Brawlhalla, the free-to-play platform fighting game, is celebrating its 10th anniversary since launching its open beta in 2015. What started as an indie game with five playable Legends has grown into a pillar of the fighting game community, with 67 playable Legends; a plethora of maps and biomes; crossovers with popular IP such as Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Halo, among many others; and over 125 million lifetime players.

Each year, around its anniversary, Brawlhalla celebrates in two ways: an in-game anniversary celebration, and the in-person Brawlhalla World Championship Expo (BCX). BCX 2025 is taking place at the Gateway Center in Atlanta, GA from November 21-23, and will feature world-class competitive Brawlhalla, announcements of what’s coming in 2026, and an expo packed with dev panels, cosplay, and more.

The in-game anniversary event runs now through December 3: a month-long celebration of Brawlhalla featuring new content, community events, rewards, and surprises. The festival introduces a new Legend – a cleric named Lady Vera – as well as the long-awaited Guild feature, which allows players to build community in new and exciting ways. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or a new player, Brawlhalla’s 10^th anniversary is the perfect time to log in, join a Guild, and brawl it out in the arena.

Zeke Sparkes is Brawlhalla’s managing director, and he’s been a developer on the game since its inception. We spoke to him to learn more about Brawlhalla’s beginning, how it’s continued to grow over the past decade, and how the team kept the player community at the core of the game’s vision.

What can you tell us about Brawlhalla’s early days of development and the vision for the game?

It was exciting because we realized pretty early on that we had something that had legs, but we didn’t know how far it could go. So, we poured our hearts into it and built really strong ties with the community early on. We knew, especially being free to play, that we had to be talking and listening and adapting based on what the community was saying. And so, we put ourselves out there and it’s been a wild ride seeing how far we can go.

Has the approach to development changed in the last decade?

I’d say the mentality is still the same. It’s a team that loves the game – everybody is here because they want to be working on Brawlhalla, and we are connected to the community. We’re constantly finding new ways to listen to the community and figure out what we can do to tweak the game, keep people interested and excited, see what things we’re doing that are working well, and what things we’re doing that aren’t working so well that we need to update. We’ve had a constant commitment to that.

Over the years, we’ve gone from launching just on Steam, where we could patch two, three, four, five times a week – really, really fast – to being on every major platform. That adds a layer of logistics we didn’t have early on; we have to plan a bit further ahead. So, the processes changed a little bit, but the heart and mentality are still the same.

As you’ve mentioned, community is a huge part of Brawlhalla, and being connected to the community has been the plan since day one. How did you build that community relationship? Was there any surprising feedback?

One of the first things we did was stream the game on Twitch, even before we really understood what Twitch was or how to do a good stream. We knew that it was going to be important, and it was one of the first times you could get real-time feedback from players as a developer, which was really exciting.

Because of that connection, we had a really big change early on. Originally, the game wasn’t character-focused; you would build an avatar and then spec out exactly how you wanted your character to be based on the weapons we dropped for you during gameplay. The early feedback told us the prototype was cool, the combat’s fun, but characters were missing. That’s when we started to think about pivoting to a character-centric game and started figuring out what archetypes we could add based on what we had made. We started with five Legends and released the 67^th this month.

Now, we’ve got a full-on livestream studio with a set and awesome production values and motion graphics, but the core of the experience is still there, where it’s us talking to the community about what we’re doing, what’s going on, seeing how they react to stuff, and listening to the things they want to see in the game. That’s how we keep Brawlhalla moving forward.

Brawlhalla’s World Championship Expo (BCX) is taking place November 21-23 in Atlanta. What can fans expect this year?

That is the place to tune into. You get the best Brawlhalla gameplay in the entire world, and it just gets better every year. It’s incredible – the atmosphere is amazing, and it’s where we make some of our biggest announcements and reveals. We’ve got some really good ones lined up this year (I’m thinking of a couple now that are going to make people go crazy), so make sure you tune in on twitch.tv/Brawlhalla.

Any reflections on the past decade you’d like to share? What’s up next for Brawlhalla?

