Game: Brawl Stars by Supercell

Genres: PvP action fighting game

Platforms: Android, iOS

Whenever Supercell (makers of the legendary Clash of Clans) releases a game, the fans are hyped. Brawl Stars has been in the testing phase for well over a year and expectations were definitely high. The good thing is that the game delivered.

Brawl Stars has no doubt been made for esports — in direct competition with DOTA (Defence of the Ancients) and Arena of Valour on mobile. It is an isometric, hero-based brawler.

Every hero has a special ability and a basic attack. The trick is to choose the right hero for a task. Each hero has his or her or its own personality — a robot bartender throws bottles at his opponents and a Mexican wrestler jumps on his rivals. The variety of characters makes the game fun and the prospect of unlocking new characters keeps it interesting. There is no perfect character. Each one has its own quirks, strengths and weaknesses. One can choose a hero who suits one’s style of play. Personally, I loved the Elvis-esque cowboy.

The innovation in Brawl Stars is the way in which they introduce different modes. Each mode appears for a limited time and has a different goal. The gem mode is a three versus three match, in which the team that collects 10 gems first wins. There is a treasure chest mode, in which you have to destroy the opponent’s treasure chest.

The PUBG mode plays out like you expect it to — the arena keeps shrinking as time passes. Event tickets are required to play the special mode. Playing each of these different and limited-time modes gives you trophies that help unlock more characters and modes. What keeps the game fun is the fact that every mode requires you to change your playstyle — therefore, you are constantly rethinking your strategy and changing your characters.

The more you play with a character, the more it levels up. However, upgrading a character requires a character token, which you get from loot boxes that you earn while playing the game. You can also become part of a clan but, unlike in other Supercell games, you cannot share characters with members.

Verdict: Brawl Stars is loads of fun. The variety in characters and modes keeps it fresh. There is a lot of work to be done on the servers as they constantly disconnect, but the monetisation does not seem too pushy — at no time will you be frustrated by it.

If you are looking for a new game to sink your teeth into for the next couple of months, Brawl Stars with its personality, variety and cartoonish look is a very good option. In fact, I would rate it nine out of 10.

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