Brawlhalla is a fun 2D arcade game that combines fighting skills with platform jumping and you can play with other people online or play offline with a group of friends.

The game lets you play as different hero characters like Thor with his powerful hammer, fast Thea with her magic boots or Isaiah who specializes in ranged weapons like his cannon and blaster. Combat is pretty straightforward, although high-speed combat and platform jumping probably work better with a gamepad rather than a mouse and keyboard. Each weapon has both “fast” and “heavy” attacks, and your characters can run left or right, dodge, or jump past opponents. This is one of those games that is easy to learn but hard to master, and timing is of the essence when your character is fighting and jumping around the screen like a whirling dervish.

Luckily, you can get started with the offline game modes, which include some simple tutorials that introduce you to the basic skills of combat and platform jumping. Once you get the hang of the basics, you can try the practice mode, which will allow you to hone your skills against a range of computer-controlled opponents.

Even more variety when you’re ready to go online and play against other people. You can start with casual games and then move on to ranked competition, and you can play against one opponent or team up with another player for 2v2 matches. More experienced players can create their own “rooms” in which they arrange matches with various game modes such as Horde, where you fight off waves of attacking demons, or Kung Foot, where you use a soccer ball as a weapon. And if that sounds a bit stressful, the game also features a more relaxed Couch Party mode where you can play with your friends at home.

Needless to say, in-app purchases are available with prices ranging from $8.99 / £7.49 to $99.99 / £83.99. However, the game’s developers claim that these add-ons are only needed to unlock new heroes and other cosmetic items, and that you don’t need to spend money to enjoy the game and succeed in combat.