301 MB
Sonic and Mario in the same game, at the same time, running on GameMaker 8 out of sheer stubbornness.
Last updated
Boll Deluxe is a free arcade game released under Free fan game — unlicensed use of Nintendo and Sega characters. It runs on Windows, needs about 301 MB of disk space, and requires no account, payment or trial. On a computer, the fastest route is the PlayBound Launcher. On a phone or tablet, use the official store or site instead.
Choose how to install
Install with PlayBound or download from the official source without the launcher.
Windows
Press Install. PlayBound downloads Boll Deluxe 2.1.5.2 from the official itch.io page (268 MB, about 301 MB installed) and extracts it. There is no installer and nothing else to set up.
Windows
The game needs Microsoft's DirectX 9 helper file d3dx9_43.dll, which Windows does not include. If your PC lacks it, PlayBound fetches Microsoft's official DirectX package (about 100 MB) and places that one file beside the game, with no admin prompt.
Windows
Press Play. PlayBound launches Boll Deluxe.exe.
Recommended first-time setup and configuration steps when launching Boll Deluxe.
Install the DirectX 9 runtime before the first launch; versions 2.1.5 and later glitch or crash without it, even on Windows 10 and 11.
Pick a character at the select screen and try the same level as Sonic and as Mario to feel how differently they handle.
Plug in a gamepad before starting and map it in the controls menu if analogue sticks drift.
How to join and navigate multiplayer lobbies and servers in Boll Deluxe.
Battle mode supports up to four players on one machine; plug in gamepads and choose Battle from the menu.
There is no netplay. For friends in another house, start a PlayBound screen-sharing party and give them a controller seat.
Minimum
Windows 7 or later · any dual-core CPU · 1 GB RAM · DirectX 9 runtime installed · any GPU · 350 MB storage
Recommended
Windows 10/11 · any modern CPU · 2 GB RAM · DirectX 9 runtime installed · integrated graphics are plenty · 350 MB storage · gamepad optional
Yes. Boll Team distributes it free on itch.io with no payment, account or donation required.
No. It is an unlicensed fan game that uses Mario and Sonic characters without permission from either rights holder. It is offered free by its authors, but it has no official blessing and could be taken down.
Usually a missing DirectX 9 file. Versions 2.1.5 and later need d3dx9_43.dll, which Windows 10 and 11 do not include. PlayBound adds it for you, so if the game still misbehaves, the developers' itch.io page is the place to report it; some players there report trouble on low-end PCs.
No. The battle mode supports up to four players, but all of them have to be at the same machine. There is no netplay.
There is no native build for either. It is a GameMaker 8 Windows game, so Wine or Proton is the only route and PlayBound does not currently test it.
Yes. The game ships a level editor and the character and skin files are moddable. There is an active mod community, and the source is published for contributors.
Yes. Boll Deluxe supports up to 4 players. Its multiplayer runs through the game's own online service or menus, so PlayBound Connect parties and PlayBound dedicated servers are not available for it. It also supports local split-screen or couch co-op. There is no subscription and no paid multiplayer tier.
Yes. The latest release is 2.1.5.2 (August 2025), and the team posted Boll 2 devlogs through May 2026. A sequel in a newer engine is being developed, and the source is published on GitHub.
The latest zip is 268 MB and takes about 301 MB once installed. Older versions are smaller, but 2.1.5.2 is the one to play.