Punch Club

Punch Club is a boxing management simulation with role-playing elements. Instead of throwing punches yourself, you organise the everyday life of a young fighter: training, earning money, eating, sleeping and preparing for the next bout.

The sporting rise is tied to a story. After the protagonist's father is murdered, he searches for the truth and decides for himself which path to take.

Punch Club was released on PC on Jan 8, 2016. In the following years, versions for smartphones, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch were added.

The European Nintendo 3DS version was released on Feb 2, 2017, and the Switch version on May 24, 2018. For Xbox One, Microsoft gives Mar 31, 2017.

Punch Club has been released on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, and iOS and Android. On Windows, macOS and Linux, it is the PC version, not separate console games.

The Xbox One version is also playable on Xbox Series X|S. Nintendo describes the Switch version as compatible with Switch 2. Both are compatibility features, not standalone releases on the newer hardware.

The Nintendo 3DS eShop has not sold new games since Mar 27, 2023. The older smartphone versions should not be equated with currently guaranteed store availability.

In Punch Club, success comes from planning rather than quick inputs. Training hours raise the fighter's stats but take up time. At the same time, food, equipment and daily life cost money.

You decide whether to advance your career legally or get involved in shady deals. Different choices open other story paths and lead to different endings.

The PC version includes a free expansion that adds extra playtime to the story. Steam also offers the separately sold soundtrack with artbook.

The Deluxe package includes these companion materials. It is not a standalone sequel with a different combat system.

On Windows, Steam says a 1 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM and 1 GB of free storage are enough. The requirements are low, but the Steam client itself now requires at least Windows 10.

Steam also lists Linux support. The original OS details from the release year should therefore not be taken as a guarantee that today's store clients run on these old systems.

Stamina, strength and agility form the core of training. These stats affect which fighting tactics suit the fighter and how he holds his ground in the ring. Without enough rest and food, training and bouts cannot be kept up over the long term.

The challenge is finding a workable rhythm between progress at the gym, work and recovery.

The skill tree offers different directions. The Bear, Tiger and Turtle paths each set different priorities for combat stats and techniques. Choosing talents also means committing to a particular playstyle.

Fights are prepared and then simulated. The result depends more on the fighter's build than on the player's reactions.

Everyday life as a boxer includes work, shopping and social contacts. A side job fills the wallet but uses up time and energy that are missing from training. Friendships and relationships also affect which situations the fighter experiences.

Punch Club links sports career and time management: a good financial decision can delay your next fight.

The murder of the father is the starting point of the plot. On the way through the boxing scene, the protagonist meets allies and rivals whose interests do not always match his own.

The story branches depending on choices and career steps. The deliberately exaggerated tone draws on action films and pop culture of the 1980s and 1990s.

Punch Club is a single-player game. The Steam version supports achievements, cloud saves and trading cards. On Switch, single-player is designed for one system.

The PC version offers German interface text and subtitles. Steam lists 13 supported languages in total, including English, French, Spanish, Japanese and Korean.

The European Nintendo 3DS version supports German, English, French and Italian, among others.