The Joust has been keeping itself busy since arriving on Steam, with its developer reporting more than 100 updates in under 100 days. The latest announcement highlights an engine and graphics overhaul for the physics combat sandbox, shaped by feedback from the people already getting stuck into its gloriously odd fights.
This is not a new launch announcement. The game has been available since June, but the update gives existing players another reason to revisit it and newcomers a clearer look at what has changed. The developer says the overhaul rebuilds the engine and refreshes the visuals, rather than simply adding another handful of things to hit.
Underneath that work is a combat game built around physical interactions and a sizeable selection of character classes. The emphasis is on experimenting with fighters and situations, including battles that look distinctly less dignified than a traditional medieval tournament. If your mental image of jousting involves immaculate armour and impeccable sporting conduct, the screenshots may require a small adjustment.
Creation tools are a substantial part of the package too. Players can build stages and campaigns, then tinker with weapons and abilities rather than relying entirely on whatever the developer has already supplied. That makes the game as much a place to arrange ridiculous encounters as somewhere to win them.
Local split-screen, online multiplayer and co-op options sit alongside those tools. It is the kind of combination that invites a group to spend as long arguing about what to build as actually playing it, which is either a selling point or a warning depending on your friends.
The new overhaul is available for the PC game on Steam, while the official overview has more on its combat and editors. The update count is impressive, but the more useful test will be how those changes feel when a carefully designed encounter turns into a heap of flailing limbs. That is where a physics sandbox earns its keep.