Critics generally saw Brawlhalla as an accessible, capable platform fighter, but the small review samples point to different platform-specific drawbacks: Switch reviews questioned its originality, while iOS reviews criticized touch controls. These scores are from 2018–2020, so they describe those releases at the time—not a current, all-platform critic consensus.
What did critics think of Brawlhalla?
The available reviews are mostly positive about the basic appeal of Brawlhalla as a platform fighter, while questioning whether it stands apart from its peers. Nintendo Life praised its modes, cast, and art, but called it somewhat uninspired. Switch Player likewise treated it as a capable free alternative to Super Smash Bros. while saying it lacked that series’ distinctive spark.
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The iOS reviews were more positive on the game itself, but two of the three excerpts flagged touch controls as a meaningful weakness. That criticism concerns mobile play and should not be generalized to console or PC controls.
Critic review scores by platform
Metacritic’s platform-specific listings show two Nintendo Switch reviews and three iOS reviews. They are individual outlet scores, not a representative poll.
#1 Best Overall
| Platform | Outlet and review date | Score | What the review signal suggests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Life, November 22, 2018 | 70/100 | Praised the modes, diverse cast, and art style, while finding the game somewhat uninspired. |
| Nintendo Switch | Switch Player, June 18, 2019 | 60/100 | Recognized it as a free alternative to Super Smash Bros., but said it lacked the same distinctive spark. |
| iOS | Multiplayer.it, August 11, 2020 | 80/100 | Highlighted the game’s established player base and esports scene. |
| iOS | 148Apps, August 11, 2020 | 70/100 | Found touch controls limiting and recommended being willing to use a controller. |
| iOS | Metro GameCentral, September 9, 2020 | 80/100 | Considered mobile touch controls inferior to a proper controller in cross-play. |
These platform samples should not be combined into a single average: they cover different versions, dates, and review sets. The scores are also several years old, so they do not establish what critics think of the game today.
What the Switch reviews praised—and what they questioned
The Nintendo Life excerpt sums up the mixed view: “Though a bit uninspired, Brawlhalla still stands as a solid example of how to do a proper platform fighter, with several game modes, a diverse cast and a beautiful art style making this one easy to recommend.” The quotation is attributed to Nintendo Life because the review record does not identify an individual reviewer.
In other words, the reservations were about distinction and originality rather than whether the game offered the basic ingredients of the genre. Switch Player’s lower score similarly emphasized the gap between a competent free alternative and a game with a more distinctive identity.
Why the iOS reviews focused on controls
The mobile reviews suggest that the game’s appeal depends partly on how it is controlled. 148Apps and Metro GameCentral both singled out touch input as a disadvantage, with the latter comparing it unfavorably with a proper controller in cross-play. Multiplayer.it’s 80/100 review emphasized the existing player base and esports scene instead.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsA compatible controller is an optional alternative if touch controls do not suit you; the reviews do not establish that a controller is required. Their criticism is specifically about the iOS experience, not the game’s other platform versions.
What Brawlhalla offers now
The official Brawlhalla game page describes it as a free 2D platform fighter with more than 50 playable Legends and local or online play for up to eight players. It lists cross-play across PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
For current activity, the official news and patch notes page lists Patch 10.11, “Battle Pass Season 14: Elysium Rising,” dated September 15, 2026. That establishes that updates continued as of that date, but the older critic reviews do not assess those later updates.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Brawlhalla worth playing?
The available critic evidence supports trying it if you want a free, accessible platform fighter with online and local play. The key caveats depend on platform: the Switch reviews found it less distinctive than genre leaders, while the iOS reviews indicate that touch controls may be a poor fit for some players. Since the cited reviews date from 2018–2020, they are useful as historical platform impressions, not a verdict on the current game or its current critic reception.
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