Predecessor's Brawl Mode is the perfect addition to the game

Predecessor is by far my favorite of the Paragon-likes, and they added the perfect mode recently: Brawl. This is the kind of game mode I thrive in in MOBAs. Especially 3D ones. It reminds me of SMITE, in the absolute best way. I recently joined a few other games journalists, alongside the Omeda Studios CEO to play some 5 vs. 5 matches in this brand-new game mode.

One of my main reasons for not playing MOBAs like I used to is the time commitment that is required. A good League of Legends match might last 20 minutes, but you’re far more likely to lose 45 minutes to an hour. Predecessor’s Brawl Mode likely won’t go much farther than 20 minutes. Omeda Studios is really on a roll here with their Paragon-like game.

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What is Predecessor’s Brawl Mode?

Brawl Mode is a fast, fun way to play this MOBA (Image via Omeda Studios)

Think of Predecessor’s Brawl Mode as something akin to SMITE’s Arena Mode. It’s a 5 vs. 5 in a much smaller arena compared to the normal, massive three-lane map. It’s a one-lane map with a few extra monsters on each side of the field. There is a pair of gateways on each side, where minions and larger monsters try to get through.

For each five kills your team (or your opponent’s team gets) in this mode, a larger monster will spawn. You’ll need to walk it down into your opponent’s gateway before they kill it. This is worth way more points compared to minions. That’s the ultimate goal - bringing your opponent’s point total to zero. Between that and killing other players, that’s how you score.

These matches are reasonably short and offer a fast-paced, intense game mode. Another benefit is that you start with three skill points to invest, and cooldowns in general are much lower. Respawn times are faster, as well. The whole point is for it to be a fun, casual way to get into the game.

The map is a nice open arena, with a few large barriers to hide behind, or double jump over - if your character can get that high. You don't have to make perfect team comps for this mode - it's all about fun and chaos. It's easily my favorite part of the game right now.

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A good beginner’s introduction to Predecessor, while being fun for everyone

Brawl Mode is a casual way to bring people together for 20 minutes of pure mayhem (Image via Omeda Studios)

What I like about this mode is that it’s good for everyone, regardless of your skill level. Predecessor’s Brawl Mode is a fun, casual way to learn how characters work in the game, or just a way to group up with a few friends and play whatever nonsense you want to. It serves several masters, while also fulfilling the most important role it can fill: It’s fun.

As someone who is still relatively new to Predecessor, and hasn’t played Paragon in years, Brawl feels fun and approachable to me. The matches weren’t long, and everyone really seemed to have a good time. If you aren’t sure if you want to commit to longer matches, just play Brawl instead.

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Is Brawl Mode worth playing in Predecessor?

Who doesn't want to help a massive dinosaur make its way into the enemy base? (Image via Omeda Studios)

Absolutely - it is. If you like casual, fast-paced game modes in your MOBAs, this is the one for you. They even brought this back at the same time as they debuted a familiar Paragon character - Aurora, the Ice Witch. The map isn’t huge, but it’s enough to make some seriously amazing plays. Money builds pretty fast, and leveling is incredibly swift.

This is the perfect mode to learn a character, or even just relax, and play a few matches with your friends. While SMITE 2 doesn't have an Arena Mode in its Alpha, Predecessor's got Brawl Mode. It feels similar but is also very much its own entity. I cannot recommend this game enough if you want something different in a MOBA.