Bierzerkers
Enter a rowdy version of Valhalla in Bierzerkers, a Norse-themed arena MOBA built around brawling, slapstick violence, and objective-based team play. Its controls and goals are straightforward enough for new players to grasp quickly, but the hectic melee scrums and character matchups give it a surprisingly high skill ceiling once you start taking matches seriously.
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Publisher: Shield Break Studios Type: B2P MOBA PvP: Arena Release Date: February 25, 2016 Shut Down: 2017 Pros: +Simple fundamentals with real depth over time. +Streamlined match flow and objectives. +Snappy, responsive feel in combat. +Goofy, exaggerated humor. Cons: -Only a single hero offered for free. -Bots perform poorly. -Matchmaking quality is inconsistent. |
Bierzerkers Overview
Bierzerkers is a stylized 3D arena MOBA that trades traditional lane pushing for a compact sports-like objective called Bierball. Set in a comedic Viking afterlife, the game leans into boisterous themes, oversized weapons, and cartoon chaos, with matches built around quick skirmishes and coordinated team plays rather than long build-ups. The presentation and class silhouettes take some cues from character-driven shooters, but the moment-to-moment action is firmly melee-focused and intentionally arcade-like.
Instead of destroying a base, teams compete to control the “ball” (a sheep) and score by tossing it into the opponent’s goal. That single objective shapes everything, from when you commit to a fight to how you position around choke points and open lanes. You can jump into matches against AI or other players, pick a class with a clear role, and immediately understand what you should be doing, while still having plenty to learn about timing, crowd control, and team synergy.
The roster is built around themed classes such as the supportive Drunkard who can help keep teammates going, the glass-cannon Scoundrel who hits hard but cannot take much punishment, and the Raider, a speedy bruiser that also serves as the game’s free-to-play option. Combat is intentionally punchy and readable, with exaggerated knockbacks, explosive gags, and physics-driven moments that can swing a fight if your team capitalizes.
Bierzerkers Key Features:
- Multiple Distinct Character Classes – choose from a lineup of loud, clearly defined archetypes such as the Scoundrel, Valkyrie, and Huntress, each designed to fill a recognizable role in a team fight.
- Endless Bierball– queue into Bierball against bots or real opponents, with match variations that emphasize coordination, positioning, and smart handoffs to secure goals.
- Over-the-Top Cartoon Humor – expect exaggerated gore gags, flying body parts, and beer-soaked slapstick, paired with floaty physics that make the chaos part of the strategy.
- Fast Arcade-style Gameplay – matches are built for quick entry and quick exit, with minimal setup and a focus on immediate action rather than long sessions of preparation.
- Easy to Learn, Difficult to Master – clear objectives and approachable kits make the first hours friendly, but the constant situational decisions and interactions reward practice and teamwork.
Bierzerkers Screenshots
Bierzerkers Featured Video
Bierzerkers Review
Bierzerkers is at its best when you treat it like a competitive bar brawl with a sports objective bolted on. The core loop, win fights to gain space, secure the sheep, then convert that advantage into a goal, is instantly understandable and creates frequent turning points. Compared to more traditional MOBAs, it removes much of the long-form macro play and replaces it with constant, close-range engagements where positioning and timing matter more than farming and itemization.
The game’s melee-centric combat has a satisfying immediacy. Attacks feel reactive, and because battles tend to happen in tight arenas, every stun, knockback, or interrupt can decide whether your team gets a clean run at the goal or loses control at midfield. It also means awareness is critical, a single overextension can spiral into a conceded score, especially if your team cannot regroup quickly.
Class design is intentionally readable, and that is a strength. You generally understand what each character wants to do within a minute of seeing them in action. The Drunkard’s support identity, the Scoundrel’s high damage with fragility, and the Raider’s mobile brawler profile all reinforce the idea that team composition and role discipline matter. The downside is that the game’s monetization approach at launch, with only one character freely available and the rest as paid DLC, makes experimenting with matchups harder than it should be for new players.
Where Bierzerkers struggles is in the parts that keep a competitive arena game healthy over time. Bots are not a great substitute for human opponents, and when matchmaking is unreliable, the experience can swing from fun chaos to lopsided frustration. In a title that relies on coordinated goal pushes and quick reactions, uneven teams tend to magnify every mistake and shorten the learning curve in the wrong way.
Even so, the tone and presentation remain memorable. The Norse afterlife theme, exaggerated violence, and beer-soaked humor give the game a clear identity that separates it from more serious competitive titles. For players who enjoy objective brawlers and can tolerate the limitations that come with a discontinued online game, Bierzerkers is an interesting snapshot of a streamlined, arcade-leaning take on the MOBA formula.
Bierzerkers System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows Vista / 7 / 8
CPU: Dual Core 2.93 GHz
Video Card: Radeon 9800 Pro / GeForce Fx 5900
RAM: 2 GB
Hard Disk Space: 6 GB
Recommended Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 8.1 / OSX Yosemite
CPU: Core2 Duo 3.0 GHz
Video Card: GeForce 8600GT / Radeon HD 3650
RAM: 4 GB
Hard Disk Space: 6 GB
Bierzerkers Music & Soundtrack
Coming Soon…
Bierzerkers Additional Information
Developer: Shield Break Studios
Distributor: Steam
Game Engine: Unreal 4 Engine
Announcement Date: August 5, 2014
Steam Early Access Release Date: July 9, 2015
Release Date: February 25, 2016
Last Update: April 15, 2017
Development History / Background:
Bierzerkers was both developed and published by Shield Break Studios, an independent team formed by developers with experience at major studios including Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, and Activision. The project was first revealed on August 5, 2014, and later arrived on Steam Early Access on July 9, 2015 as a buy-to-play release that granted access to all available content.
Following community feedback, the studio adjusted its approach for the full launch on February 25, 2016, shifting toward a free-to-play variant. Under that model, the Raider became the free character while the rest of the roster was sold as paid DLC. Around launch, the game also reduced its selection of modes compared to Early Access, with balance concerns cited as the reason for leaving only one mode active.
The final developer update is dated April 15, 2017. Since that point the project has effectively been left inactive, with 0 players reported and no further communication indicating renewed development.