Bat to the Beat: Indian Indie Joins Steam Sports Fest Lineup

In a massive win for the Indian indie development scene, Bat to the Beat, a PC cricket-rhythm game developed by Pune-based studio Baba Black Sheep Games, has been selected for the prestigious Steam Sports Fest. The event, which runs until December 15, sees this solo-developed project sharing the spotlight and rubbing shoulders with legendary global sports franchises such as WWE, NBA, and EA FC.

The festival selection comes with a wave of new content for the game. The developer has rolled out an ongoing playtest that features brand-new levels based on the cricketing nations of South Africa, New Zealand, and Pakistan. This is just a taste of the world tour players can expect at launch. 

The studio has confirmed that the full release will feature a diverse roster of levels, including Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia, India, Jamaica, New Zealand, Pakistan, and England. Fans looking for a preview can catch a sneak peek of the South Africa level in a newly released YouTube Short.

Gameplay Mechanics and System Requirements

Bat to the Beat is not your typical sports simulator. It is a cricket-rhythm action game that draws inspiration from cult classics like Rhythm Heaven Fever, Crypt of the NecroDancer, and Super Hexagon. In the game, players travel the globe, challenged by the unique musical grooves of each country. These audio environments range from the relaxed one-drop reggae beats of Jamaica to the complex, syncopated Bollywood-inspired rhythms found on the streets of Mumbai. 

The moment-to-moment gameplay relies on a unique mechanic that tests spatial awareness and rhythm. On every beat, players must make a split-second decision: attack and risk getting caught by fielders, or defend and let the pressure build.

Developed in Unity by solo developer Kunal Joshi, the game is built to be accessible to a wide audience. It features full controller support and an original soundtrack. The title is also optimized for a wide range of hardware with relatively low system requirements. 

Whether on Windows (Windows 10 or later) or macOS (10.13 or later), players only require a 64-bit processor, 4GB of RAM, and 1GB of available storage to jump in. However, given the rhythmic nature of the gameplay, the developer recommends against using Bluetooth audio to avoid latency issues.

Bat to the Beat is currently slated for an early 2026 release. Gamers can currently check out the playtest, download the demo, or wishlist the game on its official Steam page.

Baba Black Sheep Games is the development label of Kunal Joshi. An early pioneer of iOS game development, Joshi channels his distinct love for music and game design into creating gratifying, rhythmic experiences.