Sumo Fight

Mobile Thumbnail - Winter Event
World Broadcast - Live updates in game
Leaderboards & UI
Winter Event - Map
Elimination - Tap to Move kill
World Broadcast - Base Map

Sumo Fight is a high-intensity, social arena brawler that reinvents platform fighting mechanics for mobile play. It utilizes a unique Knockback Scaling Factor system to reward aggressive, short-session engagements.

We implemented multiple, accessible control schemes, ensuring every mobile player finds a comfortable layout. These options include:

Joystick & Dash
Tap to Dash
Tap to Move, Swipe to Dash

We also utilize World Broadcast with live in-world correspondent commentary reacting to ongoing game events. Leveraging Enemy NPCs, we create an even more epic viewing experience no matter the player count!

Inspiration

Inspired by the high-intensity mechanics of Super Smash Bros, we recognized a gap for a competitive, mobile-first social brawler. Sumo Fight democratizes the genre, removing expensive hardware barriers to create a game where the core loop is accessible, sessions are short (2-3 minutes), and the fun hinges on chaotic social interaction.

What it Does

Players compete to knock each other off a platform using only a Headbutt input. The unique Knockback Scaling Factor (KSF) increases launch distance with every hit, providing the escalating gratification necessary for quick mobile sessions:

$$\text{Launch Distance} = (\text{Base Force} * \text{KSF})$$

How We Built It

Built explicitly for mobile, we prioritized visual clarity with a high-contrast Tron-like aesthetic and restricted UI to minimize small-screen clutter. We designed intuitive, adjustable controls supporting multiple input types (Joystick, Tap-to-Move, etc.). Our core logic features custom physics calculations for accurate collision detection. Using the NPC API, we were able to create engaging enemy NPCs who double as engaging elements for the World Broadcast feature. Finally, we leveraged Generative AI for game assets and our Epic Announcer NPCs.

Challenges We Ran Into

Designing for on-the-go play with sound off was critical. We created a strong visual feedback loop (particles, screen shake & haptics) so players never miss events without audio. We also simplified complex movement into a single, responsive Dash mechanic, solving the lack of VR or keyboard inputs while maintaining competitive depth.

Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

We are proudest of optimizing a deep competitive loop into a single-button experience. The Epic Announcer adds immediate positive reinforcement, ensuring the "early and frequent gratification" essential for mobile retention. NPCs feel natural and adapt to the changing environment, also joining and leaving to remain at a constant player count of four.

We are proud also of starting a prototype of this project from scratch at the Barcelona SensAI Hackathon, where we took second place for the Horizon Worlds category and were encouraged to continue to develop the experience and submit it to this larger competition.

What We Learned

We learned to balance simplicity with depth. Lighthearted humor is vital to drive social fun, making quick mobile sessions satisfying without being overwhelming. Dropping in and out was important, and NPCs help fill in the gaps when friends are offline.

What's Next for Sumo Fight

We are building a Progression System with unlockable cosmetics to encourage return visits. We will also integrate custom emotes to enhance nonverbal communication for players in public environments.