I’ve been a big fan of developer Blaine Hodge aka Stinger Games since the release of Stinger Table Hockey ($1.99) WAY back in early 2010. (As an aside, that Golden Oldie is updated for newer devices and iOS versions and is still fun as heck all these years later.) Last summer Stinger released Super Jump Soccer (Free), which was a wacky physics-based take on arcade soccer. It was a ton of fun, but in reality that game was just an offshoot of a project that had been in the works for some time, a project called Ridiculous Rugby ($2.99). The idea was to take the general idea of rugby and deliver it in an over-the-top arcade style, similar to what NBA Jam did with basketball. The result is a fast-paced game that’s easy for anyone to pick up and play even if you haven’t the faintest idea of what rugby is all about (raises hand). We checked out Ridiculous Rugby during PAX West last September and were really impressed with just how much fun it was. Here’s the trailer.

As you can see one big change in Ridiculous Rugby compared to Super Jump Soccer is that the players are 3D models as opposed to flat sprites, and this actually makes a huge difference not just visually but gameplay-wise as well. The game uses ragdoll physics and one of its best features is how your opponents can latch onto your character (and vice versa) trying to hold them back from making it to the end zone or cause them to drop the ball. You can actually feel the “weight" of having players try to bring you down as you drag them along for the ride. It’s very satisfying, and as a total noob I imagine it’s very much in the spirit of rugby. There’s also a bit more depth in Ridiculous Rugby compared to similar arcade sports games as you’ll be collecting players from your defeated opponents and building up your own team to be the best over the course of the single-player campaign. If you enjoy arcade sports definitely give Ridiculous Rugby a look, it’s fully premium at $2.99 with no IAP, and check out the forum thread for some discussion.