TL,DR: This is one of the best creature trainer games on the market, even while it's in Early Access

Don't let the Early Access tag fool you, This is a game that, if it weren't updated ever again, would still be %1000 worth it to me. It has a complete, well written story and it has very few bugs or issues I ran into. While there is still some unfinished assets and bits of content, it didn't detract from my enjoyment at any point.

Anyway, on to why I am a huge fan of this game.

First, the core battle gameplay is just SO good. Creature Trainer + Volleyball is an amazing idea and it's executed so well here. The mechanics with the ball and the 2x2 grid on add so much depth. You need to think not just about damage and status effects, but also how which Beastie that takes the attack (and thus has the ball at the start of the turn) or where each Beastie is standing will affect what can be done with a turn, both for you and your opponent. There also isn't randomness of any kind (other than which team serves the ball first, but I believe in important matches, which team serves the ball first is fixed), which means you won't just lose a match when luck turns against you. Many times in the story against a strong opponent, I had to really think on what I had to do to win. From attacking in a way to create no-win situations for my opponent, to sacrifice plays where I let my Beastie get wiped to set up for future turns, I've had to get a bit creative.

Second, the writing is great. It's got a fantastic blend of humor, drama and emotional earnestness. While I don’t think any plot points are going to blow your socks off, the dialog is very well done and it makes the characters really come to life. One of my favorite things are “Hangouts”, optional conversations you can have with a character that give you more of their story. After you defeat each Ranked Coach, you can hangout with them and I’ve really liked all of the ones I’ve seen so far. It makes me feel less that they are just the face of a team to defeat, and more someone that has their own goals in the world. I won’t spoil anything here but, Riven has been my favorite set of Hangouts so far.

Third, THE MUSIC!!! There hasn’t been a single track in this game that disappoints. The range has been between “I like it, it works here” to “I’m going to listen to this 100 times on it’s own because it’s just SO GOOD!” Every single Ranked Coach gets their own battle track, and all of them absolutely hit the mark, always keeping with the theme of the team you are up against. The range of songs on display here is quite impressive, never feeling like the same genre or vibe was used over and over again.

Misc stuff:
There is a fair bit of post-story and side content, with interesting challenges to take on.
Various optional game modifiers (like randomizers) are built in, so you can replay the game in new ways.
If PVP is your thing, there is a monthly PVP event ran by the devs called Bigmoon Bash where you can compete with other players online in a fair environment. You can also join the official Discord for player ran events.
It plays well on Linux via Proton.
You can high-five your Beasties in the locker room. Come on, look at the little guys! Give them a high-five, they deserve it.

Overall: 10/10 game, I’m glad I backed it on KS.

Masterpiece. Beach volleyball + turn-based monster taming is a genius idea that feels fresh and fun. Great quality of life features and the synergy between skills, combos, and friendships make each battle feel meaningful. Can’t wait to see the full version!

Beastieball is the unique mix of monster taming and volleyball. It's a creative best match! A Pokemon-like volleyball game, and plus... I love it!