About This Demo

"Hands down one of the best hockey games I've played in years." - Steam demo review

"Arcade hockey so simple, even a beer-league plug like me can feel like a playoff contender!" - Steam demo review

"...this game looks like it's running on a nes." - YouTube comment

"Looks cool!" - my mom

Head Up. Gloves Off.

The demo is the full gameplay systems, but a smaller slice of the league. Four teams are playable in Quick Game and multiplayer, and Solo Franchise gives you one ten game season with Seattle. The periods are short, but the hockey is all there: lines, tired legs, penalties, big hits, overtime, shootouts and fights. You'll probably score in your first minute. Getting good takes a little longer.

If you're enjoying the demo, wishlisting Barnburners helps a ton! Early Access starts December 8, 2026.

Ten Games With Seattle

Take over the Seattle Squall for a ten game Franchise season. Set your lines, make roster moves, play or sim the schedule, and try to make a run through the playoffs. The full game lets you keep going for as many seasons as you want! Demo Franchise saves don't carry over to the full game.

Four Teams, Four Captains

Every team has a captain with a signature ability:

• Chicago Gusters have pure speed. THE WHEELS has turbo for days and barely gets tired.

• Seattle Squall like to cycle and grind. BULLDOG owns the boards and won't let the puck get stripped away.

• Montreal Sentinelles are a possession hockey team. MAESTRO runs the give-and-go.

• Toronto Regents are the stacked favorites. THE FRANCHISE is a little better at everything.

The CPU plays to each team's style too. Captain abilities charge up as they make plays, then are activated to get the full boost of their abilities.

Aim It Like It's 1994

You aim when you shoot, the way the classics did it. Wrist shots stay low and accurate while slappers come in high and not as pinpoint. Set up a one timer by charging the shot before the pass gets there. Deke a goalie out of their shorts to get a wide open net!

Fights Like You Haven't Seen

When the gloves come off, you throw and block the punches yourself. The demo starts you on the Simple style but if you want more? Switch to Full for grabs, throws, taunts, combos, kicks and supers. Set fights to Off and they get decided for you!

Arcade on Top, Real Hockey Underneath

Offside and icing are off by default in exhibition, but you can always turn them on. Penalties stay on, but the refs like to let the boys play. Change lines, manage tired legs, battle on faceoffs and cash in on the power play. Games go to OT and then a shootout, no ties here (except in playoffs)! Goalies come in five styles, from the CHALLENGER who cuts down angles to the ROVER who should stay home more but plays the puck well.

Ways to Play

• Quick Game lets you jump straight to team select. Periods are locked at 1:30, so a game fits in a coffee break.

• Solo Franchise trial lets you take Seattle through ten games, the playoffs and the draft.

• Versus and co-op is there to play head to head, share a bench against the CPU, or put four controllers on one couch for 2v2.

• Online allows you to find a quick match or share a join code. Demo periods are locked to 1:30 online too.

• 3-on-3 Arcade gives more open ice, loose rules and extra stamina.

• Training Camp has FIRST SHIFT which walks you through a real game, and the drills cover skating, shooting, passing, dekes, checking, goalie control, and fighting.

• House Rules lets you turn on Mega Hits and Big Head mode.

In the Full Game

The full game opens up the rest of the league:

• All 24 teams, each with its own city, colors, barn, and captain.

• Multi-season Franchise with trades, free agency, a salary cap, drafts, aging, and awards.

• Pond Hockey and the Frostbite Series outdoor games.

• The Journey, my take on "Be a Pro", where you create one player and take him from the juniors to the pros.

• Tournaments with eight clubs, single elimination. Win or go home.

• More modes like short campaigns, arcade games, drills, and house rules.

Barnburners is made by one person. The demo is here so people can play it and tell me what I got wrong. There's a feedback button in the game and I read everything that comes in.