Lady Vera, our 67^th Legend, is out now. She’s a cleric with some really interesting signature moves, and you can do some pretty fun stuff with her. She has a lot of radial skills, so depending on where you are when you do the move, the direction that your opponent goes can change pretty dramatically. So, if you’re creative, this really is a character for you. We’ve also just released phase one of our Guilds feature, which is a long-time player request. You’ll be able to build your community of players around a Guild that works across all different platforms, and that’s just phase one. We’ll continue to add cool, new, engaging mechanisms to Guilds as we move forward. Tune into BCX 2025 for more specifics of what’s to come!

I’d also like to say that building Brawlhalla with this team and with the community has been amazing. Over the past decade, players have shaped this game’s direction, fueled its esports scene, and fostered a welcoming space for brawlers of all backgrounds. The Anniversary Event is as much a celebration of the community as it is of the game itself. It’s exactly what we love to do and we’re so thankful for everybody that’s been on this journey with us whether you’re brand new today or you’ve been playing Brawlhalla since the closed alpha. We’re super excited that there’s a community of people that love the game and love what we’re doing.

Brawlhalla is free to play on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Brawlhalla

Ubisoft

☆☆☆☆☆
1014

★★★★★

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

An epic platform fighter for up to 8 players online or locally. Try casual free-for-alls, ranked matches, or invite friends to a private room. And it’s free! Play cross-platform with millions of players on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android and Steam! Frequent updates. Over fifty Legends._x000d_
_x000d_
The Legend Rotation of nine free to play characters changes every week, and you can earn gold to unlock more Legends by playing any online game mode. _x000d_
Includes: Orion Legend unlock, Dark Age Orion Skin, Thumb’s Up Emote, Trident Weapon Skin._x000d_
_x000d_
Brawhalla will always be 100% free to play with no pay-to-win advantages.

What if every puzzle you solved revealed another hidden layer beneath? Boxes: Lost Fragments invites players into a world of intricate mechanisms and mesmerizing mystery.

Hi everyone, we are Big Loop Studios – the creators of Boxes: Lost Fragments.

We have made many puzzle games before, but when developing Boxes: Lost Fragments, we decided to double down on intricate and satisfying mechanical designs, sensible puzzles, unexpected quirks, and a bit of surreal surprises. This game is for players who like tinkering with multi-component, beautifully crafted puzzle boxes at a relaxing pace.

Concept & Development

We wanted each puzzle box to hold many layers of hidden mechanisms, riddles, and surprising revelations waiting to be uncovered.

The entire development took around 30 months – way, way longer than initially planned. But this extended period turned out to be a true blessing. As time passed, many ideas evolved naturally into better versions of themselves, and some were completely replaced. For example, the tower-like upward progression of the game was introduced in the last three months of production. Talk about last-minute…

If we have to share another peculiar detail, the initial release had a different ending that players did not like. So, thanks to our fans, we created an even better game.

Visuals & Atmosphere

It was essential for the game to draw you in with its sheer atmosphere even before the puzzles begin. All puzzle boxes needed to be highly detailed and beautiful to just observe. In other words, a triumph of the visual crafts, combined with polished animations, effects, and audio.

We approached each box like a piece of art, carefully considering how each part connects to the whole, how each level transforms and evolves as the player solves different puzzle pieces, and how sound cues could build atmosphere and immersion. The result is a cohesive blend of visuals, animation, and audio designed to draw players deeper into the world without overwhelming them.

The load on our artists and designers was immense compared to previous projects, and they did an excellent job. So prepare to get mesmerized.

Puzzles & Gameplay

Boxes: Lost Fragments rewards logical thinking, careful observation, and a willingness to experiment. The puzzles are varied, from clue finding to mechanical inventions and multi-step challenges that unlock new layers of intricacy. Striking the right balance between difficulty and flow was one of our primary goals. We will let you decide for yourself how close we got to this goal. If you ask us, we think the result leans more towards “enjoyably puzzling” than “brain-meltingly hard”.

Bringing Boxes: Lost Fragments to Xbox allows us to showcase every polished animation and detailed mechanism in full fidelity. The tactile feeling of interacting with the puzzle boxes using the controller’s precise feedback feels especially satisfying on Xbox Series X|S.

