Brawlhalla

Fast paced platform brawling with surprising competitive depth

Brawlhalla brings the energy of classic platform fighters to a free-to-play experience that feels both welcoming to newcomers and rewarding for veterans. Its core idea is simple: knock your opponents off the stage using fast movement, precise attacks, and clever use of items and weapons. In practice, though, the combat system is deeper than it looks.

Each Legend comes with unique weapons and signature moves, and learning their quirks is a big part of the fun. With more than 50 Legends and a constantly growing roster of crossover characters from popular franchises, there is always something new to experiment with. The weekly Legend rotation and in-game currency system let you try many fighters before committing to unlocking your favorites.

The game truly shines in its online modes. Ranked 1v1 and 2v2 offer a competitive ladder where matchmaking usually does a solid job of pairing you with similarly skilled players. Casual free-for-alls and the rotating “Brawl of the Week” provide a more relaxed way to enjoy the chaos, while custom rooms with cross-play support make it easy to gather friends from different platforms for 8-player mayhem.

Visually, Brawlhalla opts for a colorful, cartoony art style that keeps the action readable most of the time, though matches with many players can feel a bit hectic on-screen. Controls are responsive, but mastering precise aerial movement and combos can be challenging, especially if you are used to traditional fighting games. Progression can also feel a bit grindy if you want to unlock many Legends quickly.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Brawlhalla stands out as a polished, content-rich fighting experience that balances accessibility with real competitive depth, backed by frequent updates and a huge player base.