Platform(s): PC (version reviewed)
Genre: 2D Sports Arcade Game

As someone who proudly identifies as a weeb, I have to admit Fairy Tail has always been a series that has always eluded me. Not for any specific reason—it just wasn’t part of my anime diet growing up. And now that binge-watching marathons aren’t a thing for me (thanks, post-pandemic life), I just haven’t had the time to dive into it. So, when a review code for Fairy Tail: Beach Volleyball Havoc landed in my inbox, I figured, “Hey, maybe this is my way in!” I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Set in the sunny Kingdom of Fiore, the game revolves around their annual beach volleyball tournament. What’s typically a lighthearted event quickly turns chaotic when mages from across Ishgar join in, and that’s where the mayhem of Fairy Tail: Beach Volleyball Havoc kicks off. Players are thrown into fast-paced 2v2 matches, with a choice of 32 characters representing guilds like Fairy Tail, Sabertooth, Lamia Scale, Blue Pegasus, and more. You’ll pick two mages to form a team, using over 100 different types of magic to dominate the tournament with wild spells and laugh-out-loud moments. Whether playing with up to three others online (thanks to Steam’s Remote Play Together) or on the couch with local multiplayer, the action is non-stop.

Controller Woes

However, I hit a snag right off the bat. The game is designed to be fully reliant on a controller, which seems odd considering it’s a PC-only release for now. This becomes glaringly obvious when you load in and realise that keyboard keybinds are nowhere to be found. Things went from bad to worse when my DualSense Edge wasn’t even recognised as a proper controller. Instead, random keyboard and mouse buttons got mapped to my controller, turning my setup into a puzzle. I spent a solid hour figuring out which keyboard keys corresponded to which in-game actions. Hopefully, they’ll patch this before release, but if not—here’s the key layout you’ll need.

• / = Z
• / = C
• / = V
• / = Backspace
• Start = Esc

Spells & Spikes

When it comes to gameplay, Fairy Tail: Beach Volleyball Havoc gives you five options to dive into: 1 Player, 2 Players Versus, 2 Players Co-op, 3 Players, or 4 Players. For this review, I stuck with the single-player mode where you control one character while your partner is handled by the AI. Unfortunately, there’s no button to switch between characters, which feels like a missed opportunity—especially considering the triggers aren’t used for anything. So, you’re locked into whoever you picked first from the character select screen. In solo play, the game becomes progressively tougher as you move through levels, and after each victory, you unlock more characters. Once all 32 are available, you start unlocking fan art, some of which… let’s just say might cater to cultured tastes. So maybe don’t play this one around young ones or your parents.

The core gameplay is pretty simple and forgiving: you hit the ball back and forth. Now, this could be a keybinding issue, but as far as I know, there’s no way to aim your shots at a specific area of the court. The main strategy boils down to timing your abilities to catch your opponent out of position. Each character starts with one magical ability mapped to / , and after every point, you enter Enchant Time, where you’re given a new, random spell. You can assign this to yourself or your partner. The magic’s strength increases based on how many points you’ve lost, with each star representing a level of power. Lose a point? Get a one-star ability. Lose two? You’re up to two stars, and so on. The first to four points wins the match. If the score reaches 3-3, brace yourself for a quick finish, as the four-star abilities are downright wild—my personal favourite being Sovereign Light, which launches a glowing lion head that blinds the opponent’s side of the court.

If rallies last long enough, things descend into absolute madness. Flashing lights, visual distractions, and chaotic spells make for an intense experience—definitely not ideal if you’re prone to light sensitivity issues. Oddly enough, there’s no in-game epilepsy warning, which seems like a major oversight.

The mechanics themselves are fine—nothing groundbreaking, but fitting for an arcade-style game. There are minimal inputs, which leaves the gameplay feeling a bit shallow. One noticeable quirk is the extremely generous hitbox of the ball. You can be several feet away and still land a dig or spike with no issue, making it fairly easy to avoid losing points if you’ve got quick reflexes. I even found a bit of a cheese strat: time your jump just as the ball crosses the net, and slam it back down with a spike. I can’t imagine how chaotic it would be if both teams started pulling this off. Another oddity? You can set yourself up for a spike, which isn’t exactly how volleyball works, but then again, using magic probably isn’t in the official rulebook either.

Tunes, Tropics, & Textures

The soundtrack? Well, it’s not exactly chart-topping material. It’s a tropical beat mixed with 8-bit sounds that ramps up in tempo as the game heats up. By the time the score hits 3-3, it feels like you’ve downed a Monster Energy, smashed the can on your head, and are ready to barrel through a brick wall. While the music does get repetitive after a few hours, it fits the chaotic vibe of the game perfectly.

The artwork, on the other hand, is what really caught my eye. I’m a sucker for saturated colours, and this game’s palette hits that sweet spot perfectly. The pixel art, both in the characters and the environment, nails the arcade aesthetic they seem to be aiming for. But the standout for me? The character sprites. While the designs of the female characters are certainly attention-grabbing, it’s the overall style that I find most appealing. There’s a rough, crayon-like texture to the sprites that gives everything a unique charm and makes it a joy to look at.

Volley of Missed Opportunities

Overall, Fairy Tail: Beach Volleyball Havoc is a simple, lighthearted arcade experience. For some, its colourful chaos and quick matches with friends may be exactly what they’re looking for. It’s accessible, easy to jump into, and fills a niche in the 2D sports genre with a magical twist.

However, the game struggles to define itself beyond “arcade volleyball with magic”. The awkward controls, especially the inability to switch characters in solo mode, feel limiting. Despite boasting 32 characters, the gameplay lacks depth, leaving you wondering if there’s enough to keep you engaged long-term. The magical abilities add some unpredictability and fun, but their unbalanced nature can make matches feel more about luck than skill. That said, the vibrant visuals and pixel art succeed in capturing the retro arcade vibe.

Yet, despite its stylistic strengths, there’s an underlying question about the game’s purpose. In today’s crowded gaming landscape, where every title seems to target a specific audience or fulfil a certain need, Fairy Tail: Beach Volleyball Havoc feels like it lacks a clear identity. Is it designed for Fairy Tail fans? Volleyball enthusiasts? Casual arcade gamers? The answer remains unclear, and for that reason, it feels like a game that may struggle to find a dedicated following. That said, its inclusion of fan art, particularly those that appeal to a more “cultured” audience, does highlight a strong connection to the Fairy Tail community, showing that the developers are keen on celebrating their fanbase in their own way.

In the end, Fairy Tail: Beach Volleyball Havoc is best enjoyed as a fleeting party game, one that provides a few laughs and memorable moments with friends, but probably won’t hold your attention for the long haul. If you’re a hardcore Fairy Tail fan or just in the mood for some quick, magical volleyball mayhem, you might find a few hours of fun here. But for everyone else, this game may feel like a brief distraction, rather than a must-play hit. If nothing else, it reminds us that not every game needs a grand purpose—sometimes it’s just about having a bit of fun, even if only for a little while.

Pros

• Colourful, retro pixel art adds charm and fits the arcade vibe.
• Fast-paced, magical gameplay provides quick bursts of fun.
• Multiplayer options allow for casual play with friends.

Cons

• Controls are awkward and poorly implemented for PC, especially with keybindings.
• Lack of character switching in solo mode limits strategy and flexibility.
• Gameplay can feel shallow and repetitive over time.
• Unbalanced magical abilities make matches feel more luck-based than skilful.

Final Score: 50/100

Review copy provided by the publisher.