Boxes: Lost Fragments launches today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Dive into a beautiful detailed world of puzzle solving today!

Boxes: Lost Fragments

Snapbreak Games

☆☆☆☆☆
1

★★★★★

$14.99

$13.49

Get it now

As a legendary thief, your next assignment lures you into a grand and lavish mansion. There you find a series of puzzle boxes, designed for an unknown purpose.

Suddenly, you realize that this is no ordinary building and that you are no longer in control of what is unfolding, and perhaps never were. What should have been a quick in-and-out, turns into your own harrowing struggle for freedom and answers.

Inspired by the cryptic atmosphere, intricate machinery, and smooth controls of the best room escape games, we have created a diverse set of original puzzle levels that will test your resolve and skills to navigate this mysterious and compelling journey. Each level is beautiful, unique, and a true delight to explore and figure out.

From Comic Panels to Console Screens

Before it was a game, “Everdark” existed as a dark, gritty graphic novel — a world of eternal night where humanity’s last survivors hunted ancient bloodlines beneath a blood-red moon. The creators wanted to bring that intensity to life: the torn leather, the neon-lit rain, the smell of gunpowder and fear.

What began as a side project among friends — illustrators, programmers, and horror fans — soon evolved into something much bigger. Everdark was first imagined as a VR experience, designed to immerse players directly into the chaos of a vampire-infested world.

But as the prototype grew, so did the ambition. The team realized the story deserved a broader canvas — a full, cinematic game that could combine modern gameplay depth with the visceral tension of survival horror. And so, Everdark: Undead Apocalypse was reborn.

Crafted in Unreal Engine 5

Harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5, the developers built a world where light and shadow are as dangerous as any enemy. Dynamic global illumination, volumetric fog, and real-time reflections make every dark alley, burning church, and moonlit street come alive — or undead.

On Xbox Series X|S, Everdark reaches native 4K resolution at 60 FPS, delivering an atmosphere so tangible you can almost feel the damp fog cling to your skin. Shadows stretch, flames flicker, and blood shines under the pale glow of the moon.

Every environment — from abandoned cathedrals to ruined cities — has been crafted to evoke the gritty aesthetic of 80s horrorcinema, with subtle nods to the films and novels that defined an era: relentless monsters, doomed heroes, and the fragile line between humanity and darkness.

Action, Strategy, and Survival

At its core, Everdark: Undead Apocalypse is a third-person shooter with survival horror elements, blending gunplay, melee combat, and stealth in equal measure. Players will wield an arsenal of ranged and melee weapons — from precision rifles and shotguns to brutal hand-forged blades.

But there’s a twist that makes every encounter unforgettable: vampires don’t die easily. To end them, you must move in close and drive a wooden stake through their heart, turning every battle into a deadly dance between aggression and risk.

This mechanic captures the raw tension of the hunt. Every time you close the distance, you gamble everything — a heartbeat away from death.

Beyond the combat, players will face environmental puzzles, hidden clues, and moments of stealth and infiltration, demanding both reflexes and intelligence. Light becomes your greatest ally… and your greatest weakness. Every flicker, every sound, every breath can draw attention.

Small Team, Big Vision

The team behind Everdark may be small, but their ambition is monumental. Composed of fewer than twenty developers — artists, writers, and coders spread across several countries — they share a single obsession: to revive the emotional, tactile horror that defined a generation.

Instead of chasing trends, they embraced creative freedom. They wanted to make a game that feels handmade, one that channels the analog grit of VHS horror but uses the power of Unreal Engine 5 to make it modern, visceral, and alive.

“Every flicker of light, every echoing scream, every frame was built by someone who grew up loving this genre,” says the creative director. “We didn’t want to just scare players — we wanted them to feel like they’ve stepped into a nightmare they recognize, but can’t escape.”

Evolving from VR to a Full Apocalypse

The first prototypes of Everdark were built for virtual reality, focusing on close-quarters combat, atmosphere, and immersion. The team experimented with first-person interactions, hand tracking, and environmental tension.

But as the lore expanded, thescale, the exploration, the story — they all demanded more space.

