{{Short description|2024 video game by iDreamSky}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox video game | title = Strinova | image = Strinova - Steam library art.jpg | developer = iDreamSky | publisher = iDreamSky | director = <!-- {{ubl|}} --> | producer = | released = {{Video game release|CN|February 1, 2024<ref name="GematsuSummary" />|WW|November 22, 2024<ref name="GematsuGlobalRelease" />}} | genre = {{Plainlist| * Hero shooter * Tactical shooter }} | modes = Multiplayer | platforms = Windows | caption = Cover art featuring some of the playable characters, left to right: Bai Mo, Michele, Lawine (front row), Flavia, Meredith, Nobunaga, and Fuchsia (back row) | designer = | programmer = | artist = | composer = |engine = Unreal Engine 4 }}
'''''Strinova'''''{{efn|{{lang-zh|c=|s=卡拉彼丘|t=|p=}}}} is a third-person tactical hero shooter developed and published by iDreamSky. It introduces "stringification", a mechanic which allows players to switch between a 3D and a paper-like 2D form of their character. The game started development in 2019 and was released in China on February 1, 2024. It was released globally on November 22, 2024.<!-- TODO: Add reception summary here when reviews get published. -->
==Gameplay== ''Strinova'' is an anime-themed hero shooter, having the players play as characters called "Superstrings". It introduces a unique mechanic called "stringification", where the player can switch between 2D and 3D forms of their character. While in the 2D form, the player becomes paper-like, can stick to walls,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=IGN Global Studios |date=October 14, 2024 |title=Welcome to Strinova, a Next-Gen Anime Shooter with a Unique Mechanic |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/welcome-to-strinova-a-next-gen-anime-shooter-with-a-unique-mechanic |access-date=October 16, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> and can glide from higher places. This allows the player access to narrow pathways and avoid getting shot, even while reloading.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Penwell |first=Chris |date=October 11, 2024 |title=Unique Anime Shooter Strinova Begins 2nd Closed Beta Test |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/anime-shooter-strinova-begins-2nd-closed-beta-test/ |access-date=October 16, 2024 |website=Hardcore Gamer |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Gan |first=Jeremy |date=November 20, 2024 |title=Strinova's 2D Stringify mechanic breathes some new life into hero shooters |url=https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/strinovas-2d-stringify-mechanic-breathes-some-new-life-into-hero-shooters-140043155.html |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}</ref> Each character has their own primary weapon and ability set, with configurable secondary weapons.<ref name=":2" /> Modes are divided into 3 categories: Challenge, Ranked, and Custom. There are 8 modes available in the Challenge mode: Team Arena, Demolition, Escort, Sword Clash, Outbreak, Gunslinger Showdown, Arcade Mode (a rotation of Conquest or Bobblehead Brawl), and Team Deathmatch. Only Demolition is available in Ranked. An additional Crystal Clash mode is available, separate from the other categories. In custom matches, players can choose any mode and change their characters' abilities. There are 23 characters and 29 maps in the game.
In Demolition, an attacking team of five players rush to plant a bomb in set places around the map while a defending team tries to stop them. Points are awarded to each player based on their performance from the previous round, which allows them to purchase improvements to the agent or their weapon and unlock "Awakening Skills"—abilities specific to that agent.<ref name=":0" />
In Escort, an attacking team must escort a payload across the map to its final goal, while a defending team attempts to stop them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> In Team Deathmatch, five teams of three compete to reach a certain number of kills for their team first. In Team Arena, two teams of seven are placed on opposing sides of the map, with the goal of reaching a certain number of kills of the opposing team.<ref name=":2" />
Superstrings are placed into one of five categories: Controller, Duelist, Initiator, Sentinel, and Support.<ref name=":5">{{Cite magazine |last=Nandemo Yuuko |date=October 31, 2024 |title=『Strinova』体をペラペラにして戦うTPSがSteam Nextフェスで各ランキング1位に輝いた。豪華特典がもらえる事前登録キャンペーンも実施中【ストリノヴァ】 |trans-title=Third-person shooter "Strinova", where characters can become paper, won first place in Steam Next Fest rankings. A pre-registration campaign where players can receive rewards is also underway. |url=https://www.famitsu.com/article/202410/22765 |access-date=November 21, 2024 |magazine=Famitsu |language=ja}}</ref> In addition, they are split into three factions: The Painting Utopia Society (P.U.S.), The Scissors, and Urbino.<ref name=":4" /> On the Demolition mode, players on the defensive team can only choose between P.U.S. and Urbino characters, while players on the attacking team can only choose between The Scissors and Urbino characters.<ref name=":0" />
