Split-screen on PC

Ruckball

Up to 8 players on one PC, with controllers, keyboard and mouse or several keyboards and mice.

8Verified handler

Handler “RUCKBALL” by birden, version 1

P4+4 more players

What works

With Nucleus Co-op, up to 8 players can play Ruckball together on one PC, each in their own part of the screen, with controllers, keyboard and mouse or several keyboards and mice. The free community handler “RUCKBALL” by birden does the setup and was checked by hub moderators: version 1, updated 21 Oct 2025. Ruckball is a sports and indie game from 2018.

Players8
ControllersSupported
Keyboard and mouseSupported
Several keyboards and miceOne per player
Hub moderatorsVerified

How to play Ruckball split screen on PC

Get Nucleus Co-op
Download Nucleus Co-op, free for Windows 10 and 11, and unzip it into its own folder, for example C:\NucleusCo-op. There is no installer.
Keep it out of Program Files, your user folder and OneDrive.
Download Nucleus Co-op
Install the Ruckball handler
In Nucleus Co-op, search the Hub for Ruckball and install its handler, or download the handler file from this page and drop it on the Nucleus window. Then show Nucleus where Ruckball is installed.
Download the handler file (.nc)
Take a seat
Each player presses a button on their own controller to join and takes a spot on the screen. Pick a layout that fits your players.
Playing with several keyboards and mice? Press End once everything is in place to give each window its own cursor.
Launch and connect
Press Launch: Nucleus opens one copy of Ruckball per player and lays the windows out on your screen. Then link them in game, usually one player hosts a LAN or online session and the others join it. The handler notes say how.

What you need

A Windows 10 or 11 PC
Nucleus Co-op runs on Windows only. System requirements
Ruckball for Windows
Installed on that PC. Nucleus starts every player's window from that one install.
Nucleus Co-op, free
With .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later and the Visual C++ 2015–2022 runtimes (x86 and x64). Download
Something to play with
One controller per player, or one keyboard and mouse per player. Controllers · Keyboards and mice
A PC that can run 8 copies
Each player runs their own copy of Ruckball, so the PC carries several times the usual load. Lower the graphics settings if it struggles. Performance tips
A multiplayer mode
Nucleus links the windows through the game's own LAN or online mode; the handler takes care of it.

Handler notes

IMPORTANT: Start the game once and change some settings before trying split screen.

The game has a problem where commands will linger with gamepad (also happens with the main game), nothing nucleus can do.

Big part of the game has been turned off by the devs, but custom games still work.

About Ruckball

Ruckball is a brutal, fast-paced zero G sports game. In a distant future, giant corporations fight for supremacy through broadcasted tournament followed by millions of people. Players compete across the universe in abandoned places converted into improvised sports fields.

Summary from IGDB