As the saying goes: if you want something done right, you better do it yourself.
3D fighting game fans have had it rough in the past few months but now they have something to hold on to with Rival Ultimate Steel Hand, aka RUSH. Developed by Alcratz, RUSH is his effort to make a fighting game that fully utilizes the power of 3D movement.
While that may sound nice and lofty, the game is nothing more than a proof of concept right now. But don’t let the featureless polygons and stock sounds fool you as there’s so much thought and care in here. It’s a project that was born from frustrations with the current 3D fighting game landscape but made with a genuine goal in mind.
As explained in his announcement video, Alcratz wants to build on the feel and systems of traditional Tekken – to make a 3D fighting game that’s less about spectacle and more about technique and movement. After eight months, he now has a prototype where his key design pillars are in place and is ready to be scrutinized by other disgruntled 3D fighting game fans.
And right now, the reception to RUSH has been nothing short of positive. Whether by chance or perfect timing, Alcratz released his prototype right as Tekken 8 was hit by another controversy. With many players and content creators fed up with the current direction of Tekken, RUSH has become a bright spot where 3D fighting game fans can rally behind.
For Fighting Game Freaks and Nerds
Alcratz goes into a lot of technical details in his video, but the gist of it is that he wants a fighting game that responds well, both online and offline, and allows players the chance to adapt and strategize to what each other are doing. Netcode is a top priority for him and is something that he’s constantly tweaking and improving. Movement is also another fundamental feature and is where RUSH really shines.
It’s worth mentioning that Alcratz is making a fighting game for fighting game enthusiasts. He wants a 3D fighter where people can spend hours studying and optimizing their own gameplay. That’s not to say he’s against including the modern era’s flourishes but, as he admits in his video, he wants a game for “fighting game freaks and nerds.”
RUSH is free and available for download on Alcratz’s itch.io page. He’s always open to feedback and hopes to really get his project off the ground now that the word’s out. We’re certainly looking forward to see how RUSH will shape up in the future.
Banner and article images from Alcratz.
Frequently Asked Questions
RUSH is an indie 3D fighting game prototype developed by a solo creator named Alcratz. It is designed as a direct love letter to classic Tekken games, prioritizing strategic 3D movement, defensive play, and tight mechanical execution over modern visual spectacle.
Built using the Unity engine, RUSH was programmed from the ground up to support highly robust, custom rollback netcode. This ensures incredibly stable online 1v1 play, addressing a major technical frustration players have with older delay-based 3D fighters.
RUSH directly mirrors the “small Tekken” movement system. It features faster, more effective sidestepping, traditional command structures, and focuses heavily on spacing, whiff punishing, and fundamental spacing strategies over aggressive cinematic gimmicks.
The early prototype of RUSH is completely free to download on Alcratz’s official itch.io page. The build is currently available for Windows and Linux PC platforms, and supports both local play and online matchmaking.
Developer Alcratz is raising funds to back a full year of development through a dedicated Kickstarter campaign. Fans can also support the project’s continuous evolution through Patreon and Ko-fi donations.
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