Everyone needs to relax by doing something they enjoy. That is very true for Viator students, and one way they do so is by playing games on their iPad. In recent months, one such game has taken the school by storm: “Brawl Stars.” As of Oct. 20, 2024 “Brawl Stars” holds third place in the App Store charts for most popular action games, and it only shows signs of increasing in popularity. In a poll conducted by the Viator Voice, nearly one in three St. Viator respondents said they play “Brawl Stars.” If applied to the whole school, about 255 out of 774 students play “Brawl Stars.” So what makes this game so popular, and how has it affected students?
“Brawl Stars” is a free-to-play mobile online battle arena game (MOBA). In common terms, players control a variety of characters as they fight in various game modes. Its developer, Supercell, is the developer behind many other hit mobile games, such as “Clash of Clans” and “Clash Royale”. Similar to those games, the game is free to download and instead makes money off in-app purchases. It is notable in this aspect because it does not have ads, unlike many other free-to-play games.
One way “Brawl Stars” gained popularity was because of its social aspect. “Brawl Stars” allows players to team up with other friends, allowing friends to play with each other. This is a major draw for new players, since it allows them to join their friends in fun matches. Additionally, larger groups of friends can create and join clubs, in which they can team up for matches, work towards club goals, and more.
The biggest hook of “Brawl Stars” is its relatively short matches, only lasting a couple minutes. This makes the game very addictive: it is very easy to go for “one more game”, and then play for another 10 minutes. Yet this would fail if not for the characters and game modes of “Brawl Stars”. According to “Brawlify”, a “Brawl Stars” fan site, there are currently 84 characters known as brawlers, each with their own attacks, customizable skins, and upgrades. One game mode is “Brawl Ball”, in which teams of three players play soccer-like games in which they fight to get the ball into the other team’s goal. Another mode is “Knockout”, in which teams of three players work together to defeat the opposing team of three players in a best of three format. Not all of “Brawl Stars” is played with a team; “Solo Showdown” is a game mode in which one player tries to defeat nine other players in an arena. It is also worth noting that the game runs incredibly well, with slowdowns only caused by a bad internet connection.
Despite all of its gaming successes, “Brawl Stars” may be a hindrance to some students’ academic success. Some students choose to play the game during classes, hurting the knowledge they gain. In addition, some students choose to play “Brawl Stars” first and then do their homework later, hurting their sleep schedules. In the same poll conducted by the Viator Voice, about 22% of those who said they played “Brawl Stars”, did so for more than five hours a day. Such excessive playing could negatively impact students’ lives and education.
Despite these negatives, there can be no denying that “Brawl Stars” is an astounding success. Its free-to-play business model and social aspects invite new players in, and intriguing characters and exciting game modes keep them hooked. Though it could harm some students’ education if played excessively, it provides a fun way to relax with friends. “Brawl Stars” is a model for all mobile game of how to make a truly fun, profitable, and community building game.