Punch Upon a Time FAQ
The questions every new pilot asks in their first session.
This FAQ collects the questions every new pilot asks during their first hour in Punch Upon a Time. If you do not find your answer here, leave a comment on the Patch Notes page or jump into the studio’s Discord for live help. This page is updated every patch.
General questions
What is Punch Upon a Time? Punch Upon a Time is a team-based party fighter developed by Supersaurus. Players assemble a squad of three fairy-tale legends, then compete across randomised mini-games inside Squad Saga until one squad is left standing.
Is Punch Upon a Time free to play? The base game is a paid Steam title. The studio ships a free demo (Steam app 5104610) periodically during Steam Next Fest and other public playtests.
When is the full launch? The studio has not announced a final release date. Sign up for updates by wishlisting the game on Steam.
Gameplay questions
How many players are in a match? Squad Saga matches support 12 players online: four squads of three. Custom lobbies can host anywhere from 2 to 12 players.
What is the sky galleon? The sky galleon is your squad’s floating home base. It serves as the spawn point between rounds and tracks your squad’s HP. When a galleon reaches zero, the squad is eliminated from the Saga.
What is a Pocket Item? A Pocket Item is a one-use item you carry into the next round. There are 40+ items in the game, ranging from the Freeze Wand to the Big Top Hat.
Technical questions
Does the game support crossplay? Cross-platform play between Steam and Steam Deck is fully supported. Console versions are not yet announced.
Does it use rollback netcode? Yes. The Raptor engine uses GGPO-style rollback netcode, which keeps latency invisible during gameplay as long as your ping stays under 120 ms.
Where are my save files?
Saves live in %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Raptor\Saved\SaveGames\ on Windows and are also uploaded to Steam Cloud with a 10 MB quota.
Does it support controllers? DualSense, DualShock, Xbox One/Series, and GameCube controllers are supported natively. Steam Input mapping is also available.
Account & refund questions
Can I refund the demo? Yes. Steam refunds the demo within the standard 2-hour playtime window as long as you have less than 14 days of ownership.
Do demo unlocks carry over? The studio has confirmed that Pocket Item unlocks and tutorial progression will carry over from the demo to the full launch.
Can I play offline? Offline solo play against bots is supported. Online Squad Saga matchmaking requires a stable broadband connection.
Progression questions
Is there a battle pass? The launch version does not include a battle pass. Future seasons will introduce cosmetic tracks that do not affect gameplay.
Are there microtransactions? No microtransactions at launch. All cosmetics are unlockable through play.
Will the roster grow post-launch? The studio has confirmed post-launch seasons with new characters, modes, and Pocket Items. The first season launches approximately three months after the full release.
Voice, accessibility, and regions
Is voice chat supported? Yes. Squad Saga lobbies support proximity voice chat through the in-game Raptor voice layer, with push-to-talk defaults. You can disable voice per lobby from the social menu.
What accessibility options ship at launch? Colour-blind palettes for HP and timer rings, full controller remapping, remappable dodge and special buttons, and a high-contrast HUD preset. Subtitles are enabled by default for every announcer line.
Which regions are supported at launch? The studio operates North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific matchmaking shards. Players are matched against the lowest-latency shard by default, with a manual region override in the settings menu.
Pocket Items and loadouts
Can I carry more than one Pocket Item per round? You select two Pocket Items between rounds. Using one drops the other back into your squad’s shared stash, where a teammate can pick it up on their next spawn. This is why items like the Freeze Wand and Big Top Hat are core to most squad strategies.
Are Pocket Items shared across the squad or per pilot? Per pilot. Each of the three pilots in your squad picks two items, giving your squad six active items per round. Items like Medkit and Anchor Drop are designed to be passed to low-HP teammates through the shared stash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
How long does a Squad Saga match take?
Most matches run 8–12 minutes across 5–7 rounds. Custom lobbies can shorten or extend the round count.
What is the difference between the demo and the full game?
The demo ships every launch character and most modes, but it does not include the full single-player content, all cosmetic unlocks, or the upcoming seasonal updates.
Is there a competitive ranked mode?
A ranked ladder is on the post-launch roadmap. The current Squad Saga matchmaking is casual, with optional skill-based pairing.
Can three friends queue together even if one is missing?
Yes — Squad Saga supports partial squads. If you queue as two, the matchmaker fills the third slot with another solo or duo pilot before locking the lobby.
What happens if my squad disconnects mid-round?
The Raptor engine keeps the round running and substitutes an AI-controlled pilot for the disconnect, so your sky galleon HP is preserved. Reconnecting before the round ends restores your input control.