Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a brawling masterpiece.Anything that letssiblings beat each other mercilessly while inhabiting the bodies of Nintendo’s megastar mascots has got to be a good thing, right?
But unfortunately, because of the way the world works, you will need a Switch. If you don’t haveone sat next to your rig,and can’t afford to get one now that you’ve invested all of your savings in thatRTX 2080 TI, then you’ll be left out of Mario’s violent party. You might be able to go over to a friend’s house and play – but who doesn’t pine for a copy of their own?
Luckily, while Super Smash Bros. is still the dominant platform fighting series, it has in recent yearsinspireda ton of competition on PC. So even if you’re out of the Nintendo loop you can pick one of these games up to fill the void.We’d recommend checking out each game to see if the community meets your expectations as some of these titles have sputtered online. They’re still great for local sessions though.
CAN YOU PLAYSuper smash bros ON PC?
Well, no. But here are some great ways you can replicate thatspecial feeling. So, with all that said, let’s kick off – we’ll start with one of the best examples out there.
Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla is a platform fighter with everything you could want: over 40 distinct characters, a variety of colourful stages, casual and competitive modes, and weekly updates that address balance and community feedback.
As it’s free-to-play it has amassed a large and active community. That’s one of its biggest advantages over many of the other games in this list. However, the unpleasant side of that is much of the community being toxic. As Brawlhalla has been around for a few years now too, you’ll also face some frustration going against the dominant strategies in intense one on ones – you’ll need to practise a lot to overcome that hurdle. Try sticking to the casual battles if you’re struggling.
With a secure connection and some friends, however, Brawlhalla provides hours of platform fighting entertainment, and you don’t even have to spend a penny.
Rivals of Aether
While Super Smash Bros. strikes a good balance between casual and competitive play, Rivals of Aether goes all out on the competitive side by zeroing in on speedier mechanics. It gives you a number of elemental animals to fight with, and boy, it’s great fun to see a Monk-frog stab a lion who has a flaming mane. Stars from other popular games such as Ori and Shovel Knight also make an appearance as playable characters.
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Rivals of Aether has a fantastic art style to boot, although we still can’t stop thinking of Greninja whenever we see Ranno in action. If you want your Smash-like competitive, then this is among your best picks.
Slap City
Slap City, an especially zany party fighter developed by Ludosity, has smooth, floaty mechanics that feel more like Super Smash Bros. Brawl than Melee or Ultimate. Smash Summit 7, an invitational for some of the most influential players in the competitive Smash scene, had the game as part of its lineup.
The development team is pretty involved with regular updates and balance patches as well, so if you’re looking for a platform fighter with a friendly community be sure to check this one out.
Super Smash Flash
Super Smash Flash, and its sequel, is a browser replica of Super Smash Bros. Melee. It’s easy to access, has multiplayer, and a bunch of other features from the original game. This is in no way legal, obviously, but the creators have got away with it so far…
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Super Smash Flash also has non-Smash characters like Naruto, Chibi-robo, and Goku, making that brand recognition even more prevalent. We were hooked the first timewe picked it up.
Lethal league
Unlike any other fighting game you’ll play, Lethal Leaguebringsthe popular sport of baseball into the mix, making for a projectile-based brawl.
Similar to Smash Bros., the way to win isn’t to lay into your opponent with punches and kicks – though that does soften ’em up. What you have to do is smack a baseball around the enclosed 2D arena, letting it bounce off the walls, gaining speed with each thwack. If it hits a fighter at a high enough speed it’ll knock them straight out.
Lethal League is a game of reaction speed and spatial awareness. If you want something different this is the game to go for – plus it has a growing and active community.
Dynasty Feud
Dynasty Feud has more than 40 unique characters. Alright, that doesn’t seem like much compared to Ultimate’s roster of 70+, but it’s still plenty no matter what the context. And the full context here is that you don’t just pick a fighter, you pick an entire dynasty, and fight between different periods of history.
Unfortunately, as brilliant as that idea is, developer Kaia Studios confirmed it only sold 300 copies back in June of 2017. Hopefully it’s done better since, but that still means Dynasty Feud should probably be purchased to play alone – or locally with friends who can also pick it up.
Dimensions VS
Developed by TeePee Studios, Dimensions VS has only recently come to the platform fighter scene – but due to its tight mechanics it’s already starting to get traction. However, the sound, character, and level design are lacking and seem to be putting people off.
