Combo Devils Kickstarter Explained: Funding, Features, Rewards, and What Comes Next
See what the Combo Devils Kickstarter raised, what its stretch goals promised, how beta access worked, and what players should check next.
Combo Devils Kickstarter: the short version
The Combo Devils Kickstarter is more than a funding page: it is Punkzilla’s plan to fuse a competitive platform fighter with a co-op roguelite. If you followed the Combo Devils Kickstarter, the current official campaign page reports $275,103 raised from 3,606 backers against a $120,000 goal, or about 229% of the target. That matters because the money was tied to a larger roster, more stages, 2v2 play, ranked online matchmaking, and a fuller roguelite—not simply a basic launch build.
The campaign has ended successfully, but funding should not be confused with release. This guide separates the confirmed campaign results from proposed features, stretch goals, beta rewards, and the information players still need to verify.
The current funding and backer figures below come from the official Combo Devils Kickstarter page. The campaign-length row is retained only as a dated Kicktraq snapshot.
| Campaign metric | Reported result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Funding goal | $120,000 | The base threshold described by the campaign |
| Total raised | $275,103 | $155,103 above the original goal |
| Backers | 3,606 | The current official supporter total |
| Average pledge | Not stated on the current official page | Do not infer it from the total and backer count |
| Funding status | Successful; about 229% of goal | The campaign passed its funding target |
| Campaign length | 30 days, Kicktraq snapshot | The dated tracker lists a February 3 to March 5 campaign period |
The strongest way to read the Combo Devils Kickstarter is as a scope-and-community milestone. The campaign page explained that success would affect the launch schedule and that the team needed approximately another year to finish everything it had planned. However, the supplied material does not provide a firm release date, so the campaign’s successful close should not be treated as a launch announcement.
What the Combo Devils Kickstarter was funding
The Combo Devils Kickstarter positioned the game as a bridge between traditional fighting games and platform fighters. Its competitive side focuses on movement, combo execution, special cancels, and platform-fighter recovery systems. Its cooperative side aims to give players a reason to keep playing even when they are not interested in ranked competition.
| Game component | Campaign description | Status and player fit |
|---|---|---|
| Competitive PvP fighter | A platform fighter with traditional fighting-game mechanics, expressive combos, and online play | Designed for players who want a high execution ceiling |
| Co-op roguelite | A side-scrolling extraction story mode with paths, perks, shops, mini-games, platforming, and bosses | A solo or cooperative experience for players who prefer progression and exploration |
| Party and special versus modes | Metal, Ice, Tiny, Giant, gravity, speed, Wonky Scale, and Anime modifiers that can be combined | Best for casual matches and chaotic local play |
| Mini-games and training content | Soccer, Target Test, Destroy the Statue, racing, and additional training ideas | Extra activities beyond standard matches |
The co-op roguelite is the most ambitious part of the project. The campaign video described online and local co-op for up to four players. Players would choose routes through increasingly difficult areas, collect perks, trade relics with a shopkeeper, complete mini-games, and fight bosses while uncovering character stories and world lore.
The developers were also clear that the roguelite shown during the campaign was a playable demo, not a finished mode. It had a foundation, but it still needed more content and the extraction features required for a complete experience. That disclosure is important for prospective players: the campaign was funding expansion of an unfinished mode rather than presenting it as a completed single-player campaign.
Examples of campaign-described perks included an item that grants additional air dashes, a kaiju egg that increases a character’s size and power, and a bubble-shield option. These examples show how the roguelite’s build variety could also influence the game’s broader combat systems.
Why the gameplay pitch stood out
Combo Devils is built around a large collection of movement, defense, and combo mechanics. The campaign materials listed familiar platform-fighter techniques alongside traditional fighting-game tools, creating a system aimed at players who enjoy both genres.
| Gameplay system | Examples described in the campaign | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Wavedashing, wavelanding, fast-falling, air dashes, wall jumps, wall sliding, and dash dancing | Gives experienced players room to optimize movement |
| Combo offense | On-hit cancels, gatling combos, target combos, special cancels, EX specials, and supers | Supports longer routes and execution-heavy play |
| Defense | Directional influence, teching, parries, directional shielding, shield breaks, and shield drops | Adds defensive decisions beyond simply blocking |
| Edge and platform play | Ledge grabs, ledge dashes, ledge cancels, platform tech cling, and directional respawning | Connects traditional fighter mechanics to platform-fighter situations |
| Online infrastructure | Deterministic rollback netcode built with GGPO | Intended to make online matches more responsive |
The project’s online foundation was presented as a priority from the beginning. The campaign page stated that the engine was built with deterministic netcode and GGPO-based rollback. It also acknowledged that the system was still being improved, which is a more accurate expectation than assuming every online feature was already final.
Player experience: The campaign video included community reports from players and event attendees who described the combat as responsive, deep, and more traditional-fighter-like than they initially expected. These are player impressions rather than independent review scores or performance measurements, but they help explain why the project attracted attention at events such as EVO, Combo Breaker, and Genesis.