So, they pivoted from VR to full third-person gameplay, without losing that sense of intimacy and danger that defined their early vision. The result is a game that feels both cinematic and personal — where every encounter is up close, every fight leaves scars, and every decision can mean survival or damnation.

A Tribute to 80s Horror, Reimagined for a New Generation

From its haunting synth-inspired soundtrack to its neon-lit visuals, Everdark: Undead Apocalypse is a love letter to the horror of the 1980s — but reimagined with modern storytelling and technology.

You’ll see echoes of forgotten classics: smoky city streets, fog-drenched cemeteries, flickering televisions, and monsters that feel terrifyingly real. But beneath the nostalgia lies a new story — one about faith, loss, and the thin line separating hunters from the hunted.

Out Now on Xbox Series X|S

Prepare to face the eternal night in its most intense form. Built with the soul of independent creators who dared to dream bigger.

Everdark: Undead Apocalypse is more than a game — it’s a resurrection of classic horror for a new era.

EVERDARK: Undead Apocalypse

Pdpartid@games

☆☆☆☆☆
2

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

Inspired by horror and B-movies from the ’80s, Everdark takes us to a city infested with vampires. Armed with stakes, garlic, crosses, holy water, and an arsenal of firearms and melee weapons, we’ll fight our way through this shooter that blends classic survival horror with an oppressive atmosphere.

Main features

Frenetic first-person shooter that will take you back to the ’80s with its atmosphere, references, and inspirations.

Classic survival horror elements, including scarce resources and ammunition for your firearms, as well as puzzles that complete the experience.

15 levels full of bloodsuckers, action, exploration, and all the ingredients you could expect from a vampire story.

Fearsome enemies that will only die if you manage to drive a stake through their heart.

Powerful arsenal of weapons that will allow you to fight against vampires with different strategies, using firearms, melee weapons, and classic vampire-slaying tools like holy water, crosses, garlic, and the favorite among experts: the wooden stake!

Everdark is the first chapter of a series of video games that will take place in the same universe.

Find out what happened in Everdark and put an end to the nightmare!

We are excited to invite Xbox Insiders on Windows PC to join the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta. This beta introduces a major new way to play the original Pillars of Eternity: Turn-Based Mode. Your feedback is invaluable, so explore, experiment, and share your feedback to help shape the next update! To participate in the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta, you will need to either own Pillars of Eternity OR have access to the title via an active Game Pass subscription.

About the Game:

Prepare to be enchanted by a world where the choices you make and the paths you choose shape your destiny. Recapture the deep sense of exploration, the joy of a pulsating adventure, and the thrill of leading your own band of companions across a new fantasy realm and into the depths of monster-infested dungeons in search of lost treasures and ancient mysteries.

If you want to learn more, please visit the Pillars of Eternity Official Website.

How to Participate:

1. Sign-in on your Windows PC and launch the Xbox Insider Hub app (or install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary)
2. Navigate to Previews > Pillars of Eternity – Hero Edition
3. Select Join
4. Wait for the registration to complete and be directed to the Store and install Pillars of Eternity – Hero Edition

NOTE: To participate in the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta, you will need to either own Pillars of Eternity OR have access to the title via an active Game Pass subscription.

NOTE: This playtest is only available on Windows PC.

NOTE: If you already have Pillars of Eternity installed, please restart your PC after the registration has completed to ensure you get prompted to update to the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta version.

NOTE: If you wish to revert to the publicly available version of Pillars of Eternity, you will need to leave the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta via the Xbox Insider Hub. This will prompt an update reversion to occur.

Other resources:

• Get the Xbox Insider Hub app
• Xbox Insider FAQ
• How to provide feedback as an Xbox Insider

For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the Xbox Insider SubReddit.

Our pixel fishing adventure Nice Day for Fishing lands finally lands on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC today, and we’re really excited to be able to share on how it was made.

The story follows Baelin, the town’s humble fisherman. When a vast number of evils are released from a cursed magical chest and everyone but the NPCs vanish! (thanks a lot Baradun!) Baelin suddenly awakens with the powers of an Adventurer.  Now it’s up to him to save Honeywood the only way he knows how – by fishing!

