amusing.

Atmosphere: A Party Game Through and Through

Battlesloths 2025 excels as a local multiplayer experience. The combination of fast-paced action, ridiculous weapons, and pizza-themed objectives creates a perfect storm of couch competition. The game’s humor is infectious—few things are funnier than watching a sloth in a sombrero mow down opponents with a minigun.

However, the online mode is a ghost town. As noted by WorthPlaying’s Cody Medellin, “there’s no one actually playing online.” This is the game’s Achilles’ heel. Without a thriving community, Battlesloths relies almost entirely on local play, limiting its longevity.

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Reception & Legacy: A Cult Classic in the Making?

Critical Reception: Mixed but Positive

Battlesloths 2025 received a Metacritic score of “tbd” (due to insufficient reviews), but the few critiques that exist are largely positive:
– WorthPlaying (8.5/10): Praised its “fast and intuitive” gameplay but lamented the lack of online players.
– Honey’s Anime (Recommended): Called it “a great party game” but criticized the weak single-player content.
– eShopper Reviews (58/100): Noted that the “stop-go pattern of action and waiting” (likely referring to respawn times) disrupted the flow.

The game’s Steam reviews are overwhelmingly positive (83% approval), with players highlighting its local multiplayer chaos and humor.

Commercial Performance: A Niche Hit

With a budget price of $4.99, Battlesloths 2025 found its audience among indie enthusiasts and Rooster Teeth fans. Its later Nintendo Switch port (2020) helped sustain interest, though it remained overshadowed by bigger titles.

Influence & Legacy

While Battlesloths didn’t spawn a genre, it contributed to the twin-stick shooter revival and proved that absurd premises could thrive in multiplayer. Its DNA can be seen in later games like Pizza Tower (though not a shooter) and Broforce, which similarly blend humor with chaotic combat.

The game’s biggest legacy, however, is its meme potential. Clips of sloths fighting over pizza continue to circulate on platforms like Twitter and Reddit, ensuring its place in internet culture.

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Conclusion: A Flawed but Unforgettable Pizza Party

Battlesloths 2025: The Great Pizza Wars is a game of contradictions:
– Brilliant in local multiplayer, barren online.
– Hilarious in premise, shallow in content.
– Precise in mechanics, chaotic in execution.

Its greatest strength is its unapologetic silliness—a rare game that doesn’t take itself seriously but still delivers tight gameplay. For those with friends to share the chaos, it’s a must-play. For solo players, it’s a curio, a brief but enjoyable diversion.

Final Verdict: 7.5/10 – “A Delicious, If Short-Lived, Feast”
Battlesloths 2025 isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s a cult classic in the making, remembered fondly by those who experienced its pizza-fueled madness. In a world of overly serious shooters, it’s a breath of fresh, cheesy air.

Best Enjoyed With: Three friends, a controller, and a real pizza on standby.