Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Aug 5, 2021
    95
    With engaging dodgeball gameplay and enthralling RPG elements, Dodgeball Academia is one of the best games of the year so far.
  2. Aug 23, 2021
    84
    At the end of the day, though, Dodgeball Academia hits all the right notes to become a smash hit multimedia entity. Not only can I see an animation and comic book or manga series, but I can also picture a plethora of Dodgeball Academia merchandise like stickers, apparel, toys, phone accessories, dodgeballs, and much more. So you should enroll in Dodgeball Academia today and become the sports anime protagonist you’ve always wanted to be.
  3. 80
    For the most part, though, Dodgeball Academia is an unbridled joy with a lovely cast of wholesome characters, even though the narrative isn’t always that fresh. If it was merely fun and silly writing alone, I’d still thoroughly enjoy my time with it because it reminds me fondly of excitedly waking up on a Saturday to watch daft cartoons and play video games—back to simpler times. The fact that the act of playing dodgeball is also fantastic is a warmly welcomed bonus.
  4. Aug 5, 2021
    80
    Dodgeball Academia is some of the purest fun you can have. The quirky visual style meshes perfectly with the absurd action and will always result in a huge smile on your face. If you’re looking for something to just brighten your day, and you also happen to be into dodgeball, then this may well be the perfect game for you.
  5. Aug 4, 2021
    80
    While Dodgeball Academia isn’t a perfect RPG, the intense and amazing dodgeball combat combined with a cast of terrific and charming characters and an eye-pleasing blend of visuals to back them up still make for one quick and enjoyable burst of fun in the end. It might end up only getting second place when it comes to this year’s dodgeball games, but it’s a close race, and it still deserves a trophy regardless.
  6. Aug 8, 2021
    78
    Fun, entertaining, with a good sport-rpg mix, Dodgeball Academia makes a step in the right direction, giving developer Pocket Trap a good game to be proud of.
  7. Aug 19, 2021
    70
    Dodgeball Academia is simply lovely with all the little touches it puts forth to celebrate both RPGs and the sport of dodgeball. Many clever mechanics make the marriage between the two a natural fit in this game. Some unsatisfying character progression, late-game repetitive battles, and a needlessly prolonged final stretch do set it back, but I think it is still a solid attempt at such a novel concept.
  8. Aug 6, 2021
    70
    Min-maxers can prioritize equipment and stat upgrades to further sabotage any challenge, but everyone else can just jump into Dodgeball Academia’s matches and glide through the snappy story. By the end, a full roster of characters unlock for use in a versus mode pack-in, albeit with no online multiplayer available. Super Dodge Ball fans will immediately respond to what Pocket Trap is up to here, but Dodgeball Academia should also prove an easygoing delight to anyone looking to sink into a very specific type of sports RPG.
  9. Aug 5, 2021
    70
    Dodgeball Academia provides a huge amount of fun with it's easy to learn, difficult to master gameplay, and Saturday morning cartoon vibes. Throwing together a roster of excellent characters with fourth wall-breaking writing and some great story beats, Dodgeball Academia honestly shines far brighter than we ever expected. This is the best thing to happen to dodgeball since that Ben Stiller movie, although how much of a compliment this is is up for debate.
  10. Aug 4, 2021
    65
    Dodgeball Academia has all the potential to be an epic, superpowered sports RPG. The dodgeball battles are lively and fun, but the story never reaches the fantastical heights it alludes to at the beginning of the game. It's enjoyable but not one for the record books.
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 49 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 49
  2. Negative: 7 out of 49
  1. Aug 7, 2021
    10
    Dodgeball Academia is a super mix of Pokemon + Mario Tennis + Shonen satire, which together make an action RPG fun and full of charismaticDodgeball Academia is a super mix of Pokemon + Mario Tennis + Shonen satire, which together make an action RPG fun and full of charismatic characters.

    If you like any of these elements you will possibly love this game, new elements are introduced in each new chapter leaving the game play that is simple, with a great complex depth.

    Despite having a gameplay of about 15h the game delivers a lot, and we get a taste of wanting more!
    Full Review »
  2. Aug 7, 2021
    10
    I had a very good time playing this! And to be honest I want more!
    The art and the character design is outstanding, is like Watch Cartoon
    I had a very good time playing this! And to be honest I want more!
    The art and the character design is outstanding, is like Watch Cartoon Network!
    Thank you this masterpiece! Thank you Humble Games!
    Full Review »
  3. Aug 23, 2021
    3
    I understand I'm the minority here, but this game was hard for me to get into. I played 5 hours so I gave it a fair shot... but I can't playI understand I'm the minority here, but this game was hard for me to get into. I played 5 hours so I gave it a fair shot... but I can't play it any longer.
    The story is a big pain point. It's extremely over-the-top with sounds and text effects on nearly every line. Some have said it's charming, but I've found it childish and ran out of patience waiting for it to improve around the 3-hour mark. The gameplay offers a small respite from the drudge of the story, allowing you to have a bit of fun nailing rivals with dodgeballs. The system of having your followers just simply follow you around while you are on the dodgeball field is a bit lame. It would've been much more interesting to have your followers act in a different manner. I normally finish games I pick up; not this one.
    Full Review »