Building the World of Azerim

When we started designing the world of Azerim — the world in which Nice Day for Fishing takes place — we went deep into the Epic NPC Man universe, literally and creatively! We watched countless Viva La Dirt League videos, searching for iconic landmarks that every fan would recognize, even when reimagined in pixel art.

If you haven’t heard of Viva La Dirt League before, you’re missing out. The New Zealand comedy group creates clever, high-production sketches on YouTube that celebrate the fun, and the sometimes-absurd side, of gaming. Their videos dive into everything from the questionable logic in The Witcher, to tongue-in-cheek public service announcements for Hearthstone players. What makes them stand out is their background of being gamers themselves. They understand the meta-moments and inside jokes, the glitches and weird NPC behaviors everyone recognizes. Their long-running series Epic NPC Man is set inside a fictitious MMORPG game world Skycraft and covers the unseen lives of NPCs — from navigating player induced chaos, petty rivalries or that existential dread in hearing the NPC with one repeating voice line.

With incredible support from the VLDL team and their community, we gathered tons of reference material from maps, environmental notes, and even hints about regions that might appear in future episodes. We also thought about what makes for great fishing locations in general and matched those ideas to the Epic NPC Man world. A volcano? Sounds hot (and maybe a little dangerous.) A magical library turned slimy fish-infested ruin? That had to be in. And of course, The Undead Mines, because every fantasy world needs undead (fish).

We also wanted to bring fans to places that were only talked about in the show but never shown. Translating such a rich world into a 2D sidescroller, and dividing it into 12 underwater regions, was a challenge, but one that sparked endless creativity as we dove deeper into the lore of Azerim.

At the heart of it all lies Honeywood Village, complete with the original music from the VLDL videos. Seeing the Azerim map come to life in side-view, piece by piece, was both a challenge and a rewarding world-building experience.

Battles Beneath the Surface

When you think “fishing game,” you probably imagine a simple minigame. We didn’t want that. Nice Day for Fishing takes the act of fishing and turns it into a full-blown RPG-style battle system.

Once a fish bites, combat begins! Players attack with a button press, dealing damage and pulling the fish closer to the surface. But beware — these aren’t your average fish. They’ll fight back, reverse the line, and force you into a defensive stance. You’ll need to time your attacks, blocks, and spell casts while managing items and cooldowns — because even the fish have tricks up their fins.

Our goal was to make every battle feel like an epic encounter, not just a quick catch. You’ll see health bars, stamina meters, damage numbers, buffs, debuffs, and magic spells — everything you’d expect in a fantasy RPG.

And then there are the bosses. These deep-sea monsters are truly something else. As you chip away at their health, they shift forms, change phases, and unleash new abilities in classic RPG fashion. Get ready for some “This isn’t even my final form!” moments.

Gear Up — Top Fishing Tools of Azerim

There are plenty of ways to get your hands on powerful equipment — hidden treasure chests, upgraded shop inventories, or even bizarre side quests from Honeywood’s eccentric mayor. Whether you favor magic or brute strength, your playstyle determines what tools will serve you best.

Here are a few fan-favorite pieces of gear to look out for:

Bonecaller’s Rod
A perfect weapon for early offensive mages, this rod can be earned early on by completing the first set of the mayor’s side quests. It’ll carry you comfortably through the midgame until you’re ready for something stronger.

The Buckler
Great for defensive players who prefer to outlast rather than overpower. Found in a submerged treasure chest, its bonus defense can turn a seemingly impossible boss fight into a manageable one.

Obvious Wizard Hat
A must-have for glass-cannon mages. Once you gain more freedom of movement with your hook, head back to the ship at sea to find this stylish — and powerful — hat.

Ring of Great Recovery
Beyond healing potions and spells, this ring helps restore your health mid-battle. Whether you’re a tank, mage, or hybrid build, you can buy it from Willow’s shop to give yourself a little extra survivability.

Duel Ring

Earned after defeating the first boss, this ring helps new players time their blocks and parries more effectively. It’s a huge advantage early in the game and perfect for mastering defensive combat.

