Publisher Balor Games and developer Goose Byte have announced that Sponge Break, a cooperative rafting game for one to four players, will launch for PC via Steam on July 30, 2026. The announcement arrived this week, roughly three weeks after the game was first revealed on July 7. An invite-only playtest is running through July 28 ahead of the launch, with sign-ups handled through the official website.
Players take the part of sponges making a break from the kitchen sink, escaping downriver on a raft that has been thrown together, while the river does everything it can to sink them. The route passes through several kinds of terrain, sewers, rivers, and abandoned facilities among them, with safehouses set between levels where a group can patch up, revive fallen teammates, and restock before setting out again. Everything is governed by 3D physics. A bad steer can capsize the raft and send whatever the team was carrying into the water; enough hits and the raft comes apart underneath them. The team has to try their best not to get soaked.

Teamwork is paramount. Every player carries a plunger that also serves as a grappling hook, useful for latching onto anything that isn’t fixed in place. Meanwhile, the raft holds a shared stash for gear. The crew’s path to freedom is blocked by environmental puzzles that open new paths, the constant threat of catching fire, and sometimes combat with beavers.  A latecomer can drop into a session already in progress, and the whole thing is playable solo for anyone who would rather skip the coordination.

There is a lot to unlock on the cosmetic side, with more than 100 options in total. Players can change a sponge’s facial features, add hats, swap the inflatable buoys, and alter the look of the plunger, with a set of emotes rounding it out.

Sponge Break is available to wishlist now on Steam.