Ever wondered what happens when Overcooked meets deep-space logistics and wobbly physics? Australian developer MAXART Games and publisher Untold Tales have brought the ultimate friendship-testing party game to Gamescom ’24: Servonauts! Grab three mates, wrangle physics-based pipes, and run the most chaotic gas stations in the galaxy.

Quick Facts

Developer: MAXART Games
Publisher: Untold Tales
Genre: Couch Co-Op / Action Party / Simulation
Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch (Other consoles TBD)
Release Date: November 21, 2024
Featured Event: Gamescom ’24

In Aussie slang, a “servo” is a local gas station. In Servonauts, however, your neighborhood pump is situated right in the middle of deep space! Working as underpaid, highly expendable attendants for the galactic mega-corporation Astroil, 1 to 4 players are tasked with servicing incoming spacecars, alien cruisers, and galactic commuters across increasingly hazardous biomes.

The core gameplay loop centers on full-throttle industrial logistics: you must drill crude oil, operate refining machinery, mix specialized fuel recipes according to customer orders, and pump the liquid gold directly into waiting vehicles. To connect refineries to gas pumps, players utilize Astroil’s patent-pending, physically simulated pipes. These wobbly, stretchy hoses bend, tangle, and snag on environmental hazards like lava pits, slipping ice, and swinging doors. Pumping the wrong fuel blend, however, leads to immediate, highly explosive mishaps—and Astroil definitely does not cover employee medical bills!

Hands-On Impressions: Pure Couch Co-Op Hysterics

During our Gamescom ’24 appointment with the dev team, we jumped straight into the chaotic 4-player local co-op mode. The physical feedback of the wobbly pipes creates instant slapstick comedy: two players trying to stretch a fuel line across a lava trench while a third player accidentally mixes the wrong chemical reaction is guaranteed to provoke screaming and belly laughs across the couch.

The developers shared several exciting post-launch details during our booth chat. While the full game hits PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch on November 21, 2024 (with a free demo playable on Steam right now!), the team is already planning post-launch Boss DLC expansion packs to challenge seasoned service teams. For review coverage, press keys are currently being coordinated with the publisher, so expect a full CouchCoop review as we get closer to launch!

Refining the Ultimate Friendship Test

Each level in Servonauts introduces new mechanics, environmental traps, and strict timing windows aimed at earning the coveted 3-Gold-Star rating per stage. Whether you are dodging laser traps, coordinating pipeline relays across floating platforms, or managing multi-stage fuel recipes under tight deadlines, the game keeps the communication requirements sky-high.

The Verdict: A Must-Have For Local Co-Op Game Nights

With its hilarious physics, vibrant sci-fi aesthetic, and brilliantly frantic multiplayer design, Servonauts is shaping up to be a top-tier addition to any couch co-op library. Mark your calendars for November 21, 2024 on Steam and Switch—and don’t forget to download the free Steam demo to test your friendships in advance!

Ready to wrangle wobbly fuel lines and fuel up spacecars? Check out the official Servonauts announcement trailer below:

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