Awesomenauts is a 2D multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game in which two teams of up to three players compete on side-scrolling platform stages. The game occurs in 3587, where the Ones and Zeros (a red and blue robot army) fight alongside mercenaries. One of the teams is Awesomenauts, which the player controls. The purpose is to assist one army in winning by removing the drill used to collect the limited Solar metal. A match is won when one team’s solar exercise defeats another.
At the start of a match, each team descends to the opposing side of the map. While falling, the rocket can be guided to acquire solar coins, the in-game currency. Each side has access to many turrets that generate droids distributed across multiple horizontal tiers of platforms. These droids are AI-controlled animals that walk forward and automatically attack anything in their path. They assist the player’s character in eliminating hostile turrets, droids, and mercenaries. The protagonist also employs droids to hide behind them and absorb damage while attacking the opposing team’s turret. The road to the enemy team’s solar drill is gradually opened by demolishing turrets, which supplies the win condition to finish the match once destroyed. Droids also attack mercenaries, and the mercenaries on the opposing squad are significantly more challenging to eliminate.
Defeating foes earns you solar coins, which accumulate steadily throughout the game. These can be spent at any time in-game to acquire different skills. Characters can also use a teleport to return to the shop quickly. Defeated mercenaries respawn, although it takes some time for them to return, during which the killer receives cash. In addition to the standard attacks, each character has several offensive and defensive skills, the most potent of which have a cooldown time. Once that function is unlocked, these can be purchased in the shop and configured in a load-out. A set quantity of experience (XP) is earned after each match. It contributes to the overall XP bar, unlocking additional playable characters, equipment, and other features like the load-out. There are many playable characters, each with unique qualities and skills, ranging from movement speed to melee and went attacks. Classes include tank, brawler, support, pusher, healer, assassin, harasser, defender, and sniper. DLC for additional characters is available.
Multiplayer can be done on a single screen or online. Open internet games, private matches, and offline practice mode with AI-controlled team mercenaries are all options. The PC version features an unlockable ROLFNauts mini-game.
