By Burair Noor
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Finding a good platform fighter is difficult in a genre that’s largely dominated by Super Smash Bros. A lot of studios have tried to copy that formula and failed, resulting in a plethora of subpar games.
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But amidst this, we have gotten some excellent platform fighters, some that have the potential to rival Super Smash itself. And, as a big fan of the genre, here are some that deserve a lot of praise.
10 Gun Mayhem 2 More Mayhem
Shoot Em Off
Gun Mayhem 2 More Mayhem is a small browser game that proves you don’t need big budgets to make a solid platform fighter.
It has a unique approach to how combat works. Forget fists, you're both given guns to shoot it out. Every shot knocks you back, and the more damaged you are, the further you are knocked back.
At the start, both of you will have a pistol of your choice. There will be supply drops during the game that will upgrade your weapons. Of course, you will need to grab them before your opponent, or you will be in deep trouble.
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There are no complex mechanics like dodges, cancels, specials, or anything of that sort. Just hit the enemy with your bullets while dodging theirs. It's as simple as that. In fact, the game only has controls for movement and shooting.
Butit is a browser game, and you can only play itwith your friends on the same PC. It's not a full-fledged platform fighter that you grind hours on trying to master every mechanic. It's a neat little game you can play to kill some time.
9 Fraymakers
The Ultimate Indie All-Star Brawl
Fraymakers is another attempt to improve the Super Smash formula, which is successful to some extent.
The combat and movement mechanics feel fluid, and it's faster in terms of pace. Yet, it’s not very technical in combos and other mechanics, so it’s easy for anyone to pick up.
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The cool part is the sick 2D-pixel art combined with hand-drawn animations, which enhances the game's experience. You are not only enjoying the combat but are also taking in the beautiful art.
However, the characters are a core part of a platform fighter, and, in Fraymaker’s case, there is a lack of quantity.
This isn’t necessarily bad, as the limited characters in the game are designed quite well and are all fun to play around with.
There isn’t a lack of iconic characters either, as the game has collaborated with other indie games, bringing on characters like Orcane, Fancy Pants, and more. But, it would be nice to have a broader roster, rather than just a handful of characters.
But, it’s important to remember that the game is still in early access and far from a finished product. Sure, it has its issues, but there wasn’t a moment where I wasn’t having fun while playing it.
8 Multiversus
Warner Brothers Does Smash
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- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:76/100 Critics Recommend:68%
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS5 , PS4 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- August 15, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Player First Games
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Interactive
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer , Online Co-Op
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Fantasy Violence, Language
Multiversus attempts to build a platform fighter around the Warner Bros universe of characters. Featuring iconic Cartoon Network characters like Tom and Jerry, Fin, and DC's stars like Batman and the Joker. And, considering how big Warner Bros is, we won’t be running short on characters any time soon.
However, even with good characters, the gameplay isn’t all perfect. The movement mechanics feel floaty and slow, and the overall combat system could be better.
But, these nitpicks come from someone who has played a lot of platform fighters. It won't be noticeable for anyone trying out a platform fighter for the first time, and you will have a great time, regardless.
Apart from that, Multiversus is as good as any platform fighter—a perfect game to play with friends. The characters make this a great game in my humble opinion.
7 BrawlOut
Smash, Eat Your Heart Out
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- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:64/100 Critics Recommend:17%
- Platform(s)
- PC , PlayStation 4 , Nintendo Switch , Xbox One
- Released
- April 20, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Angry Mob Games
- Publisher(s)
- Angry Mob Games
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer , Local Multiplayer
- Engine
- Unity
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 2 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
Brawlout has built a cult following ever since its release back in 2017. At first glance, it looks like a run-of-the-mill platform fighter heavily inspired by Super Smash Bros.
But, when you put some time into the game, you understand its uniqueness. For instance, every character in the game has three variants, each with different stats and special moves.
Whether you are a close-quarter brawler or a ranged passive player, you won’t have any issue finding a character that works for your playstyle.
As for the fighting mechanics, it’s quite reminiscent of Super Smash Bros, but a bit faster-paced and more technical. It’s a bit easier to hit combos, but similarly, the dodging mechanics are there to help you escape. In short, the game has a good balance of offensive and defensive mechanics.
If you are looking to scratch the Super Smash Bros itch, and don’t own a Nintendo device, Brawlout is the next best option.
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6 Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
The Ultimate Nickelodeon Battle Royale
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:71/100 Critics Recommend:60%
- Franchise
- Nickelodeon
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS4 , PS5 , Switch , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- November 3, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Ludosity , Fair Play Labs
- Publisher(s)
- GameMill Entertainment
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Engine
- Unity
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ For Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 4 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 11 GB (July 2024)
- Metascore
- 78
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Cross-Platform Play
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl was Nickelodeon's attempt to create a platform fighter around their universe, and the first one failed miserably. But it wasn’t all in vain, as the sequel turned out to be surprisingly good.
The iconic line of characters needs no introduction. You can play with characters from Nickelodeon’s popular cartoons, such as Spongebob, Danny Phantom, and Garfield. The best part about it is that each character feels unique and relates to their cartoon counterparts.
They feature unique voice lines from the original voice actors, specialized meters that power these characters up, and moves that refer to the original shows.
For instance, Aang from The Last Airbender moves around on his iconic air scooter, and Garfield has a Lasagna meter that powers him once it’s filled. These little references trigger a nostalgic feeling and make the game much more fun.
