Self Defense Kinda...

About this game

Custom Content!

You can create, share, or play custom fights using the Steam workshop (Coming soon), Game Banana, or any other mod sharing platforms. Instructions on how to do so are located in the game's files.

What's the deal with this game?

Well, Self Defense Kinda is a unique take on RPGs where this genre gets combined with another genre, that being Boss Rushes!
Constantly introducing new and exciting mechanics to make every fight truly unique from one another. Go from fighting a crazed salesperson, willing to get profits at any costs, to fighting Ads incarnate! Great music and a unique artstyle brimming with cartoonish personality (Yes, it's intentional and Self Defense Kinda... wouldn't be the same game without it). You'll be smiling ear to ear, fight to fight, wondering what the mad developer came up with next.

Game Features

- 12 Normal Boss Fights each with their own unique mechanic to think around
- 12 Hard Mode Boss Fights that introduces a new mechanic to make the fight naturally more difficult. (It's not just about more HP or more damage dealt)
- 1 Final climactic end with some neat surprises
- Rush Arcade Type mode with an endless mode (You can even include your custom fights in the endless Rush Mode. Endless Mode Coming Soon)
- Tools to create, share, and play community made custom fights via the Steam Workshop (Coming Soon) or just by sharing the folder containing the new content.
- If you're stuck there's a hint mode that only guides you in the right direction but doesn't tell you how you should beat the enemy (No punishment if you use it either, just potential shame and friendly jabs by your friends)
- Stuck on a fight? The BR Death specialist can let you scooch by on one fight or two if you want. (Every fight is still possible even without any upgrades)
- Awesome achievements for completionists
- Upgrades, Command Powers, No limited Inventory/Items, Skills, and Mini Skills allow personal strategy/adaptability without being overwhelming. But you can also refuse any upgrades or help if you've truly mastered the game. Every fight is possible at base stats.

Story

Alice goes to a store to try out their new BR system. But she didn't realize that by putting on the BR headset she wouldn't be able to take it off afterwards. Now she's told by the BR virtual helper, P.I.N.E, that this world is trying to help her through some subconscious pressures in her life. In order to actually be able to take the headset off, she needs to fix whatever issue was troubling her. On the surface, that issue seems to be proving that she can fend for herself. However, is that really the issue or the real reason she can't take off the headset? Well, the only way to find out is to press on and find answers.


*no cartoon characters were harmed in the making of this game*

Latest news

• Announcements·7 Dec 2025Official

  New Price

  Self Defense Kinda... has been released for more than a year now and it has done decently well, all things considered, getting a positive rating on Steam. But the sales have slowed a lot since it isn't new anymore. For this reason, I have decided to just lower the price on Self Defense Kinda... on steam. If you want to now you can pick up the game for a stupidly cheap $3 for... well... forever! and its OST for $2. So, for the price of a cup of coffee, you can pick up a game you'll love for hours and OST you'll be bopping your head to long after you've finished the game! A pretty decent deal in my opinion.
  Read full article on Community Announcements (Thekirbyslayer)

• Patch Notes·17 Dec 2024Official

  Minor Fixes

  - Fixed a bug where user wouldn't get achievement "Dun n Dun" even when all DVDs (excluding the gauntlet rush) were completed - Fixed a bug where Modern Defense Bot would display incorrect sprite when defeated from Spawn Command Power - Fixed a bug where Transition screen would stay on screen, potentially blocking buttons, if you made a move right when it was transitioning on screen to signify your death. Now it will move off screen when textbox is out and HP is at or below 0. - Fixed a bug on the Crazed Commander Hard mode boss fight where using Spark X would crash the game.
  Read full article on Community Announcements (Thekirbyslayer)

• Patch Notes·1 Sept 2024Official

  V. 1.01

  - Fixed a bug where using drugs on the Speaker HR rep fight would kill the music. - Fixed a bug where if you took your turn as the Game Over Card was scrolling on screen on the Speaker HR rep fight, the ui would get stuck and you'd need to click the "OK" button underneath it. Now, your turn will be forfeit if you died period. - Fixed a bug where Mini Skill UI wouldn't display "Mini Skill Equipped" when Mini Skill is clicked on - Fixed a bug where Mini Skill UI wouldn't Display tutorial for how to get Mini Skills unless player had at least one mini skill. Now Tutorial will display even with no Mini Skills unlocked. - Tedious Tutor Custom Fight Reworks - Fixed a bug where the Psychotic Salesman swinging would display incorrect damage given to player. - Added a ui element in Mini Skill that tells the player what skill they currently have equipped - Improved the Hint given by the Mini Skill "Sixth Sense" to make the hint appear bigger so you don't have to squint your eyes to see what the hint was. - Some hints given by the Mini Skill "Sixth Sense" didn't make sense in the Psychotic Salesman Hard and Base Fight. They have been tweaked to be more accurate. - Fixed a bug where player was not able to get the Achievement "I have a particular set of skills" even if they did equip every Mini Skill. Now all you have to do is go to the Mini Skill select with all Mini Skills unlocked to get the achievement - Minor Spelling/grammatical fixes - Tweaked one of the endings slightly. (Not the "Good Ending")
  Read full article on Community Announcements (Thekirbyslayer)

• Patch Notes·4 Jan 2024Official

  Self Defense Kinda... Demo New Updates

  Self Defense Kinda... Demo V. 2.1 Patch Notes - Added Animations for bosses and player hud - Added new Font/Text typing out system - Added moving wavy font (able to be disabled in settings) - Changed UI - Added dynamic numbers (ex: Command Power number bounces up and down when hovering over a command power) - UI will now not be brought out if not able to be used (ex: Hit me with no coins) - Command Power UI now goes 50% transparent if you can't afford it - Hard Mode remembers if it was on - Restart R key now takes you back to main menu not to boot screen - Added player damage sound effect
  Read full article on Community Announcements (Thekirbyslayer)

• Patch Notes·12 Oct 2023Official

  Major update now released for Self Defense Kinda... Demo

  Lots of feedback has been submitted for Self Defense Kinda... demo so a pretty major update is in order. What was added? - New (optional) Tutorial cutscene to explain mechanics and how game flow will go - Minor Rework to Arising Actress, Bartender, and Psychotic Salesman Fights - Auto Stat adjuster option. On by default it will automatically adjust stats to a recommended level so you don't have to guess what stats will make the fight fair (toggle able in settings) - New Camera Shake effect when taking damage (toggle able in settings) Additionally, the demo has gotten so many downloads and so much support! Thanks is also in order so, for that reason, the Tyrannical TV and Monetized Menace were added in as a part of this update. Thank you for your support and please continue enjoying the game!
  Read full article on Community Announcements (Thekirbyslayer)