{{Use American English|date=September 2016}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2016}} {{Short description|2018 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Pit People | image = File:Logo for Pit People.png | developer = [[The Behemoth]] | publisher = The Behemoth | platforms = {{cslist|[[Windows]]|[[Xbox One]]}} | released = March 2, 2018 | genre = [[Tactical role-playing game|Tactical role-playing]], [[strategy game|strategy]] | modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]] }}
'''''Pit People''''' is a [[tactical role-playing game]] by indie game developer [[The Behemoth]]. An early access version for [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[Xbox One]] was released in January 2017 and the full version was released in March 2018. ==Gameplay == [[File:Pit People gameplay screenshot.png|left|thumb|In-game screenshot of a team battling another team]] Pit People is a turn-based strategy game inspired by classic [[JRPG]]s. Players build parties to fight enemies they encounter in the overworld and story missions. The battles take place in hexagonal arenas, where characters have a limited range of motion per turn. All player actions in the game are related to distance. Obstacles are present within the arenas to add another layer of strategy in party placement.
Parties can be any combination of customized units. The player selects a single character as the "leader" and receives buffs accordingly. Equipment can be given to units that modify their attack abilities, including range and movement options. Random encounters and story missions net the player loot for their party, ranging from weapons, equipment, and cosmetics. Certain characters are able to trap enemies and recruit them to your party pool, a necessary gameplay loop for growing your parties' abilities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Review: Pit People |url=https://www.theyoungfolks.com/featured/99362/video-game-review-pit-people/ |website=The Young Folks |access-date=13 March 2025}}</ref>
== Development == [[The Behemoth]], founded in 2003 and based in [[San Diego, California]], is known for making games with offbeat humor and a signature cartoon art style. The success of their prior games—''[[Alien Hominid]]'', ''[[Castle Crashers]]'', and ''[[BattleBlock Theater]]''—established their reputation as an indie game developer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/03/01/pit-people-is-the-silliest-game-coming-for-microsofts-platforms/|title=Pit People is the silliest game coming for Microsoft's platforms|first=Dean|last=Takahashi|work=[[VentureBeat]]|date=March 1, 2016|access-date=January 19, 2019|archive-date=March 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317222639/http://venturebeat.com/2016/03/01/pit-people-is-the-silliest-game-coming-for-microsofts-platforms/|url-status=dead}}</ref> As ''BattleBlock Theater'' approached its April 2013 release, the company began work on ''Pit People''<ref name="game 4 teaser">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/8/20/6049667/behemoth-game-4-teaser|title=This is the next game from the developer of Castle Crashers and BattleBlock Theater|first=Michael|last=McWhertor|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=August 20, 2014|access-date=January 19, 2018|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201182206/https://www.polygon.com/2014/8/20/6049667/behemoth-game-4-teaser|url-status=live}}</ref> under the codename "Game 4" (the studio's fourth game). The new game was designed to continue its predecessor's story, and both prominently feature a "space bear".<ref name="Polygon: darkly funny"/> Its original arena-centered concept was titled "Pit People".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/07/09/co-op-christening-the-behemoths-game-4-is-pit-people/|title=Co-op Christening: The Behemoth's Game 4 Is Pit People|first=Alice|last=O'Connor|work=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]|date=July 9, 2015|access-date=January 19, 2019|archive-date=December 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220135320/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/07/09/co-op-christening-the-behemoths-game-4-is-pit-people/|url-status=live}}</ref> Behemoth set out to make a team-based game, and developed its [[strategy game]]play elements over time—the grid-based combat was raised several months into development.<ref name="Polygon: darkly funny"/> This was a new genre for the company, which had established itself with [[action games]].<ref name="gspot comment">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/castle-crashers-devs-new-game-is-unlike-anything-i/1100-6430170/|title=Castle Crashers Dev's New Game is Unlike Anything it's Done Before|first=Mike|last=Mahardy|work=[[GameSpot]]|date=August 30, 2015|access-date=January 19, 2019|archive-date=May 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503160930/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/castle-crashers-devs-new-game-is-unlike-anything-i/1100-6430170/|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2014, the game had become a "fast-paced, turn-based, co-op adventure with management and role-playing game elements" in development for [[Xbox One]] and [[Steam (service)|Steam]]. While the genre was new for the developer, the game retained their signature style.<ref name="Polygon: Game 4">{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/9/4/6088065/the-behemoth-game-4|title=Castle Crashers creator's next game is full of battles and bear blood|first=Megan|last=Farokhmanesh|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=September 4, 2014|access-date=January 19, 2018|archive-date=January 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103050811/https://www.polygon.com/2014/9/4/6088065/the-behemoth-game-4|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Polygon: darkly funny">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/3/23/8275729/game-4-the-behemoth-hands-on-preview|title=The Behemoth's Game 4 is a darkly funny take on turn-based strategy|first=Samit|last=Sarker|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=March 23, 2015|access-date=January 19, 2019|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131443/https://www.polygon.com/2015/3/23/8275729/game-4-the-behemoth-hands-on-preview|url-status=live}}</ref> The team teased its reveal in August 2014, when it debuted as a [[playable demo]] at the [[PAX Prime]] exposition.