Players have the option to customize the characters they have unlocked. The player can also increase their bond level with each character, unlocking special items, skins, or cutscenes for that character.<ref name=":5" /> These cosmetics, particularly limited-time ones, can also be acquired through the game's gacha system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strazd |first=Edward |date=November 25, 2024 |title=Strinova string sequence, explained |url=https://dotesports.com/general/news/strinova-string-sequence-explained |access-date=November 26, 2024 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Development== iDreamSky, ''Strinova''{{'s}} developer and publisher, is a video game publisher primarily known for Chinese releases of mobile games such as Subway Surfers.<ref name=":1" /> The company received investments from Sony and Tencent for the development of Strinova.<ref name=":1" /> The game is the company's first in-house game targeted for Western audiences.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chapple |first=Craig |date=May 9, 2024 |title=Chinese publisher iDreamSky opens office in Riyadh for first international expansion |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/chinese-publisher-idreamsky-opens-office-in-riyadh-for-international-expansion/ |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=www.pocketgamer.biz |language=en}}</ref> ''Strinova'' began development in 2019, with the goal of creating an anime-themed third-person shooter.<ref>{{Cite interview |last=Zhang |first=Alan |interviewer=Nandemo Yuuko |title=『Strinova』インタビュー。アニメ調のキャラとシューティングが融合した本作の魅力と今後の予定を直撃。リリースは第4四半期（10～12月予定）。ブースレポートもお届け【TGS2024】 |url=https://www.famitsu.com/article/202409/19363 |access-date=November 21, 2024 |work=Famitsu |date=September 29, 2024 |trans-title="Strinova" interview. A look at its appeal as an anime and shooting fusion and its future plans. Schedules for release in the fourth quarter (October to December). Includes a report from the booth. [TGS2024]}}</ref> Stringification and character skills were designed to take focus away from aim and gun control—aspects of shooting games which the developers saw as unpleasant for players.<ref>{{Cite interview |last=Zhang |first=Alan |interviewer=Cestus Harakawa |title=アニメ調のTPS『Strinova（ストリノヴァ）』開発者インタビュー＆TGSブースレポ。ペラペラになる"弦化"とガンアクションで初心者もコアゲーマーも楽しめる作品に【TGS2024】 |url=https://dengekionline.com/article/202409/19386 |access-date=October 16, 2024 |work=Dengeki Online |date=September 29, 2024 |trans-title=Anime-style TPS "Strinova" Developer Interview & TGS Booth Report. A game that both beginners and core gamers can enjoy with its smooth "stringifying" and gun action [TGS2024]}}</ref>
A closed beta of the game was released in June 2024,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Bergin |first=Lauren |date=June 21, 2024 |title=New Steam FPS is Valorant with anime girls and a huge gameplay twist |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/strinova/closed-beta-test-steam |access-date=October 16, 2024 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}</ref> with a second beta test in October 2024.<ref name=":1" /> Its second beta test coincided with the release of a demo for the Steam Next Fest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koselke |first=Anna |date=October 15, 2024 |title=This Steam Next Fest's second-biggest demo so far is like Valorant meets Paper Mario, complete with anime girls |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/third-person-shooter/this-steam-next-fests-second-biggest-demo-so-far-is-like-valorant-meets-paper-mario-complete-with-anime-girls/ |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}</ref> The game went on early access for Windows in China on August 3, 2023. It was released in China on February 1, 2024.<ref name="GematsuSummary">{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2024 |title=Strinova |url=https://www.gematsu.com/games/strinova |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref> iDreamSky released the game for Windows globally on November 22, 2024. iDreamSky had planned on releasing the game on Android, iOS, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series in 2025.<ref name="GematsuGlobalRelease">{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=November 15, 2024 |title=Strinova launches November 21 for PC, in 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series, iOS, and Android |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/11/strinova-launches-november-21-for-pc-in-2025-for-ps5-xbox-series-ios-and-android |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Iwan |date=October 11, 2024 |title=Strinova is a new 5v5 anime shooter where you lock, load and, for some reason, turn into paper |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/strinova/coming-soon/ |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=www.pocketgamer.com |language=en}}</ref> The open beta of the mobile version was launched in China in October 2025, partnering with the Japanese girl group @onefive as ambassadors, who produced the collaboration theme song "Meow Meow Heartbeat" (喵喵心跳, ''Miāo Miāo Xīntiào'').<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moyu |first= |date=2025-10-24 |title=卡拉彼丘手游公测主题曲喵喵心跳发布 心跳与枪声共振 |url=https://www.qieyou.com/content/142016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251030165559/https://www.qieyou.com/content/142016 |archive-date=2025-10-30 |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=Qieyou |language=zh}}</ref>
==Reception== ''Strinova'' has received generally positive critical reviews during its beta tests, most of which praise the game's "stringification" mechanic. Jeremy Gan of ''Engadget'' called the mechanic "incredibly entertaining",<ref name=":2" /> while Shuan Cichacki of ''Vice'' called it "one of the wackiest gimmicks I've ever seen."<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Cichacki |first=Shaun |date=November 19, 2024 |title='Strinova' Ups the Ante With Two New Characters, New Stages and More During Season 1 |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/strinova-ups-the-ante-with-two-new-characters-new-stages-and-more-during-season-1/ |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref>
The game has been compared to other shooter games such as ''Valorant'' and ''Overwatch'', owing to its similar gameplay mechanics.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> It has also been likened to ''Paper Mario'', due to each superstring's ability to turn into paper.<ref name=":3" />
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://www.strinova.com/}}
Category:2024 video games Category:Esports games Category:Third-person shooters Category:Free-to-play video games Category:Hero shooters Category:Windows games Category:Windows-only games Category:Video games developed in China Category:Video games about bomb disposal Category:Gacha games Category:Multiplayer video games Category:Unreal Engine 4 games