Summary
As one of the most successful platform fighters in recent years,Brawlhallahas found itself among the fighting games with the highest consistent player counts in general. Considered by many players to be an example of a free-to-play live-service title done properly, it has maintained a dedicated fanbase through many content updates delivered over the years by developer Blue Mammoth Games. With no signs of slowing down as more support is set to bolster its already massive roster, the story ofBrawlhallahas become one of a smaller scale game achieving huge results over time.
It’s free-to-play status lowersBrawlhalla’s bar to entry significantly, but this is far from the only factor which has allowed it to thrive. No upfront cost makes it a title worth trying out, but its high volume of dedicated players proves that there is something competitively substantial in terms of core gameplay. There may have been points when fans grew frustrated with the direction of BMG as the studio has grown, but the past couple of years have set a promising precedent forBrawlhalla’s continued relevance as more than just aSuper Smash Bros. clone.
Brawlhalla’s Achievements Came After Humble Beginnings
The Rise of Brawlhalla’s Competitive Scene
Its earliest known versions are hardly recognizable when it comes to combat mechanics, but Blue Mammoth set out to create an experience that separated itself from being a simpleSmashalternative from the beginning.Brawlhalla’s playable Legendsused to be able to use any weapon before the current system of a specific pairing for each character was introduced, andBrawlhalla’s initial player count spike in late 2015 followed. Seasonal updates supported the cultivation of the game’s competitive scene which was then officially supported by BMG, leading to the establishment of the BCX tournament in 2016. As serious players continued to enjoy updates like the implementation of Dashing, a larger community that still persists began to materialize by the next year.
Ubisoft’s Acquistion of Blue Mammoth Games
In 2018, Ubisoft acquired BMG in a move that increased the scale ofBrawlhalla’s funding and content update potential. Rayman would be the first Crossover Legend before Ezio eventually followed, while Shovel Knight was the first IP to appear asBrawlhallaCrossover Skins. New original Legends and weapon types and refinement of the core mechanics followed at a steady rate, and the game’s player count reached an all-time high during the pandemic of 2020.Brawlhalla’s Battle Pass would make it into the game during this period, serving as both a natural fit for a free-to-play title and the start of the game’s lowest point which it has since recovered from.
How Major Content Updates Became Brawlhalla’s Lifeblood
Balancing Crossover Skins and Balance Tweaks
Incidents like weapon types such as the Greatsword being imbalanced for a time and the loss of rarity Metadev skins experienced when they were given out to Twitch stream viewers all culminated in a period when players were outspoken about their frustration withBrawlhalla. The general sentiment was that BMG was more concerned with crossover events than balancing the game and delivering new core content, and several major figures in the community departed forMultiVersusin 2022. While it occupied a similar niche and siphoned some players,MultiVersus' long hiatuscame after it ultimately lost the interest of many who ended up returning for good as BMG seemed to begin implementing player feedback.
Brawlhalla Stands Alone Among Other Fighters
They’ve had their share of criticisms, butBrawlhalla’s collaborations have placed it in a role that onlyFortnite’s crossoverscan compare to. There’s unlikely to ever be another game where disparate characters likeThe Walking Dead’s Michonne andAvatar’s Aang can face each other in a fair fight, and there are only more updates like these ahead. With the attention Blue Mammoth has paid to its community’s wishes and balancing the game over the past couple of years on top of this, it’s clear thatBrawlhallahas the potential to exist as a platform fighter like no other for years to come.
Brawlhalla
WHERE TO PLAY
An epic platform fighter for up to 8 players online or locally. Try casual free-for-alls, ranked matches, or invite friends to a private room. And it’s free! Play cross-platform with millions of players on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android and Steam! Frequent updates. Over fifty Legends.The Legend Rotation of nine free to play characters changes every week, and you can earn gold to unlock more Legends by playing any online game mode.
