PAX Aus 2024 Highlight – Box Knight

Box Knight is a game that dares to ask “What is the office workplace like in a fantasy setting?” It satirizes the aspects of white-collar work we hate the most and transforms it into an action game that players can live vicariously in. This is the first game produced by We Made A Thing Studios (or WeMAT Studios for short) as the company is mainly known for its VFX and filmography work. According to the game’s developers, Box Knight’s original plan was to become an animated TV show, but due to the pandemic, it ended up as a video game.

Players create their avatars and enter a series of dungeon levels set in an office space. There will be four levels with different rooms to get through, In each encounter they will face manifestations of toxic personality traits found in an office environment. One example is a gruesome creature called “Hot Mess,” known for not respecting boundaries and will explode when they get close. There are three weapons to choose from, each has its strengths and weaknesses. In addition, players earn experience points and better stats as they level up, bringing them one step closer to facing the CEO.

Alongside Box Knight’s gameplay are the numerous pop culture references players can encounter. From a hairstyle called “the Karen” to Dobby/Smergol-looking creatures, there will be a nod to internet memes and popular media for those with keen eyes to spot. Heck, the helmet that was shown both at WeMAT’s PAX Aus booth and in the trailer reminds me of Shovel Knight for a bit. It’s very comedic and in my opinion, a great title to play to let off steam after a busy day. Who wouldn’t want to whack their co-workers with a claymore made using cardboard?

Box Knight’s artist and director, Jeremy Kelly-Bakker, spoke to Checkpoint about the game’s comedy. He ensures that the game’s comedy sticks within personality traits, and doesn’t cross the lines when it comes to identities and gender. The point of the game is to satirize the office work environment, something that many can relate to as companies continue to push back-to-office mandates.

“It’s an interesting line to thread between satire and violence, but doing it in a way where it isn’t like overtly cruel or like, you know, in poor taste. It’s been really interesting trying to figure out where’s the line of bad taste. At what point does it not become fun anymore? I think we’ve managed to thread that line very carefully and not push the gnarliness of it too much and keep it in the world of fantasy, silliness, and fun.”

Box Knight is a game that is whacky and fun as it transforms the mundane office environment into a comedy fantasy adventure. This game is close to completion, and while there isn’t a definitive release date, a demo is now available to download on Steam. In addition, sign-ups for the game’s closed beta for couch-co-op are now open on the WeMAT website.