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If you are a Nickelodeon fan looking for a good platformer fighting game, I would highly recommend trying out this game.
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5 Slap City
Chaotic, Clunky Fun
Slap City is what I would call a funky and funny platformer fighter, which will make you laugh more than fight.
It’s a clunky yet well-put-together game that works amazingly. The fight mechanics are quite standard and what you would expect from a Smash clone. But, there is a unique Clutch mechanic.
One of the common use cases is that it allows you to change the direction of some attacks instantly. There is more depth to the clutch mechanic, which I would advise you to explore, but that's the most common scenario you can use it for.
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As for the characters, it's a decent roster. You have a sweet mix of indie game characters like Itte Dew and goofy originals like Ultra Fishbunjin 3000. But, there are only a handful of characters, which can get boring after some time.
Apart from this, there isn’t much to say about Slap City, except for the fact that it slaps (pun intended) when it comes to having fun, and in my opinion, that’s just what a platform fighter is all about.
4 Rivals Of Aether 2
Potential Smash-Killer
8/ 10
Rivals of Aether 2 has the potential to be the "smash killer" everyone has been talking about for ages. I know that’s a big statement, but let me explain why.
The game’s best part is the fighting and movement mechanics. Sure, the game is not easy for beginners to pick up. It’s very technical when it comes to moves. But, when you finally understand these mechanics, the game becomes an endless loop of fun. The skill ceiling is also pretty high, so there is a lot of room for improvement.
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The characters are quite good, too. Each character supports a different kind of playstyle and feels unique. For instance, if you like a faster, aggressive playstyle, go for Ranno, but if you prefer a tanky, hard-hitting character, Lexodont might be the best pick.
Plus, the developers are very close-knit with the community. This was already proven in the days of Rivals 1, where the developers often hosted tournaments and events for a community that wasn’t even that big.
This just goes to show that the team has a lot of passion for the game, and that's always a positive.
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3 Brawlhalla
An Inventive Approach to Platform Fighters
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:68/100 Critics Recommend:40%
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS4 , Switch , Xbox One , Android , iOS
- Released
- October 17, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Blue Mammoth Games
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Engine
- adobe air
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- Mobile, PC,PS4, Switch & Xbox One
- Cross-Platform Play
- Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch & Xbox One
Brawlhalla is a unique title in the platform-fighter space. Where every game is trying to build upon the idea of Super Smash, Brawlhalla takes a completely different approach and presents a very mechanical, combo-focused, and fast-paced fighting experience.
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It features a weapon system where every character has two weapons. The basic attacks are the same for each weapon, no matter which character has it. For instance, Orion and Hattori both have spears, so the light attacks are the same. But, where the characters differ are the heavy attacks.
So, any combos you learn on the spear can be performed with any speared character, and then you can add their heavies to make it even better.
Taking the time out to learn combos is worth it in this game, and because of the weapon system, you can easily adapt to new characters too. For instance, if you get good at the sword, any character with the sword will be easy to pick up for you.
Not to mention the plethora of characters in the game. You can find characters from a lot of shows, games, movies, and anime. Some notable crossovers are Adventure Time, Shovel Knight, WWE, Mega Man, TMNT, and the list just goes on.
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It’s the ingenious innovation in combat that makes Brawlhalla one of my favorite platformer fighters out there. Plus, the game is available on almost every device; phones, consoles, PCs, you name it.
2 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The True Platformer Fighter
9/ 10
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:92/100 Critics Recommend:97%
- Franchise
- Super Smash Bros.
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Released
- December 7, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer , Local Multiplayer
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Suggestive Themes
- X|S Optimized
- no
- Cross-Platform Play
- n/a
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- no
- Cross Save
- no
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There is a good chance you already know about Super Smash Bros, the game that basically invented the platform fighting genre. Super Smash Bros Ultimate is the latest addition to that franchise.
It’s the best entry point to the franchise if you have never played a Smash game before. It's much more polished than the older games and more forgiving in terms of the learning curve.
It features 74 iconic characters from the Nintendoverse and other games. It’s a classic platform brawling experience we know and love.
Because this is the fifth entry into the franchise, you can easily see that the gameplay aspect has almost been perfected. The fighting mechanics are quite consistent with the older titles, and the gameplay feels familiar to anyone who has played a smash game before.
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Plus, this time around, there is much more content apart from just platform fighting, like the 20-hour-long adventure mode, for example.
In short, if you own a Nintendo Switch, it’s the best modern platformer fighter there is, hands down.
1 Super Smash Bros. Melee
The Hardcore Version Of Super Smash
Super Smash Bros Melee is what I would call Super Smash for tryhards. Don’t get me wrong, I am one too. But, what I mean is that the game is more focused on being a competitive and tournament-friendly title.
To put it simply, it’s very technical and mechanical. The reason is that it’s an old game, and many of the pro players have developed movement techniques that involve very fast and precise inputs. Even now, you can see players experimenting and trying to find moves that could give them a competitive advantage.
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As such, Melee has become a very competitive game. That might be off-putting to new players, but at its core, Melee is a hard, clunky, and fast platform fighter.
For anyone new, I would recommend sticking to Ultimate if you want a more casual and fun experience, but if you want the true competitive experience of a platform fighter, then Melee is by far the best. But, remember Melee is a lot of things but easy.
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- Video Games
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