Brawlhalla Review: Worth Playing?

Brawlhalla

Best if you want a fast, free platform fighter that runs on anything, rewards skill over spending, and keeps queues instant across PC and consoles with rollback netcode and crossplay.

Released

April 30, 2014

Genre

INDIE

User Rating

3.2★

Why We Recommend This Game

Brawlhalla is built for quick, repeatable sessions that feel accessible in the first hour but reveal competitive depth after dozens. Each match drops you onto a small stage where you knock opponents off with simple two-button attacks, dodge rolls, and weapon pickups. The hook is that every legend uses the same core moves—no complex quarter-circle inputs—so you can swap characters freely and focus on spacing, timing, and reading your opponent instead of memorizing combos. That simplicity lets you queue into ranked or casual matches within seconds, play a few rounds, and leave satisfied. The learning curve is gentle but meaningful. Training modes break down movement tech, dodge cancels, and weapon strings frame-by-frame, and the game pairs you with similar-skill players quickly enough that you won't feel stuck in either stomps or stalemates. Weekly legend rotations give you six free picks alongside any you've unlocked, so the roster stays fresh without forcing purchases. Cosmetics are the only paid element, which keeps the competitive field level and lets you grind gold to permanently unlock favorites at your own pace. Session structure is flexible: 1v1 ranked rounds last three to six minutes, while 2v2 or chaotic 8-player free-for-alls stretch to ten or fifteen. Couch co-op and Remote Play Together make it ideal for local parties, and crossplay means your Steam friends can brawl with console players without splitting lobbies. The presentation is clean and readable—flat 2D art, bold outlines, and snappy animations—which helps on low-end hardware and keeps the action legible even during multi-player chaos. Depth comes from mastering weapon kits, off-stage edge-guarding, and movement options like dash-dancing and fast-falling. Competitive players can climb ranked ladders and enter community tournaments, while casual groups can rotate through silly modes and custom lobbies. The trade-off is that the art style and crossover skins can feel busy or generic compared to premium fighters, and grinding to unlock all legends takes time if you skip the All Legends Pack. But for a free, performant brawler that respects your time and skill, Brawlhalla delivers exactly what it promises.