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Choose Poly Fighter if you want a solo fighting game in which every run can produce a different moveset. Choose Rivals of Aether if ranked online competition, platform-fighter movement, team battles, and detailed training tools are your priorities. Choose Them’s Fightin’ Herds if you want a more conventional 2D fighter with four-button combat, combo practice, matchmaking, and a distinctive animal cast.
These games are not interchangeable versions of the same formula. Poly Fighter is a single-player roguelike built around borrowing moves from opponents. Rivals of Aether is a competitive platform fighter with several multiplayer formats and unusually explicit practice features. Them’s Fightin’ Herds is a traditional 2D fighter whose accessible controls lead into deeper combo and character-system mastery.
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What Poly Fighter is in its current Early Access version
Poly Fighter is a single-player roguelike fighting game from Montreal-based HeartLoop Games. Steam lists its Early Access release as October 13, 2026. The current version lists 16 playable characters and centers on arcade-style 1v1 runs rather than online matchmaking.
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Its defining system is persistent experimentation within a run. You begin with a basic moveset, defeat an opponent, learn one of that opponent’s unique moves, and then decide how to combine or upgrade the moves you have collected. Because opponents and available moves change from run to run, your fighter is not locked to one permanent toolkit during an arcade attempt.
#1 Best Overall
- Small Form Factor Fight Stick featuring an 8-button layout and 8ft. cable
- Great for both Arcade and Fighting Games
- Compact, lightweight and portable design
- Features Classic 8-Button Layout and HORI’s Original Joystick with V-cut Housing
- Officially Licensed by Sony
The game offers both simple inputs and motion inputs, giving newcomers a less demanding way to perform attacks while preserving a more traditional control option for players who prefer it. Its presentation is described as retro 2.5D, and progression is organized through three leagues plus ascension runs.
HeartLoop’s official Steam description states the intended experience plainly: “No ranked ladders. No online stress. Just pure, expressive 1v1 combat.” That is not a missing feature to overlook; it is the design brief. Poly Fighter is aimed at players who want a fighting-game decision loop without the pressure of a live competitive ladder.
How a Poly Fighter run works
1. Start with a limited moveset
Each run begins with a basic set of attacks. You are not immediately assembling an optimized character from a full library. The opening limitation gives early fights a clear baseline and makes every later addition meaningful.
2. Defeat opponents to learn their techniques
When you beat an opponent, you can learn one of that rival’s unique moves. The reward is therefore more than a win on a results screen: it changes what your character can do in subsequent encounters.
3. Swap and upgrade moves
New techniques can be combined with the rest of your kit, swapped into your active setup, and upgraded. The important choice is not simply which move is strongest in isolation, but which collection of attacks gives you a coherent answer to the next group of rivals.
4. Adapt as the rivals change
Different runs present changing opponents and therefore different opportunities to build a moveset. You may need to work with the options you are offered rather than reproduce one fixed character guide every time.
5. Push through leagues and ascension
The current Early Access structure includes three leagues and ascension runs. Those layers give a successful run somewhere to go after the initial arcade progression, while retaining the game’s emphasis on repeated attempts and build variation.
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Is Poly Fighter single-player, and is it like Street Fighter?
Yes, Poly Fighter is single-player in its current design. HeartLoop technical director Yan described it as a roguelike, single-player fighting game that can be compared loosely with Street Fighter while stressing that the immediate focus is solo play. The comparison helps explain the 1v1 combat format, but it should not lead you to expect a traditional arcade ladder with fixed character movesets or online ranked matches.
Poly Fighter does not list ranked ladders or online multiplayer in its current Early Access description. Its replay value comes from trying different runs, learning opponents’ moves, and refining your build rather than from climbing a public rating or matching against human opponents.
