Rivals of Aether for Windows

Competitive pixel art fighter

Rivals of Aether is a 2D fighting game by developer Dan Fornance. This pixel-art action game features anthropomorphic animals that can summon the power of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth to defeat their opponents. It can be played with up to four people either locally or online. 

Rivals of Aether is a platform fighter like Brawlhalla, but with charming pixel graphics. It’s set in a world where civilizations use the power of the four elements to wage war. The game has multiple exciting game modes, including an intensive training mode where players can sharpen their skills. 

The best platform fighter on PC

Many consider Rivals of Aether to be the PC rival of the hit series Super Smash Bros. Both games play so similarly that if you loved Smash Bros, you’ll most likely love Rivals. However, what distinguishes this game from its competitors is its roster of characters that have a unique design and complex move sets. This design complexity makes it more of a competitive game rather than casual. 

The game features a Story Mode, Abyss Mode, and Tetherball mode that cater to players who aren’t interested in competitive play. It should be noted, however, that these features aren’t as fleshed out as the competitive Versus mode, given how bad the Story Mode’s plot is. Ultimately, the game’s selling point is still its complex characters and well-polished fighting mechanics that appeal to competitive players. 

Besides its superb character design and gameplay mechanics, this game is made infinitely more fun to play thanks to a robust Steam workshop. It has a passionate community that creates tons of add-ons that introduce characters from pop culture or entirely new game modes. If you’re not interested in any of the add-ons, you can rest assured that the base game is still worth it.

Fresh and well-designed

Rivals of Aether is the best platform fighter on PC. If you want an experience similar to Super Smash Bros, but with beautiful pixel graphics and original characters, you can’t go wrong with this title. If you’re a competitive player who wants to rise through the rankings, it’s a must-try. If you’re a casual player only interested in trying out the different characters, only get it when it’s on sale.