A closed beta for Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game was available last weekend, only a few weeks before its July 23, 2026 release, and it certainly made waves within the FGC (Fighting Game Community). As a title borrowing from an IP as popular as Avatar, anybody would be forgiven for thinking it would represent a beginner-friendly entry point. This is far from the truth, though, and the signs were there all along. After all, known industry veterans and fighting game fiends Gameplay Group International is behind its development, and if its work on the legally distinct My Little Pony 2D fighter Them’s Fightin’ Herds is anything to go by, this will be a treat.
So far, the best thing about Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is directly tied to how the IP is being used to make a unique, one-of-a-kind title that seems to resonate with a specific audience within the community: the people itching for a challenging yet rewarding gameplay experience. This game has a lot hidden under the hood, from complex combos requiring tight, just-frame execution to characters with unrelenting offensive capabilities. These two elements combined would make any beginner recoil in fear, which is understandable.
In this complexity, however, lies a kind of catharsis many thought impossible to reach through modern fighters. A catharsis beginners will experience should they accept meeting Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game on its own terms and try to understand its intricacies: the pleasure of seeing hard work pay off against human opponents after hours spent in the lab.
The good news is it is still immediately fun to play at all skill levels thanks to its fluid game feel and its simple-to-understand control scheme with only three attack buttons, as well as a fourth one dedicated to its most defining mechanic: Flow.
For those who have played it before, pressing Flow is the equivalent of holding parry in Street Fighter 6. It is a defensive option that will prompt a character to stylishly dodge all incoming strikes. The catch is it is highly vulnerable to throws. That’s not all, as characters have moves and movement options directly tied to their Flow button, granting them access to even more offensive and defensive capabilities.
Character identity is not only worked within the Flow system, however. Azula, obsessed with perfection as she is, has just-frame timings baked into her move set, which is a smart way to turn personality quirks into gameplay ideas. Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is full of similar callbacks to the show, such as how protagonist Aang and his former pursuer turned ally Zuko are the only two capable of redirecting Azula’s lightning, providing the people piloting them are quick enough to do so.
The way Gameplay Group International is leveraging IP strength to create something unique is to be commended, and it is clear both fighting games and Avatar fans have worked on this title. That said, the frequent 100+ ping matches are somewhat worrying. This could be due to the fact that Avatar is mostly popular in the US, while this review is written from the perspective of a player based in Europe. Matches still felt good despite high ping, thanks to what appears to be a good implementation of the FGC’s savior, rollback netcode.
As for game modes, only online and training were available during the beta, but the full release will include story and arcade modes, which may be a little light for those who enjoy single-player content in fighting games. However, all signs are pointing to this being an easy recommendation to fans of the genre, especially at the €28.99 price point. It is only a couple of weeks left until release, and soon everyone will be hitting those addictive Azula combos once again. Stay tuned for the full review of Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game.