Rank #2
- Compatible with PlayStation5, PlayStation4, and PC
- Officially licensed Sony peripheral
- Authentic Qanba buttons and lever
- Full control panel, touch pad, Qanba 30-mm B30 buttons, and Qanba OV7 OMRON switch joystick
- 3.5-mm microphone input with mute button control
Poly Fighter, Rivals of Aether, and Them’s Fightin’ Herds at a glance
| Game | Best for | Structure and modes | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poly Fighter | Solo players who enjoy roguelike experimentation | Single-player 1v1 arcade runs; learn and combine moves from opponents; three leagues and ascension runs; changing rivals and builds | No ranked or online multiplayer; Early Access means content and balance can change |
| Rivals of Aether | Competitive platform-fighter players | 1v1, 2v2, free-for-all, online versus, ranked mode, story, Abyss, tutorial, and practice with frame data and hitboxes | Platform-fighter movement and competitive structure may not suit someone seeking traditional rounds or solo progression |
| Them’s Fightin’ Herds | Players who want a traditional 2D fighter with a strong visual theme | Four-button combat, combos, character abilities, online matchmaking, and Pixel Lobby | Its conventional fighter structure and animal-cartoon presentation will not appeal to every player |
When Poly Fighter is the better choice
You primarily play alone
Poly Fighter is the clearest fit if you want a fighting game that does not require a second person, a matchmaking population, or a willingness to enter ranked play. Its core progression is designed around solo attempts, and its official messaging treats the absence of online competition as part of the appeal.
You want your character to change during a run
Traditional fighters ask you to master a stable character. Poly Fighter asks you to make build decisions while you play. Learning an opponent’s move and deciding whether it belongs in your current setup creates a different kind of ownership: you are shaping a temporary fighter rather than selecting one finished toolkit before the match starts.
You like replayability based on uncertainty
Changing rivals and changing move opportunities mean that a successful strategy from one run may not be available in the next. Players who enjoy adapting to imperfect options, testing combinations, and making the best of a changing build will find more variety here than in a fixed arcade sequence.
You are learning fighting-game controls
The choice between simple and motion inputs lowers the barrier to trying the game. You can begin with the easier input style, learn spacing and timing, and move toward motion inputs if you decide you want that additional execution challenge.
When Rivals of Aether is the better choice
You want online and ranked competition
Rivals of Aether is the strongest option of these three for a player whose main goal is competitive multiplayer. Its listed formats include online versus and ranked mode, so the game supports both direct matches and a structured rating-driven environment.
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You want platform-fighter movement
Rivals of Aether belongs to the platform-fighter tradition rather than the round-based 2D format associated with conventional arcade fighters. Movement, positioning, and stage interaction are therefore central to its identity. If you are specifically looking for platform movement, choosing Poly Fighter or Them’s Fightin’ Herds instead would mean choosing a different combat language.
You need team and party formats
Its mode list includes 2v2 and free-for-all in addition to 1v1. That makes it the most suitable choice here for groups that want something beyond one-on-one matches.
You value explicit training information
Rivals of Aether lists a tutorial and practice tools that expose frame data and hitboxes. Those features give learners concrete information about timing, attack ranges, and collision behavior instead of requiring every interaction to be inferred through repeated matches.
You want more than versus play
Alongside competitive formats, Rivals of Aether lists story and Abyss modes. Its official press material presents it as an indie fighter in which civilizations wield Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. The game’s release date is listed as March 28, 2017, making it the established, competition-focused choice in this comparison rather than the newly released Early Access experiment.
When Them’s Fightin’ Herds is the better choice
You prefer a conventional 2D fighter
Them’s Fightin’ Herds uses a familiar fighting-game structure built around attack buttons, combos, character abilities, and online matchmaking. If you want to learn one character’s toolkit and improve through repeated practice, its fixed-character approach may be more satisfying than Poly Fighter’s run-specific builds.
Rank #3
- Multi-Platform PC Gaming Controller: Working with Switch, PC, Android, and iOS devices via Bluetooth, wired, and wireless dongle connections.
- Hall Effect Joysticks: Delivering enhanced recentering performance for smoother control and superior anti-drift capability. Plus, with anti-friction rings.
