Next Big Games has just dropped a free demo on Steam for Hold Your King, a physics-based co-op platformer that tasks 2 to 4 players with carrying a furious medieval King — and now his Queen — on a stretcher through a gauntlet of deadly obstacle courses. The full game is coming later, but you can wishlist it and jump into the demo right now.
The Premise Is Unhinged and We Love It
The entire game is built around one beautiful, chaotic idea: don’t drop the King. That’s it. Except nothing about it is simple, because the world runs on full physics simulation. Your speed, your turning angle, your momentum — all of it directly affects how stable (or spectacularly unstable) the royal cargo on your stretcher is at any given moment.
And the King isn’t just a passive object you’re lugging around. He’s reactive, characterful, and absolutely furious when things go wrong. Shake him too much, let him hit the ground, and he will unleash a whip-cracking, tantrum-fueled meltdown on your entire crew. Recently, the Queen joined the chaos too — and the King refuses to travel without her — meaning more weight, more balance checks, and significantly more drama.
How It Actually Plays
Every player on the stretcher team has to communicate in real time to survive swinging traps, collapsing platforms, and incoming cannonballs. Coordination is everything, and the gap between a smooth carry and a total royal disaster is razor thin.
There’s even a “Bonk” mechanic — you can lightly bonk the King to calm him down mid-meltdown. High risk, occasionally high reward, frequently hilarious.
The ragdoll physics engine means last-second saves and spectacular failures happen constantly, making this one of those games that essentially generates highlight clips on autopilot. If you’re a streamer or content creator, this one has your name all over it.
Try It Right Now — Free
The demo is live on Steam today at no cost. If it hooks you, hit that wishlist button for the full release. Whether you’re playing with close friends or people you’d like to still be friends with afterward, Hold Your King is shaping up to be one of the more memorable co-op experiences of the year.
Just maybe agree on a communication strategy before you hit start. Trust us.