Why Brawl Stars looks easy but isn’t

When we first started including Brawl Stars as a main game in the A1 Adria League, critics were quick to point out that the game is “just a mobile game”, and is “not a real esport”. That is, of course, wrong, but it does go to show that mobile games can be deceptively easy to play, and seem childish to an untrained eye. 

Brawl Stars, at first glance, does seem a bit gimmicky. The game is very cheerful and happy, and its art style is possibly the main red flag for broader audiences, because it looks too much like a cartoon. At the same time, it’s very similar in art style to many of the more casual mobile games. But, underneath the cheerful surface, there is a lot going for it.

Mechanics

Supercell, the creators of the game, wanted to create an esports-first game with Brawl Stars. That is why the game is set up like it is: very fast-paced, pick-up-and-play, and with a 3v3 format. The controls are also easy: you move the character with one finger, and use abilities with others. The abunance of game modes and a free choice of what you’d like to play also makes it a very smooth experience – but have in mind, you need to master all of them if you want any chance of esports glory. 

Cover and timers

An interesting thing about Brawl Stars is that cover can be easily destroyed by stronger attacks and matches have a short timer. This forces players to engage from the start, and requires thinking on the spot. Sure, you can hide in the grass for a while and try and ambush opponents, but most team compositions will have a good way of clearing bushes or even destroying everything outright, so sitting and waiting isn’t much of a strategy most of the time. The game modes also reward speed and aggression, with the likes of Gem Grab forcing you to come to the middle of the map to grab gems, otherwise the other team will do it. 

Pure chaos

If you ever saw a Brawl Stars match, it’s chaotic at best, and you probably had no idea what is going on. This is, of course, not the case for the players, but the game’s abundance of flashy abilities does make it tough to follow sometimes. There is strategy in every team composition and team fight, however – and going in a fight and just spamming the abilities will get you nowehere; this is what sets apart veteran players from the inexperienced ones. Each team fight can be viewed as a delicate dance, with both sides waiting for the first move. 

Brawl Stars is a chaotic, strange, and beautiful game which has become one of the staples of the A1 Adria League. This weekend, we’re gearing up for the qualifiers and playoffs for Brawl Stars in the Weekly Tournaments, so make sure not to miss them!