Game: Blood & Canvas: Bareknuckle Boxing
Developer: Thiefcatcher Games
Publisher: Thiefcatcher Games
Release: Out now (November 4, 2026)
Price: $24.99
Platforms: PC (Steam) · PS5 and Xbox Series X|S planned for 2027
Genre: Single-player bareknuckle boxing career
Content note: the developers say the game contains realistic depictions of bareknuckle boxing combat, including blood, cuts, bruising and knockouts, plus mature themes involving performance-enhancing drugs and underground fighting.
🥊 Blood & Canvas: Bareknuckle Boxing is out now on Steam for $24.99. The single-player boxing career from Thiefcatcher Games, a six-person team of AAA veterans, launched on November 4. It features official BKFC content, and PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions are planned for 2027. Heads up: a controller is required, and there’s a free demo on Steam.
🩸 Welcome to Violence
Step into the role of an up-and-coming bareknuckle fighter in the underground fighting scene of the late 1990s, and climb from illegal underground bouts to the biggest stage in the sport. Every victory earns money to improve your abilities, upgrade your gym and prepare for tougher opponents.
But every cut and bruise adds to the cumulative damage that will eventually end your career. Someone will get their face broken. Don’t let it be you.
Every cut and concussion follows you to the next fight.
It’s brutal, it’s tactical, and nothing heals between fights. Blood & Canvas: Bareknuckle Boxing calls itself the first game built entirely around bareknuckle boxing, and it’s out now on Steam. Developed by Thiefcatcher Games, an independent studio founded in 2025 by six AAA industry veterans, it’s a single-player career mode where damage is permanent. Cuts and concussions follow your fighter from bout to bout, and if your body finally breaks down, your career is over for good.
From the Warehouse to the Ballroom
💀 Career Permadeath
Facial lacerations and concussive trauma persist across every bout. When your fighter breaks down, it’s over. No recovery, no rematch.
🪜 The Fight Ladder
Battle through three underground circuits, then earn a promotion into the 20-fighter Bareknuckle Violence Organization (BKVO) rankings.
👊 Pure Striking
Fast, tactical combat with dedicated hit locations. Head strikes drain health, and body shots crush stamina.
🏋️ Gym & Fighter
Spend fight purses on Strength, Dexterity and Vitality, and watch your gym grow from a grimy backroom into a training compound.
🏚️ Six Hand-Crafted Venues
The three underground circuits include an illegal industrial warehouse, a gritty tavern basement and an infamous 3 AM diner parking lot brawl. As you climb, the venues scale up from desperate converted strip clubs to the historic Pale Horizon arena and a grand 1930s European-style ballroom. Your fighter changes too, from an unmarked rookie into a scarred, battle-hardened veteran.
🏆 BKFC in Your Corner
Just before launch, Thiefcatcher announced that the game features content from the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). You’ll see BKFC banners in your gym and can watch select real-world BKFC matches on its TV. A future major update is planned to add playable BKFC fighters and BKFC’s ring.
Blood & Canvas at a Glance
Genre
Single-player bareknuckle boxing career · permadeath
Setting
Late-1990s underground fighting scene
Price
$24.99 · free demo on Steam
Platforms
PC via Steam (out now) · PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (2027)
Controls
Controller required (keyboard and mouse not supported)
Features
24 achievements · Steam Cloud · 8 languages · 5 accessibility features
Steam reviews
Mixed (13 reviews) at the time of writing
AI disclosure
Generative AI assisted with some decorative UI elements and background graphics. Gameplay, design and core content were made by the team.
Minimum PC
Windows 10 64-bit · Core i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 2600 · GTX 1060 6 GB or RX 580 8 GB · 15 GB storage
📅 Out Now on Steam · PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2027
Blood & Canvas: Bareknuckle Boxing is available now on Steam for $24.99. Thiefcatcher says it makes complete games at launch, free from aggressive post-launch monetization. Grab a controller and try the demo first.
Hi there! I’m Marie, also known as CtrlQueen. I’m passionate about keeping up with the latest in gaming news and sharing my insights. RPGs steal my heart with their rich narratives and immersive worlds, but I also love unwinding with fun, casual games. Whether you’re here for deep dives into game mechanics or just to chat about your favorite casual game, you’ve found the right place! Let’s game and explore together.
