About This Game

Demo

The demo allows you to play 5 matches per career. There are a few other limitations but it should give you a great idea of how the game works. Please use the feedback button in the demo to let us know what you thought of it - or add your comments in the Steam Community Hub. You'll be able to load saved games from the demo into the full version when it's released.

LATEST NEWS (11 Mar 2026): A new, improved demo is coming very soon! It contains many, many gameplay, balance and QoL improvements as well as the REFEREE!

Game summary

The Comeback King is a retro boxing management game set in the UK during the 1980s. You take control of a faded fighter at the bottom of the rankings — older, slower, and already carrying damage — and try to guide him back to relevance before his body or mind gives out.

What they're saying about The Comeback King

"Great demo! Loved it"

"Very nice, style is very good, throw in a ref and it's perfect"*

"Boxing games are cool"

"Nice, I like the look of it - have wishlisted!"

"You really deserve success with this game :)"

"Good luck! Wishlisting it!"

"Nice pixel art"

"Love this!  I missed the original"

"Those are some expensive sponges you got there"

Features

• Retro pixel art style

• Fully animated boxing matches

• Ranking system

• Entrance music (10 tracks of original 80s-style sounds written especially for the game!)

• Promoter

• Strength, Stamina and Skill

• Cognitive Health

• Sponges and bandages

• Throwing in the towel

• Shouting from the sidelines

• Buying and selling gyms

• Trainers

• Popularity stars!

• Bone-crunching injuries (but no blood/gore)

• No scripted outcomes

• Quick start guidance system

History

From designer Ian Williams:

This game is a slightly delayed sequel to 'Boxing Manager', which I wrote in the mid-1980s for the Spectrum 48K. You can still play it on an emulator.

This sequel retains many of the features of the original game but I've added more interaction during the matches, plus more gyms, the Shop, more choice of opponents, a refined Popularity system, full ranking table and entrance music.

Future Plans

I also have plans for a 'Downtown' expansion, which would add criminal elements like bribes, dives, illegal tonics and dodgy bets. Cushti!

*There's now a Referee! He has great bouncy hair. :D