Manga publisher bigwig Shueisha has its own game publishing arm to help bring in new anime-style games to the market. So it feels serendipitous to have this piece of news on board to bring in a hybrid game style we haven’t seen in a while.

Bakudo is a new title from developer Sayil Games that brings the best of both worlds: sports anime and boss rush mode in games. The title is a sci-fi action game that fuses “high-octane ball-sport mechanics with exhilarating combat”. So far, it’s slated for PC (Steam) and has no release date. I’m still piqued all the same because of how it’s shaping up: 1-versus-1 dodgeball-style gameplay that reminds me of that one pro-bending sport in Avatar: The Legend of Korra, well-endowed female characters with slight jiggle physics, and captions popping up when landing hits ala your mangas and comic book panels.

Feature list and trailer below:

Overview

BAKUDO is a sci?fi boss?rush action game fusing high?octane ball?sport mechanics with exhilarating combat. Enroll at an elite BAKUDO academy and clash with formidable opponents as you uncover a major conspiracy. When determination is put to the ultimate test, you must tip the scales of destiny.

Features List

The Ultimate Ball-Combat Sport Beyond Imagination

Experience the unique combat system of BAKUDO—an all-new ball game packed with excitement and tension. On a battlefield with no rules or limits, your determination is your greatest weapon. Every competitor stakes it all, pulling out every trick to claim ultimate supremacy. In the BAKUDO arena, fiery determination and unshakeable spirit collide!

Main Setting

Strength is everything at this elite academy founded specifically for BAKUDO. Here, students fight relentlessly to reach the pinnacle. You’ll step into the shoes of Yuria as she enrolls at the academy in search of her missing father, and forge deep bonds with a colorful cast of characters along the journey. However, the academy holds more secrets than it appears, and what awaits our hero is far from simple…

When Ball-Sport Combat Meets Action

Engage in real-time battles against formidable bosses with a unique, fast-paced combat system centered around dynamic ball-throwing techniques. Observe your opponents, learn their movements, and exploit their weaknesses to seize victory.

Are you ready to enter this battlefield fueled by fiery determination?

The Eight Stars of Academy

Face off against the academy’s reigning elites. Known as the Eight Stars, each boasts a unique and formidable combat style. Only by reading their movements and countering at just the right moment can you hope to defeat them.