MultiVersus Review: PS5

Summary Smooth gameplay experience with Unreal Engine 5 updates

A variety of game modes, including PvE Rifts for solo play

Iconic characters and numerous Easter eggs available

Popular brawling game MultiVersus had already gained a strong following during its long open beta period, but after receiving feedback from its players, developers at Player First Games chose to shut down the servers to completely overhaul the game's engine and prep for a full launch. Almost a year later, MultiVersus has finally been released as a full game, although there is plenty still coming to this live-service experience. Published by Warner Bros. Games, the brawling action includes characters from across the WB properties.

MultiVersus was released on May 28, 2024, as a free-to-play game on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. It includes full cross-play and cross-progression support, giving players the option to fight their friends no matter what platforms everyone is using. Over the past year, devs overhauled the game to use Unreal Engine 5 and a new netcode, improving the visuals of the game as well as performance so that it would run more consistently across all platforms. Of course, plenty of fun changes were made as well, including a new PvE mode, characters, attacks, levels, cosmetics, and more.

MultiVersus 8 / 10 MultiVersus is a 2D Platforming fighting game featuring an array of Warner Bros.-owned characters. Developed by Player First Games, this free-to-play release allows players to choose their own fighter and battle against other gamers while leveling up their favorite heroes and villains. Pros Smooth gameplay experience

Variety of game modes

Iconic characters and numerous Easter Eggs Cons Technical problems with server authentication

Glitches with redeeming daily rewards

Microtransactions can get costly fast

MultiVersus Brawling Feels Smooth And Responsive

Fast-Paced Action Without Any Hiccups During Fights, Although Logging In Was An Issue For A While

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Though I did not have the chance to play MultiVersus while it was in open beta, playing it at launch was a mixed experience. Initially, the game had several issues with authentication errors preventing players from logging in and servers being taken down for maintenance. Undoubtedly, many were hard at work fixing these problems, as throughout the day they were being resolved one by one. Once in the game, a few minor glitches remained, such as daily rewards not always being activated, but nothing game breaking.

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As one would expect, most of the time with MultiVersus is spent in battles, and this important arena was clearly ready for action. The behind-the-scenes work that was done on the game was worth the effort, as brawls in MultiVersus feel smooth and responsive, without any noticeable delays or lag. Playing PvP with players on other systems remained perfectly synced and smooth for all, and even in the most chaotic of battles there were never any frustrations beyond my own lack of skill in the game.

Though at first there was quite a bit of button-mashing employed, as I continued to play I began to understand the different abilities of my characters, making the game even more enjoyable.

Like other brawling games, such as its closest competitor, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, each character has unique abilities and skills for players to learn how to use strategically. Though at first there was quite a bit of button-mashing employed, as I continued to play I began to understand the different abilities of my characters, making the game even more enjoyable. Crucially, if the frantic chaos of playing with others makes it difficult to learn strategies, MultiVersus offers several avenues for solo play.

New Game Mode "Rifts" Makes It Fun For Single-Player As Well As PvP

Surprisingly, There Is A Lot To Do Even Without Playing With Others

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Although brawler games are traditionally reserved for multiplayer environments, MultiVersus offers quite a lot of options for people to play by themselves. The new PvE mode, Rifts, gives a non-competitive area that is fun and offers many rewards for players. Rifts can be played co-op or solo, and will change with each new season of the game. At launch, the Joker is highlighted with his own Rift to journey through, complete with mutated abilities such as wings to provide infinite jumps, or occasional mini-games of striking targets or popping balloons.

Each battle in the Rift progression track has objectives that can award up to five stars, and completing the challenges gives rewards for each level. The rewards in this Rift track are alongside the daily rewards, seasonal rewards, and more, which all serve to provide a feeling of accomplishment. After just a couple of battles, rewards from one or more of these different progression lines are ready to be claimed, although this will likely slow down closer to the end of the season, depending on how much one plays.

Related How To Get Agent Smith In MultiVersus Unlock Agent Smith and a Matrix variant before his release in MultiVersus by completing Rift challenges and overcoming various boss fights.

This Free Game Can Cost A Lot If You're Not Careful

Optional Seasonal Battle Passes And Microtransactions Can Add Up

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As a live-service free-to-play game, naturally, there are going to be plenty of ways to spend real money as well. Many of the characters in the roster can be unlocked through purchasing them directly, and there are many cosmetics available. Whether someone wants to have new outfits for their character or other cosmetics such as taunts, ring out animations, and player profile pics, the store has plenty of options available and will have a regular rotation of new items. It is important to remember that, for the patient, many cosmetic rewards can and will be earned through play as well.

Related MultiVersus Season 1: Release Date, Free Characters, Perks, & Battle Pass Info MultiVersus is set to return with its first season of new content almost a full year after its beta closed.

The Battle Pass for MultiVersus follows a pretty standard format for live-service games, with challenges for players to complete to earn in-game rewards. There are free tiers that are automatically available for everyone, but in order to get the most out of the Seasonal experience, there are premium tiers available for purchase. According to the Multiversus FAQ page, "items earned from a MultiVersus Battle Pass are not exclusive. There may be opportunities to earn some of these items in the game at a later date," which gives hope for those who need to watch their budget, even if there is a coveted item locked behind the Premium Battle Pass.

Our Review Score & Final Thoughts

4/5 Stars - "Excellent" By Screen Rant's Review Metric

Custom Image by Diana Acuña.

MultiVersus is not without its flaws, with many little glitches tied to the daily rewards and some occasional disappearing images in the menus at launch. So far, every issue presented to the devs seems to be taken seriously as a high priority and have been fixed in due time. The gameplay itself - particularly the fighting battles within the arenas - are smooth, responsive, and incredibly enjoyable.

Each round lasts exactly the right amount of time, and each MultiVersus character has a distinctive enough set of skills that many players will find one they connect with. MultiVersus is definitely a game worth checking out, even if it wasn't free-to-play, and it's accessibility makes it an even bigger recommendation.

Screen Rant was provided with a PS5 download code for the purposes of this review.