Awesomenauts
A 2D platformer MOBA with unique characters and persistent updates.
Awesomenauts is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed by Dutch company Ronimo Games. It was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles in May 2012, and for Windows in August 2012, with later ports to OS X and Linux. The game combines MOBA mechanics with elements from 2D platformer and fighting games, featuring teams of three characters battling to destroy the enemy's Solar Collector. It gained a dedicated player base and was updated regularly with new characters, balance changes, and features until development stopped indefinitely in September 2019.
- Server closure
- September 15, 2023
- Relaunch
- 2025 by Atari as a paid title
Lore & Background
Awesomenauts was announced for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network on 19 May 2011 by publisher DTP Entertainment, with development supported by the Dutch Game Garden. The first playable build was shown at E3 2011, and the game released on 2 May 2012. Ronimo Games ported it to Windows and Steam on 1 August 2012, with OS X and Linux versions following in December 2012 and May 2013. A PlayStation 4 version, Awesomenauts Assemble!, co-developed with Abstraction Games, launched on 4 March 2014, and an Xbox One version was released in September 2016. The game was built on Ronimo's in-house 2D engine Ronitech, originally developed for Swords & Soldiers, and its art style was inspired by colorful 1980s animated series. Music was produced with Dutch studio SonicPicnic.
Reader's Guide
Awesomenauts is significant as a distinctive entry in the MOBA genre, blending 2D platforming and fighting game mechanics with traditional MOBA objectives. Its regular updates, including two major paid expansions—Starstorm (funded via a Kickstarter that raised over $400,000) and Overdrive—added new characters, maps, and features like a replay system and spectator mode. The game transitioned to free-to-play on Windows in May 2017, introducing an in-game currency system. Development ceased indefinitely in September 2019, and servers went offline on September 15, 2023, following Ronimo's bankruptcy. In 2025, Atari acquired the game and relaunched it as a paid title, restoring matchmaking and online features. Its legacy lies in its unique hybrid gameplay and the dedicated community that supported it through multiple platform releases and business model changes.
Did You Know?
- The game's Starstorm expansion Kickstarter raised over $345,000, with PayPal contributions bringing the total to over $400,000.
- Ronimo Games opted for Kickstarter due to bad experiences with console publisher DTP Entertainment, which went bankrupt after the game's console release.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Awesomenauts?
Awesomenauts is a 2D multiplayer online battle arena game created by the Dutch studio Ronimo Games, blending lane-pushing team combat with platformer and fighting-game mechanics. It shipped on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC in 2012, with later ports to OS X and Linux.
What makes Awesomenauts different from other MOBAs?
Rather than a top-down camera, the game uses a side-scrolling 2D view where teams of three heroes must jump across platforms and use movement tricks alongside their attacks. The core goal is to destroy the enemy's Solar Collector, but the platforming layer gives every fight a distinct skill-expression angle.
What happened to Awesomenauts after 2019?
Ronimo Games halted active development in September 2019, and the game's servers were permanently shut down on September 15, 2023. In 2025, Atari stepped in and relaunched the title as a paid game, returning it to players after the long gap.
Who developed Awesomenauts?
The game was built entirely by Ronimo Games, an independent studio based in the Netherlands. They handled every aspect of development and kept shipping new characters, balance patches, and features from the 2012 launch until the indefinite pause in 2019.
What is the win condition in a match of Awesomenauts?
Two teams of three heroes face off in a best-of-three format, and the side that destroys the opposing Solar Collector takes the round. Players gather resources, level up their hero's abilities, and fight lane skirmishes to build the advantage needed to push into the enemy base.
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