<ref name="game 4 teaser"/> They released its first trailer a year later,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/the-behemoth-s-pit-people-gets-its-first-trailer-307975.phtml|title=The Behemoth's Pit People gets its first trailer|first=Jordan|last=Devore|work=[[Destructoid]]|date=August 26, 2015|access-date=January 19, 2019|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108103658/https://www.destructoid.com/the-behemoth-s-pit-people-gets-its-first-trailer-307975.phtml|url-status=live}}</ref> and ran a private beta test in September 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/pit-people-beta-invites-going-out-check-your-inbox-383559.phtml|title=Pit People beta invites going out, check your inbox|first=Chris|last=Carter|date=August 30, 2016|access-date=January 19, 2018|work=[[Destructoid]]|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108094906/https://www.destructoid.com/pit-people-beta-invites-going-out-check-your-inbox-383559.phtml|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Steam Early Access]] and [[Xbox One Game Preview]] program versions were launched on January 13, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-12-12-the-behemoths-pit-people-is-coming-to-early-access-next-month|title=The Behemoth's Pit People is coming to Early Access next month|first=Jeffery|last=Matulef|work=[[Eurogamer]]|date=December 12, 2016|access-date=January 19, 2018|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921195902/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-12-12-the-behemoths-pit-people-is-coming-to-early-access-next-month|url-status=live}}</ref> In a blog post, The Behemoth announced that they are aiming to release the game in the first few months of 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.thebehemoth.com/2017/11/21/pit-peoples-final-touches/|title=The Behemoth Blog Pit People's Final Touches!|date=November 21, 2017|access-date=November 23, 2017|archive-date=January 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103050813/https://blog.thebehemoth.com/2017/11/21/pit-peoples-final-touches/|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 21, it was announced that the game would release March 2.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.destructoid.com/at-long-last-the-behemoth-s-pit-people-finally-has-a-release-date-490975.phtml|title=At long last, The Behemoth's Pit People finally has a release date|work=destructoid|access-date=2018-03-01|archive-date=March 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320225541/https://www.destructoid.com/at-long-last-the-behemoth-s-pit-people-finally-has-a-release-date-490975.phtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Reception == {{Video game reviews | MC = PC: 78/100<ref name="MC_PC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/pit-people/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Pit People for PC Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Red Ventures]] |access-date=June 25, 2021}}</ref><br />XONE: 79/100<ref name="MC_XONE">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/pit-people/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=Pit People for Xbox One Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Red Ventures]] |access-date=June 25, 2021 |archive-date=February 8, 2026 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260208013803/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pit-people/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |url-status=live }}</ref> }}
In an early 2015 preview, ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' wrote that the game's control scheme appeared to balance accessibility for newcomers and tactical options for veterans. They added that it was the funniest title at the [[PAX East]] expo.<ref name="Polygon: darkly funny"/> ''[[PC Gamer]]'' noted the game's zaniness and the enjoyment of playing it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/castle-crashers-creators-next-game-is-filled-with-swords-uzis-and-living-cupcakes|title=Castle Crashers creators' next game is filled with swords, uzis, and living cupcakes|first=Tom|last=Marks|work=[[PC Gamer]]|date=April 26, 2016|access-date=January 19, 2019|archive-date=January 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103050819/https://www.pcgamer.com/castle-crashers-creators-next-game-is-filled-with-swords-uzis-and-living-cupcakes/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[GameSpot]]'' described its gameplay and style as "chaotic" and "unabashedly lowbrow", in light of an objective based on destroying fecal matter.<ref name="gspot comment"/> The game received positive reviews upon release according to [[review aggregator]] [[Metacritic]].<ref name="MC_PC" /><ref name="MC_XONE" /> It was nominated for "Writing in a Comedy" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://navgtr.org/archives/3566/|title=Nominee List for 2018|work=National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers|date=February 11, 2019|access-date=February 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828222156/http://navgtr.org/archives/3566/|archive-date=August 28, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist|30em|refs=}}
== External links == * {{official website|pitpeople.com}}
{{TheBehemoth}} {{Portal bar|Video games}}
[[Category:2018 video games]] [[Category:The Behemoth games]] [[Category:Early access video games]] [[Category:Indie games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:role-playing video games]] [[Category:Strategy video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Xbox One games]]