I have seen the future of sports games and it is called just volleyball
A Rock Paper Shotgun article celebrates “just volleyball,” a new sports game that delivers straightforward gameplay inspired by the design philosophy of Wii Sports. The author was initially inspired to take up volleyball after watching Haikyu!!, a popular sports anime centered around the sport. Rather than pursuing the activity in real life, they discovered that “just volleyball” provides an engaging alternative that captures the sport’s appeal through interactive gameplay.
The game appears to embody a stripped-down design philosophy, focusing entirely on core volleyball mechanics without unnecessary complexity or bloated feature systems. By emulating the accessible, arcade-style approach that made Wii Sports a cultural phenomenon, “just volleyball” demonstrates how sports games can succeed through clarity of purpose and pure gameplay focus.
The article positions the game as emblematic of a potential future direction for sports games—one that prioritizes fun and engaging mechanics over elaborate progression systems or feature creep. The author’s enthusiasm suggests the game successfully translates what makes volleyball compelling, both as depicted in anime form and as playable interactive entertainment. A demo version is currently available, allowing potential players to experience the game’s mechanics firsthand before any full release, aligning with the game’s apparent philosophy of letting its gameplay speak for itself.