Aug 4, 2026 · 5 min · 5 segments
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Without hyperbole, Avatar Legends is one of the most fun fighting games I've ever played.
There's something special about the way these characters move, the variety in their play styles, their incredible animations, the flexibility of their combat options, and the satisfying way they can execute some of the sickest combos I've ever seen.
That stellar gameplay does some pretty heavy lifting, as the package around it is lacking in surprising ways.
From an inability to change the difficulty level of the AI in single-player, to a cumbersome training mode that's missing standard features, to lobbies that can only support two players.
The best way to describe Avatar Legends in fighting game terms is that it's a fast-paced, mobility-driven 1v1 fighter, focusing on creative combo expression, a high bar of execution, and the uniqueness of each character as opposed to powerful, universal system mechanics.
All of that to say, this is one of the most difficult 1v1 fighting games to learn, but the payoff once you're able to actually perform even a fraction of what these characters are capable of is extraordinary.
There are three attack buttons covering light, medium, and heavy strikes, and then a flow button that is generally tied to each character's unique movement options.
As is the case with many anime fighting games, there's a basic logic of being able to combo a light into a medium into a heavy into a special move, and there's even an auto combo for those that just want to mash one button and get some respectable damage.
But it's that flow button that really opens up Avatar's fighting system and makes it truly special.
Every character has a very particular way of moving around the screen, and these mobility options can be absolutely wild.
Aang, for instance, can press forward flow for a quick forward hop that has three different follow-ups, all of which have wildly different uses.
Or he can press flow and a direction in the air to take out his glider to attack from unpredictable and awkward angles, control the direction of the wind to affect his momentum in the air, or fall fast from the sky just to name a few of his techniques.
This is a gorgeous 2D fighting game that excels as both a throwback to the bygone era of sprite-based fighters and a faithful adaptation of the beloved cartoons it's based on.
It's got some of the most satisfying movement of any 2D fighter I've played, combo routes that are challenging but immensely rewarding to learn, a 12-character roster that feels way bigger than it actually is thanks to the clever support system, and flexible combat that allows for a ton of creative expression.
The lackluster story mode and complete absence of some basic options like difficulty settings for the CPU certainly make Avatar Legends hard to recommend to casual Avatar fans.
But for fighting game fans looking for something with the sauce, Avatar Legends is about as saucy as it gets.
Without hyperbole, Avatar Legends is one of the most fun fighting games I've ever played.
There's something special about the way these characters move, the variety in their play styles, their incredible animations, the flexibility of their combat options, and the satisfying way they can execute some of the sickest combos I've ever seen.
That stellar gameplay does some pretty heavy lifting, as the package around it is lacking in surprising ways.
From an inability to change the difficulty level of the AI in single-player, to a cumbersome training mode that's missing standard features, to lobbies that can only support two players.
The best way to describe Avatar Legends in fighting game terms is that it's a fast-paced, mobility-driven 1v1 fighter, focusing on creative combo expression, a high bar of execution, and the uniqueness of each character as opposed to powerful, universal system mechanics.
All of that to say, this is one of the most difficult 1v1 fighting games to learn, but the payoff once you're able to actually perform even a fraction of what these characters are capable of is extraordinary.
There are three attack buttons covering light, medium, and heavy strikes, and then a flow button that is generally tied to each character's unique movement options.
As is the case with many anime fighting games, there's a basic logic of being able to combo a light into a medium into a heavy into a special move, and there's even an auto combo for those that just want to mash one button and get some respectable damage.
But it's that flow button that really opens up Avatar's fighting system and makes it truly special.
Every character has a very particular way of moving around the screen, and these mobility options can be absolutely wild.
Aang, for instance, can press forward flow for a quick forward hop that has three different follow-ups, all of which have wildly different uses.
Or he can press flow and a direction in the air to take out his glider to attack from unpredictable and awkward angles, control the direction of the wind to affect his momentum in the air, or fall fast from the sky just to name a few of his techniques.
This is a gorgeous 2D fighting game that excels as both a throwback to the bygone era of sprite-based fighters and a faithful adaptation of the beloved cartoons it's based on.
It's got some of the most satisfying movement of any 2D fighter I've played, combo routes that are challenging but immensely rewarding to learn, a 12-character roster that feels way bigger than it actually is thanks to the clever support system, and flexible combat that allows for a ton of creative expression.
The lackluster story mode and complete absence of some basic options like difficulty settings for the CPU certainly make Avatar Legends hard to recommend to casual Avatar fans.
But for fighting game fans looking for something with the sauce, Avatar Legends is about as saucy as it gets.
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