In general, however, the rule is: anyone who wants to have the very best equipment has to upgrade all the shops to the maximum level. Then you’ll find gear that offers the best of the best for mages, paladins, or warriors respectively.

Except for one exception — the reward for defeating the secret new boss. But we don’t want to spoil too much about that.

From peaceful moments in Honeywood to chaotic boss battles deep below Azerim, Nice Day for Fishing redefines what a “fishing game” can be — part parody, part adventure, and all heart.

If you’ve ever seen Viva La Dirt League’s Epic NPC Man YouTube series on YouTube, you’ll instantly recognize the iconic characters and laugh-out-loud moments, complete with epic quests and a whole bunch of fishing and achievements just waiting to be unlocked.

Your time of adventuring is here!  Whether you’re chasing colossal catches, or just in it for the signature comedy of Viva La Dirt League, it’s a catch you won’t want to miss. Nice Day for Fishing is available today for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title!

Nice Day for Fishing – Epic Edition

Team17

☆☆☆☆☆
2

★★★★★

$23.99

$17.99

Get it now

When the heroes of Azerim mysteriously vanish, an evil force threatens to take over the lands! Baelin the fisherman NPC must rise up to defend the town of Honeywood the only way he knows how! However, something’s different… Baelin’s no longer an NPC but… an Adventurer! Battle fish with precision timing and magic spells, upgrade your abilities, defeat evil and rebuild Honeywood.

Upgrade your gear with the Nice Day for Fishing “Legendary DLC”, featuring a range of new Legendary equipment to help you become the hero you were destined to be. Battle fish, look epic, and save Azerim!

The Epic Edition includes:
– Legendary Rod
– Legendary Hat
– Legendary Ring
– Legendary Necklace
– 4 sails to customize Baelin’s boat
– “Overpriced Cosmetic Item” Rod
– Ring of Dormor
– “Company Property” Necklace
– Tinfoil Hat

Nice Day for Fishing

Team17

☆☆☆☆☆
2

★★★★★

$19.99

$14.99

Get it now

From the minds of Viva La Dirt League brings you an epic tale of fantasy, adventure and… fishing?

When the heroes of Azerim mysteriously vanish, an evil force threatens to take over the lands! Baelin the fisherman NPC must rise up to defend the town of Honeywood the only way he knows how! However, something’s different… Baelin’s no longer an NPC but… an Adventurer! Can you handle your new found responsibility?! Battle fish with precision timing and magic spells, upgrade your abilities, defeat evil and rebuild Honeywood.

Morning! Nice day for fishing ain’t it!

Epic Fishing Battles

Engage in fearless fishing battles to fulfil quests, increase your strength and unlock spells to use against your aquatic adversaries. Equip the right bait for your catch, and time your attacks perfectly to ensure flawless victory. Be wary of the boss fish looming in the deep, who will truly test your skills.

Explore the world of Azerim

Explore the enchanting lands of Azerim above land and beneath the waves. Adventure through Honeywood forest to the Azerim coast where you’ll encounter new quests, people to save and new fish to catch. Navigate the pull of the underwater currents to move your hook into hard to reach caves and upgrade your fishing line to delve deeper into the abyss.

New Gear, New Mechanics

Every Adventurer deserves the ultimate tools for their quest. Although Baelin may be a humble fisherman, as an Adventurer his rod is his weapon, his boat is his steed and his hat is his armor, so make sure you’ve equipped the right one for the job! Effortlessly dredge hidden treasures from the deep with the magnet hook, or break through cavern walls with the powerful drill to unlock new pathways. Enhance your fishing rod to increase your strength and upgrade your lines to go further into the depths to target the formidable and challenging fish that swim in the shadows.

Rebuild Honeywood

While on your adventures, you’ll find valuable resources to dredge from shipwrecks that have succumbed to the sea, which can be used to rebuild the destroyed village. Enlist help from the Woodcutter to bring Honeywood back to its former glory. Each building upgrade unlocks more equipment and quests from the merchants.

Complete the Collection

Prove yourself worthy to the mighty fishing God by offering completed collections from each region at his statue, and receive your blessings of upgraded skills.