Enter the arena chained
You and up to three friends are literally chained together. Movement is shared spatial pressure: coordinate or get tangled around a pillar.
1–4 player co-op · Out now
Chained Beasts
A co-op gladiator roguelike where you are literally chained to your friends. Turn the chain into a weapon, feed enemies to the arena, survive the injuries you bought with healing potions, and fight your way from Carthage to Rome.
Chained Beasts is a PC and console game. There is no browser build, so this guide links to the official stores instead of pretending to host a player.
- Released
- 15 Oct 2026
- Players
- 1–4 co-op
- Platforms
- PC / PS5 / Xbox / Switch
- Game Pass
- Day one
- Launch price
- $12.99 (−35%)
- Browser play
- Not available
Where to play
Five gates into the arena
Chained Beasts launched on 15 October 2026 across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and Game Pass. There is no browser version and no playable demo left online — the Carthage demo went offline at launch.
Recommended
Steam
Windows and macOS. Full controller support, Steam Cloud, Remote Play Together and cross-platform multiplayer.
Official storeXbox Series X|S
Day-one Game Pass release for Xbox.
Official storeXbox / PC Game Pass
Game Pass for Xbox and Windows PC from day one.
Official storePlayStation 5
PS5 release alongside the Steam and Xbox versions.
Official storeNintendo Switch
Switch release on the same 15 October 2026 launch day.
- Release
- 15 October 2026
- Launch price
- $12.99 · 35% off $19.99 for two weeks
- Players
- 1–4 co-op · online crossplay · couch co-op
- Genre
- Co-op gladiator roguelike
- Developer
- Featherweight Games
- Browser play
- Not available
Embed status: unsupported. No official browser runtime exists. The game requires Windows 10 64-bit or macOS 11, 8 GB RAM and at least one gamepad for same-screen co-op on PC.
The core loop
Fight, trip, heal, suffer, repeat
A run is nine battles across three acts. Between them you make the choices that define the run: which affliction to accept, which perk to train for, and which weapon is worth your coins.
Turn the chain into a weapon
Drag the chain across an enemy's path to trip them, pull a friend out of danger, or set up a follow-up hit. It is a tool, not just a leash.
Weaponise the arena
Hurl urns, charge foes into spike walls, kick them into snake pits, or throw a weapon and pick up another. The environment does a lot of the killing.
Win the crowd
Executions and stylish kills earn the crowd's approval and better payouts. Bloodthirsty spectators are part of the economy.
Heal, train, shop
Between rounds, heal with potions that inflict afflictions, train for perks (and risk injuries), visit the Surgeon, and spend coins at the Merchant.
March from Carthage to Rome
Survive nine battles across three acts. Beat each act boss, then face Praefectus and the Praetorian Guard in the final Rome chapter.
Systems
What actually drives a run
Every system below is supported by the developers' store page, launch announcement, roadmap or patch notes. Numbers are the launch-build figures.
The chain
The chain connects every player. It can trip enemies, drag allies, wrap around pillars and turn a simple dodge into a team wipe. In co-op it is a shared responsibility; mishandling it is part of the comedy.
Chain combat basicsOnline crossplay and couch co-op
Play alone or with up to four players online across platforms, or share a screen at home. On PC, same-screen co-op requires at least one gamepad. Steam Remote Play Together is supported.
Co-op and crossplay guideAfflictions and healing
Potions restore health but leave physical or mental afflictions. With 70+ of them at launch, healing is a bargain, not a reset button. The Surgeon can remove or modify the damage between acts.
Healing trade-offsBeasts, skills and items
Unlock eight beasts plus variants, learn 70+ skills, and buy 40+ weapons and items. Each run asks you to build around the beast, the afflictions you can tolerate, and the gear you can afford.
Progression systemsThree acts, three champions
Carthage opens with Beastmaster Barka on a rhino. Germania brings Goliath and his ground slams. Rome ends with Praefectus and the Praetorian Guard.
Boss guideA hardcore party game
Featherweight describes the result as a hardcore party game: brutal combat, slapstick chain chaos, dismemberment, executions and a crowd that wants a show.
How a run worksGame feel
A hardcore party game in the sand
Animal gladiators, iron chains, blood, fire and a crowd that wants a show. These are official promotional screenshots, used for reference.
Game imagery © Featherweight Games. Official promotional material used for reference on an unofficial guide.
Beginner tips
Ten habits that save a run
Practical advice tied to real systems: chains, thrown weapons, hazards, afflictions, training injuries and the Surgeon.
Keep a backup weapon before you throw
Throwing a weapon is strong, but you can be left empty-handed. Carry a second option or make sure a nearby enemy is carrying something you can pick up.
Treat the chain as a tripwire
Circle around enemies so the chain crosses their path. A well-timed sweep knocks them down and creates an opening for the whole team.
Call your movement in co-op
Running in opposite directions tangles the team around pillars and feeds the crowd a comedy routine. Pick a direction and commit together.
Aim the arena, not just your weapon
Spike walls, snake pits, urns and fire do more than your basic attack. Position enemies between you and the hazard before you commit.
Do not heal on reflex
Potions buy health with afflictions. Choose the drawback you can play around instead of stacking a run-ending injury because you panicked.
Train in short bursts
Training fills the shared XP bar, but too many reps cause injuries like a broken toe, dislocated shoulder or punctured lung. Stop before the bar costs you a run.
FAQ
The questions new gladiators ask
Short, sourced answers. The full FAQ covers Game Pass, crossplay, local co-op, controllers, languages and the demo.
What is Chained Beasts?
Chained Beasts is a 1–4 player co-op gladiator roguelike from Featherweight Games. Players are literally chained together, fight through arena waves, use hazards and chains to kill enemies, and survive physical and mental afflictions.
Is Chained Beasts multiplayer or co-op?
It supports single-player and 1–4 player co-op, including online co-op across platforms and same-screen couch co-op. On PC, same-screen co-op requires at least one gamepad.
Does Chained Beasts support crossplay?
Yes. The Steam page lists cross-platform multiplayer, and the developers describe online crossplay across PC and consoles.
Is Chained Beasts on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes. It launched day one on Game Pass for Xbox and Windows PC on 15 October 2026, alongside Steam, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
How much does Chained Beasts cost?
The regular price is $19.99. It launched with a 35% discount to $12.99 for two weeks. Check the store page for the current price in your region.
Can I play Chained Beasts in a browser?
No. It is a PC and console game, not a browser game. The free Carthage demo was taken offline when the full game launched, so there is no current browser or demo build to embed.
Is there PvP in Chained Beasts?
Not at launch. The developers' roadmap lists PvP as a planned addition for Q1 2027. At launch the focus is co-op PvE.
How many acts and battles are there?
The 1.0 release has three acts — Carthage, Germania and Rome — with nine battles across them and a boss at the end of each act.
Official links
Go to the source
This is an unofficial guide. For purchases, patches, support and community, use the developers' own channels.