Double Fine announced Kiln as its next game earlier this year, and already, it"s almost time for the game to release. Ahead of that though, an open beta is letting PC players jump in and see for themselves how the pottery-based party game plays out.
Landing as the Xbox-owned studio"s first-ever competitive multiplayer game, Kiln has players forming their own fighters using clay before wading into an arena with friends to break each other to pieces.
The clay-based character creation process on the pottery wheel is a unique addition, offering players freedom to make whatever shape and look they want to go for. There are even shaping tools to get exactly the look they want, in addition to attaching decorative elements like handles and spouts, as well as colors.
"Work together to find the best combination of pots and play-styles to break through enemy lines, and collect enough water to douse the flames of the enemy’s kiln," says Double Fine, describing the gameplay. "As the battlefield becomes strewn with the shattered fragments of friend and foes alike, your brawling skills and some great teamwork will be required to assure victory."
The aforementioned shapes also affect the gameplay, where their size affects how much water each pot can hold as well as their special moves. Arenas also have special paths like shortcuts that can only be used by certain shapes, leaving out heavy hitters to take the long way around.
To jump into the Kiln Open Beta Throwdown event, head to its Steam page and click the "Request Access" button. The event is slated to run from April 9 through April 11. After the beta, the full release will follow on April 23 across PC, Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, and PlayStation 5.