- 2-Way Trigger Lock: With trigger stops, gamers can toggle between short and long pull positions. Additionally, gamers can activate hair trigger mode by pressing M+LT/RT (triggers must be in the long pull position).
- 1000Hz Polling Rate: This ensures that your inputs are registered almost instantaneously, minimizing lag and maximizing your performance during competitive play.
- Mechanical Circular D-pad: Designed for quick reactions and accuracy in every direction, this D-pad elevates your gaming experience with superior responsiveness.
You want four-button combat with a character-specific resource
Its system uses three attack buttons plus a Magic button unique to each character. That gives every fighter a shared foundation while preserving room for character-specific mechanics. Players who enjoy learning how a roster changes the meaning of a common control layout should find a clear path from basic attacks to deeper optimization.
You want online matches without a platform-fighter ruleset
Them’s Fightin’ Herds supports online matchmaking while remaining a 2D fighter rather than a platform fighter. That combination suits players who want human opponents but do not want stage-based platform movement to define neutral game and recovery.
You care strongly about visual identity
The cast consists of distinctive animal characters designed by Lauren Faust, and the game’s visual theme is a major part of its identity. The presentation is intentionally stylized; whether that is a selling point depends on how much the animal-cartoon aesthetic appeals to you.
The five decisions that separate these games
Solo progression versus online competition
Start with the question of where your matches should come from. Poly Fighter supplies a solo progression loop. Rivals of Aether and Them’s Fightin’ Herds supply online options, with Rivals adding ranked play and multiple group formats. If you need a public competitive ladder, Poly Fighter is not the right purchase in its current form.
Changing builds versus fixed-character mastery
Poly Fighter changes your available moves during a run. Rivals of Aether and Them’s Fightin’ Herds are better suited to practicing a stable character and learning matchup knowledge over time. Choose the former if improvisation is the fun; choose the latter if repetition and refinement are the fun.
Platform movement versus traditional rounds
Rivals of Aether is the platform-fighter option. Poly Fighter and Them’s Fightin’ Herds are the closer choices if you expect a traditional 2D presentation and round-based fighting rhythm. This distinction affects movement, spacing, defensive habits, and what you need to practice, so it should be decided before comparing rosters or art styles.
Onboarding and training
Poly Fighter offers simple or motion inputs, which directly addresses execution comfort. Rivals of Aether emphasizes formal learning tools, including tutorial practice with frame data and hitboxes. Them’s Fightin’ Herds presents a conventional button layout that should feel familiar to players coming from standard 2D fighters, but the supplied information does not establish an equivalent frame-data feature set.
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Poly Fighter’s appeal is tied to the way opponents supply moves and to its retro 2.5D presentation. Rivals of Aether uses elemental civilizations as part of its world and competitive identity. Them’s Fightin’ Herds commits to an animal cast designed by Lauren Faust. Your preferred aesthetic may be decisive when the structural differences do not settle the choice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Beginner recommendations by situation
“I have never played a fighting game.”
Start with Poly Fighter if the idea of simple inputs and solo practice sounds less intimidating than immediate online competition. Start with Them’s Fightin’ Herds if you want to learn a conventional 2D control scheme and eventually test it through matchmaking. Choose Rivals of Aether if platform movement is specifically what attracts you and you want the tutorial and practice tools to guide your learning.
“I want to play for ten minutes at a time.”
Poly Fighter’s run-based structure is the natural fit for short, self-contained attempts, although the exact length of an individual run is not stated. The other two games can support brief sessions, but their strongest identities are tied to practicing or competing in a broader multiplayer ecosystem.
Rank #4
- Designed for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC, this officially licensed Fight Stick provides seamless compatibility with your favorite gaming systems. Enjoy flawless PlayStation navigation with the integrated touchpad and a detachable Type-C USB cable for easy portability and durability.
- The Fight Stick is equipped with Cherry Silver switches for fast and precise inputs. 18 fully programmable buttons allow for custom key travel sensitivity and remapping, giving you ultimate control and responsiveness during intense gaming sessions.