That’s a real shame as the developer appears to be committing to keeping the free-to-play fighter up to date with regular updates and content patches. Dimensions VS doesn’t have a whole lot of discussion around it yet, so it’s difficult to say how active the playerbase will be in the coming months, but it’s worth checking out as long as you proceed with caution for now.
Super Smash Land
Super Smash Land is a fan-made ‘demake’ – from thedeveloper of Rivals of Aether, no less – that recreates the popular series with Game Boy specifications. It’s been around for years, and pops up every once and a while on a gaming forum or subreddit – but it’s never had the attention it deserves.
It’s still free-to-play, easy to access, and is a great fit for a stream, all-night gaming session, or solo Smash-like adventure.
Brawlout
Brawlout is the indie game version of Super Smash Bros. – like, really. It’s not just an independently-developed game, but features characters taken from around the indie game universe. Replacing the likes of Mario and Link are familiar faces from Hyper Light Drifter and Guacamelee.
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It got some mixed reviews at launch, mostly due to direct comparisons with Smash – it’s hard to match the polish Nintendo delivers. Still, while Brawlout may not be nearly as good as Smash Bros., it’s still well worth a look, especially if you want to see some of your beloved indie game characters brawl.
2D platformers as practice
There are other Smash-likes that could be mentioned but this is an important point to make: if you want to get better at platform fighters, you should play more side-scrolling platformers.
Digging into the mechanics of games like Nidhogg, TowerFall, and Samurai Gunn can help with your timing, coordination, and reactions when in desperate situations. It’s the type of training that would be turned into a montage in a Rocky movie. It all helps, and there are plenty of platformers you can play without needing a good internet connection or a bunch of friends with hours to spare.
Certainly! Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is indeed a fantastic brawling masterpiece, a game that has enthralled many players due to its engaging mechanics and the ability to let siblings (or friends) pummel each other using Nintendo's beloved characters. Unfortunately, the game is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, necessitating ownership of the console to join in on the fun.
However, there are alternatives for those without access to a Switch. While you can't play the official Super Smash Bros. on PC, there are several excellent PC games that replicate the essence of platform fighting. Here's a breakdown of the concepts and related information present in the article:
Concepts Covered:
- Platform Fighters: These are games where characters battle on various platforms within a confined arena.
- Alternatives to Super Smash Bros. on PC: The article lists several games as substitutes for Super Smash Bros. on PC.
- Game Recommendations: The article provides detailed insights and recommendations for various platform fighting games available on PC.
- Community Engagement: Emphasizes the importance of considering a game's community, toxicity levels, and its suitability for casual or competitive play.
- Game Mechanics: Each mentioned game has unique mechanics, some focusing on competitiveness, while others offer a more casual gaming experience.
- Free-to-Play Options: Highlighting games that are free-to-play, catering to a broader audience.
- Crossovers and Characters: Many games feature characters from different franchises, offering a diverse range of playable characters.
- Game Accessibility: Accessibility is addressed through free-to-play options, ease of access, and availability on various platforms.
- Gameplay Variety: Some games, like Lethal League, introduce unique gameplay elements, such as incorporating sports like baseball into the fighting mechanics.
Game Titles Discussed:
- Brawlhalla: A free-to-play platform fighter with a sizable community but noted for its toxic elements.
- Rivals of Aether: Emphasizes competitive gameplay with unique characters and artwork.
- Slap City: Known for its mechanics similar to Super Smash Bros. Brawl and regular updates from the development team.
- Super Smash Flash: A browser-based replication of Super Smash Bros. Melee with non-Smash characters.
- Lethal League: Uniquely incorporates baseball elements into a fighting game, focusing on speed and reaction time.
- Dynasty Feud: Features dynasties from different periods in history but has limited popularity.
- Dimensions VS: A newer platform fighter with potential but has mixed feedback due to lacking elements.
- Super Smash Land: A fan-made 'demake' with Game Boy-like specifications.
- Brawlout: An indie game version of Super Smash Bros. featuring characters from various indie games.
- 2D Platformers as Practice: Suggests playing other 2D platformers as training for platform fighters due to shared mechanics.
These concepts and game titles offer a diverse array of options for those seeking Super Smash Bros.-style experiences on the PC platform. Each game brings its unique flair to the genre, catering to different preferences and playstyles.