At the campaign stage, four characters were fully playable: Jingo, Ikani, Achilles, and Shai. The campaign page said a fifth character was in development, while the base funding description targeted a five-character launch roster. A campaign update also discussed a $200,000 stretch goal connected to a sixth character, but the supplied material does not provide a complete final delivery list for every stretch goal.
Stages were designed for both competitive and casual play. The campaign described standard platform layouts alongside maps with hazards, walls, ceilings, disappearing platforms, changing layouts, and different blast-zone behavior. That split gives players a choice between learning a controlled tournament-style stage and turning on environmental chaos for a party match.
Rewards and stretch goals from the Combo Devils Kickstarter
The rewards plan combined game access, cosmetics, crossover items, and physical merchandise. The table below describes what the campaign offered or associated with its goals; it does not guarantee that every reward is currently available.
| Campaign item | What the campaign described | Important caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Base funding package | Five playable characters, numerous stages, 2v2 modes, ranked netplay with matchmaking, party modes, and training activities | These were campaign launch plans |
| Stretch goals | More characters, additional stages, items, and a more complete roguelite | The supplied sources do not include a final goal-by-goal fulfillment roadmap |
| Closed beta tier | The current Kickstarter says Closed Beta Access is available at the Beta tier and provides a Pledge Manager route | Exact next test dates and current tier terms still need verification |
| Kickstarter cosmetics | Exclusive skins tied to the campaign | These were advertised as Kickstarter-only rewards |
| Aether Studios collaboration | Profile icons and a Jingo Emote for use in Rivals of Aether 2 | This was a separate digital crossover reward described in the campaign video |
| Physical rewards | SPIF Space was described as handling packing and fulfillment | Shipping was to be charged later through a pledge manager; international duties and taxes were the backer’s responsibility |
Because the Combo Devils Kickstarter has ended, readers should be careful with old reward graphics and pledge descriptions. The current official page says Closed Beta Access is available at the Beta tier and provides a Pledge Manager route, but exact eligibility, tier terms, and future test dates still need verification. A stretch goal does not replace an official development update confirming delivery.
For current information, check the official Combo Devils website and the official Combo Devils Steam page. Those channels are more useful for present-day announcements than archived campaign language.
What to do after the Combo Devils Kickstarter
Whether you are a backer, a competitive player, or simply curious about the project, the most useful question is not only whether it funded. The better question is which promised features are now confirmed in an active build.
| Your goal | Practical next step | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Track the release | Follow the official website and Steam page | The supplied campaign material does not give a firm launch date |
| Confirm beta access | Check backer email, pledge-manager messages, and official announcements | The original beta offer had specific timing and tier conditions |
| Review physical rewards | Confirm your address and watch for pledge-manager shipping instructions | Shipping was planned separately from the original pledge |
| Prepare for competitive play | Practice movement, directional influence, teching, parries, and cancel timing | These systems form the game’s stated execution ceiling |
| Evaluate the roguelite | Look for updates about extraction systems, content, bosses, and co-op stability | The campaign-era demo was explicitly unfinished |
| Avoid outdated assumptions | Treat stretch goals as plans until the team confirms completion | Funding success does not prove every feature is already shipped |
Backers should also account for possible fulfillment costs. The campaign’s shipping policy said delivery would be calculated after the campaign using the backer’s address, package weight, and current carrier rates. International supporters were responsible for customs duties, VAT, or import taxes where applicable.
For prospective PC players, Steam is the clearest platform reference in the supplied material. Console versions for Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation were described as expensive ports requiring additional support, and the campaign did not lock in a specific console choice.
A useful evidence hierarchy can make future updates easier to interpret:
- Funded: confirms that the campaign reached its financial target.
- Stretch goal: identifies intended additional scope.
- Playable demo: shows an early version, not necessarily final content.
- Beta announcement: confirms a test window and eligibility rules.
- Release announcement: provides the strongest evidence of launch timing.
That distinction is especially important for a project that combines a competitive fighter with a large cooperative mode. The fighting-game foundation and the roguelite expansion may progress at different speeds, so each should be evaluated separately.
FAQ: Combo Devils Kickstarter questions
What was the Combo Devils Kickstarter for?
The Combo Devils Kickstarter funded Punkzilla’s hybrid fighting game, combining a competitive platform fighter with a traditional fighting-game influence and a co-op roguelite. The campaign also supported additional characters, stages, online features, party modes, and expanded cooperative content.
How much did the Combo Devils Kickstarter raise?
The current official Kickstarter page lists $275,103 raised from 3,606 backers against a $120,000 goal, or about 229% of the target. It does not state an average pledge, so do not infer one from those totals.
Does the Combo Devils Kickstarter confirm a release date?
No firm release date appears in the supplied material. The campaign said that success would affect the launch schedule and that the team expected to need approximately another year to finish its plans, but that estimate should not be treated as a confirmed date.
Can new players still get the Kickstarter beta reward?
The current official Kickstarter description says Closed Beta Access is available at the Beta tier and provides a Pledge Manager route. New players should still verify the current tier terms, eligibility, and next test date through the official access flow before relying on it.
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