After more than a decade of haymakers, Brawlhalla is trying something a little different – something made of cardstock. Ubisoft is teaming up with Maestro Media and Flyos to bring Brawlhalla: The Card Game to Kickstarter, hoping to give the long-running fighter a fresh shot of energy at the table rather than the arena.
If Maestro Media rings a bell, it’s probably because they’re the crew behind the wildly successful The Binding of Isaac. Flyos, meanwhile, has its fingerprints on Vampire: The Masquerade – Chapters. Toss in lead designer Manuel Rozoy – whose credits include the trading card game Altered and Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood of Venice – and you’ve got a team that knows how to turn digital chaos into tabletop form.
According to Maestro Media CEO Javon Fraiser, the goal isn’t just to recreate Brawlhalla’s brawls with cards, but to build something that captures the series’ community spirit. As he puts it, gathering around a table creates a “shared energy” that expands the world fans already love. In short: this isn’t just a ruleset, it’s a vibe.
So, what’s actually in the box? The core set comes with six Legends, each sporting their own deck and a standee you’ll move around a modular arena. Just like in the video game, you’ll scramble for weapons, land hits, and – if you’re unlucky – go flying off the edge. Matches are designed to be quick and punchy, running 20 to 40 minutes depending on mode. Blitz mode plays like the sudden-death cousin of the main game: take a knockout and you’re out for good. Classic mode gives you a more forgiving three KO cards so your Legend can hop back in for another round.
You can run 1v1 duels, jump into 2v2 showdowns, or go full chaos with a three- or four-player free-for-all. Basically, if you’ve ever had a friendship ruined by a well-timed Brawlhalla ground pound, the energy carries over nicely.
Kickstarter backers also get a couple of bonuses. Anyone who pledges in the first 72 hours nabs a shiny Hattori pin, and folks who’ve supported past Flyos or Maestro Media campaigns will be treated to an exclusive sword pin.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the campaign as it launches – but for now, mark your calendar, shuffle your deck-building brain into gear, and get ready to send your friends off the edge all over again… this time without touching a controller.