- Featuring a vibrant RGB lighting system, this Fight Stick creates an immersive gaming atmosphere. Customizable lighting on the buttons and side panels adds a stylish touch to your setup.
- Switch between 3 saved custom button layouts with just one press. This Fight Stick allows you to create personalized button configurations for different games, ensuring the best setup for your playstyle.
- Includes a memory foam ergonomic wrist rest for long gaming sessions, 2 extra micro switches, and 5 lockable keycaps to disable unused buttons. Perfect for pro gamers seeking comfort and precision with every fight.
“I want to play with friends.”
Rivals of Aether is the most flexible choice because its listed modes include 2v2, free-for-all, and online versus. Them’s Fightin’ Herds is the better fit for friends who want traditional 2D matches and online matchmaking. Poly Fighter’s current description is single-player, so it should not be chosen for multiplayer sessions.
“I want to master one main character.”
Choose Them’s Fightin’ Herds or Rivals of Aether. Poly Fighter deliberately changes your moveset as you progress, so its main mastery challenge is adaptation across builds rather than perfecting one permanent list of attacks.
“I want a roguelike fighting game.”
Choose Poly Fighter. It is the only game in this comparison whose defining progression comes from defeating opponents, learning their moves, upgrading and swapping techniques, and replaying runs with changing build possibilities.
Early Access considerations before you buy Poly Fighter
Poly Fighter is explicitly unfinished Early Access software. HeartLoop Games says its goal is to reach version 1.0 before summer 2027, while also noting that the timing can change in response to development and player feedback. The current list of 16 playable characters, three leagues, ascension runs, and available moves should therefore be read as the state of the October 2026 Early Access build, not as a promise that the final game will contain exactly the same balance or amount of content.
Early Access is a good match if you want to see the roguelike fighting concept develop and can tolerate changes to content, tuning, and progression. It is a poor match if you require a finished competitive ruleset, a stable long-term meta, or online features that are not currently listed.
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You do not need an arcade controller to understand Poly Fighter’s concept; the game lists simple inputs as well as motion inputs. If you already use a fight stick or leverless controller, HeartLoop’s Steam news says its team tested Poly Fighter with an 8BitDo Arcade Fighting Stick and a leverless controller so visitors could try different control options. Treat that as evidence of the development team’s tested setups, not as a required accessory or a claim that one controller is objectively best.
For Rivals of Aether, choose a controller that makes its movement and platform-fighter inputs comfortable. For Them’s Fightin’ Herds, prioritize reliable access to its three attack buttons and character-specific Magic button. The supplied information does not establish a mandatory controller, an exclusive peripheral, or a platform-specific control requirement for any of the three games.
A practical decision checklist
- Pick Poly Fighter when solo play is non-negotiable.
- Pick Poly Fighter when collecting and combining opponent moves sounds more appealing than selecting a fixed main.
- Pick Poly Fighter when you want a roguelike structure and are comfortable with Early Access changes.
- Pick Rivals of Aether when ranked online play is essential.
- Pick Rivals of Aether when you want 2v2, free-for-all, platform movement, or practice with frame data and hitboxes.
- Pick Them’s Fightin’ Herds when you want a traditional 2D fighter with three attack buttons, a character-specific Magic button, combos, and matchmaking.
- Pick Them’s Fightin’ Herds when its animal cast and Lauren Faust-designed visual identity are a major draw.
Verdict
Poly Fighter is the one to play if your priority is a solo fighting game that keeps changing the question of what your character can do. Its borrowed-move system, three-league progression, ascension runs, and simple-or-motion input choice give it a clear identity, while its lack of online multiplayer and unfinished Early Access status define its limits.
Rivals of Aether is the strongest recommendation for competitive platform-fighter players, especially those who want ranked matches, team modes, free-for-all, and detailed training information. Them’s Fightin’ Herds is the better conventional 2D choice for players who want four-button combat, combo development, online matchmaking, and a highly distinctive animal roster.
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