GamesBrawl Stars
Brawl Stars review: why it’s so successful, how it makes money, and what players really say
Fast-paced 3v3 and 5v5 MOBA and battle royale battles in under three minutes.
Google Play
4.2★
26.0M ratings
Installs (Play)
500,000,000+
official range
US grossing
#64
US top-grossing (Google Play)
What this analysis is
We read 150 recent reviews of Brawl Stars on Google Play, 96 positive and 45 negative, to find what players actually praise and complain about. Every percentage below is counted from those real reviews; the ratings and install range are the stores’ own public figures. We never invent downloads or revenue, those aren’t public, so we don’t pretend to know them. Here’s what makes Brawl Starswork, and where it doesn’t.
Why Brawl Stars is so successful
It sits at #64 on the US Google Play top-grossing games chart as of this analysis. A MOBA battle royale game by Supercell, it holds 26.0M+ ratings with a few things players consistently single out:
- Fun gameplay praised by 35% of positive reviews
- Free brawlers available for all players
- Regular new skins and content keep the game fresh
The core loop
Players join short PvP battles in various modes like Gem Grab, Showdown, or Brawl Ball. They unlock and upgrade brawlers with super abilities, star powers, and gadgets, then compete for leaderboard positions or seasonal rewards.
What players love (96 positive reviews read)
players say the game is fun, free brawlers are appreciated, and graphics and new content are praised, based on 96 positive reviews.
% of the 96 positive reviews analyzed, counted, not estimated.
How Brawl Stars makes money (honestly)
Free to play with in-app purchases
How players react
Players praise fun gameplay (35%) and free brawlers (20%), but 40% of negative reviews cite server lag and crashes, 30% call gameplay unbalanced, and 20% say pay-to-win mechanics exist.
The ad twist most articles get wrong
No complaints about ads in the observed data.
What players complain about (45 negative reviews read)
players mention server lag, unbalanced gameplay, and toxic teammates as major issues, based on 45 negative reviews.
% of the 45 negative reviews analyzed, the real weaknesses, and the openings.
How studios like Supercell actually operate
A hit like Brawl Starsisn’t luck, it’s a repeatable playbook. The techniques big mobile studios use:
ASO (App Store Optimization)
Tuning title, subtitle, keywords, screenshots, and icon to rank for what players search and to convert store visits into installs, the same gaps we surface for your own app.
LiveOps & events
A live calendar of events, leaderboards, and limited-time content that gives players a reason to return daily and spend around peaks.
Battle passes & sinks
Recurring passes and currency sinks (lives, coins, extra moves) convert engaged players into repeat spenders without ad clutter.
A/B testing everything
Difficulty curves, prices, offer timing, and UI are constantly tested on cohorts, which is why hard levels so often land right where a purchase helps.
Games like Brawl Stars
Well-known games in the same genre, tap any we’ve decoded:
Supercell’s other fast-paced PvP game with short matches and collectible characters
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Popular MOBA with 5v5 battles and hero collection mechanics
Arena of Valor
Mobile MOBA with real-time 5v5 team battles and character upgrades
Why you can trust these numbers
- Every theme % is counted from real reviews we read (150 of them), not estimated.
- Ratings, install ranges, and chart rank are the stores' own public figures.
- We never show fabricated downloads or revenue. Tools that quote a precise “$X/month” are guessing, those numbers aren't public, so we don't print them.
Brawl Stars: frequently asked questions
- What do players complain about most in Brawl Stars?
- 40% of negative reviews mention server lag and crashes as the top complaint.
- Is Brawl Stars pay to win?
- 20% of negative reviews claim pay-to-win mechanics exist, though 20% also praise free brawlers.
- Is Brawl Stars free?
- Yes, the game is free to download and play, but includes in-app purchases for some items.
- What game modes does Brawl Stars offer?
- The game features Gem Grab, Showdown, Brawl Ball, Bounty, Heist, and special MOBA events.
The verdict
Brawl Stars holds a 4.2 rating with over 500 million installs, reflecting strong appeal for its fast-paced MOBA battles and free brawlers. However, server stability and balance issues dominate complaints, with 40% of negative reviews citing lag and crashes, while 30% call gameplay unbalanced.
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Analysis generated 2026-07-16 from public Google Play reviews (as of 2026-07-15) and store listings. Sentiment reflects the reviews sampled, not the entire player base.