During Wednesday’s Nintendo Direct, what many presumed to be a new LEGO fighting game appeared to be announced. What many may not have realized is that the game, titledLEGO Brawls, has been available for some time as an Apple Arcade exclusive. Originally released in 2019,LEGO Brawlsis aSuper Smash Bros.-inspired multiplayer fighting game with robust character customization elements. The new announcement forLEGO Brawlsis that it’s coming to PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch in 2022.
At its heart,LEGO Brawlsis aSuper Smash Bros.style offighting game. That means that it’s played on a 2D plane and allows for groups of players to all play together. More specifically,LEGO Brawlsis built around 4v4 team battles. Also, rather than defeating opponents by knocking them off the screen or depleting their hitpoints,LEGO Brawl’s key goal is to control the center of the map. It’s a King of the Hill style ofSuper Smash Bros.The gameplay is still all about beating up other players, though.
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What makesLEGO Brawlsstand apart fromSuper Smash Bros.is its robust character creation system. Rather than individual pre-built characters, each with their own unique abilities,LEGO Brawlslets players build their LEGO character from pieces. To start, players select from 10 types of LEGO themes, includingNinjago, pirates, castle, Monkie Kid, and city. These characters can then be further customized with weapons they can wield in fights.
As noted, the announcement during the Nintendo Direct was thatLEGO Brawlwould be leaving the iOS environment and will be releasing on other platforms. While theNintendo Directonly confirmed Nintendo Switch support, it’s now being reported that PC, PlayStation, and Xbox will also be supported. While it can be assumed thatLEGO Brawlswill be upgraded for these devices, the exact changes and improvements have not been officially confirmed.
Regarding whyLEGO Brawlswas initially released exclusively forApple Arcade, it was described as a “family game” where family members could sit at home and play across iPhones, iPads, and Apple TV. That may not work so well on PC or consoles, but interested players should be aware thatLEGO Brawlswas built with families of all ages and mobile devices in mind.
Super Smash Bros.-likes are an increasingly common genre of fighting game. Really,LEGO Brawlswas an early release in this current wave of similar games. It’s perhaps ironic that one of the earliestSuper Smash Bros.-likes is now arriving on consoles late. Still, the approachability of theLEGOfranchisemay helpLEGO Brawlscarve a niche out in the increasingly crowded genre.
LEGO Brawlsreleases later this year on PC, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox.
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