Hexball is a turn-based tactics strategy game that blends elements of sports and tabletop simulation on PC. Six teams compete simultaneously on a single hexagonal pitch, where metal balls and goal holes create constant opportunities for scoring through direct carries, shoves, or indirect knockbacks. The game emphasizes visible probabilities for every action, squad building with permanent consequences, and matches that last 15 to 20 minutes.
Gameplay
Players control one of six teams on a shared hex grid filled with balls and scoring holes that belong to specific sides. Any method that sends a ball into a hole counts as a score for its owner, whether through a controlled carry, a rival shoved into position, or a teammate hurled across the field. Every block, dodge, catch, and pass displays its exact success chance before the player commits, allowing informed decisions followed by a visible dice roll outcome. No hidden modifiers alter the results after the choice is made.
Squad management forms a core loop outside matches. Teams recruit players from a market, assign names, and improve them through experience gained in games. Level-ups unlock new skills, while injuries can sideline or permanently remove characters. Fallen players receive a permanent memorial entry on the team roster. Matches support controller or mouse-and-keyboard input and run fully offline for single-player or hot-seat sessions.
Game Modes
Standard matches form the baseline experience, with additional options for Rivalry games and Showdowns that introduce structured competition. Half events trigger mid-match rule changes that alter the flow for the remainder of the contest. Up to six human or computer-controlled coaches can participate on one PC through hot-seat play, mixing player counts freely. These formats keep sessions concise while supporting both solo practice against AI and group sessions with friends sharing the same machine.
Teams and Progression
Six distinct factions draw from different historical eras and bring unique player types, skills, and signature abilities. The Jarls can enter a berserk state, the Stone Age faction attempts powerful home-run style swings, the Pharaohs summon a Ra Beam, and the Black Flag deploys bomb-like attacks. The Shogunate and The Legion round out the roster with their own specialized units. Progression ties directly to match performance, as experience feeds skill selection and roster evolution, while injuries introduce risk that can thin the squad over time.
Visual Style
The presentation mimics a detailed painted miniature setup on a diorama-style pitch, with figures rendered to evoke physical tabletop models under focused lighting. This aesthetic reinforces the tactical, deliberate pace of play without relying on fast-paced animation or particle effects typical of real-time sports titles.
Is It Worth Playing?
Hexball targets players who enjoy turn-based strategy layered onto a sports framework, particularly those drawn to visible risk calculation, squad management with lasting stakes, and chaotic multi-team interactions on a single field. The permanent loss mechanics and memorial system add weight to roster decisions, while the six-team format creates unpredictable alliances and rivalries within each match. As the game approaches its planned Early Access launch on December 28, 2026, the core systems for matches, hiring, leveling, and injuries are already functional, with further features such as seasons and online play slated for later based on player input. Those comfortable with hot-seat multiplayer or solo AI opponents on PC will find the most immediate value in its current described state. The combination of exact probability feedback and historical faction variety sets it apart from standard sports simulations or pure tactics games.