I’ve been playing Brawl Stars for years, and honestly, it pains me to say it, but I feel like the game is slowly dying. It’s not that the servers are shutting down or that nobody plays anymore. It’s that the essence of the game—the fun, the excitement, the sense of progression—is being lost.
Over the past year, I’ve seen the game change in ways that no longer appeal to me. The problem isn’t just one thing; it’s a combination of monetization, balance issues, player burnout, and a general loss of direction.
1. The Game Increasingly Feels Like a Pay-to-Win Game
What used to feel like a skill-based fighting game now feels like a gacha machine. Every new update introduces some kind of pay-to-win system or one that favors those who spend money. New fighters are released too powerful, and it’s obvious the goal is to force players to buy them as soon as possible.
It used to be fun to unlock things through hard work. Now it’s all about spending gems, chasing deals, and trying to keep up. Even the progression system seems designed to discourage you unless you pay regularly. It’s exhausting.
2. Matchmaking and Balance Are a Mess
Matchmaking has become one of the most frustrating parts of the game. You’re either matched with absolute beginners or with max-level players who crush you in seconds. The balance between brawlers is terrible: new characters are incredibly strong, while older ones are left behind.
And when the developers finally decide to fix it, it’s usually too late. The meta stagnates, and people lose interest. Playing ranked matches is no longer competitive; it feels random and unfair.
3. There’s No Reason to Keep Playing
When I think about why I used to log in daily, it was because every match was rewarding. There was always something new to learn, a new strategy to try. Now, even when new modes or events are released, they don’t have the same feeling.
I log in less and less, maybe 30 minutes a week, just to check for updates, and even that feels forced. The rewards aren’t exciting, the updates are predictable, and the grind seems endless.
It’s like the game has forgotten how to surprise me.
4. Updates Feel Empty
Sure, we’re still getting regular updates, but they often feel superficial: new skins, flashy cosmetics, or limited-time events that don’t add any depth. The core gameplay hasn’t evolved much, and when it does, it’s usually for the worse.
Instead of addressing fundamental issues like teamwork, matchmaking, or stagnant goals, the developers focus on recycled content, and players are noticing.
5. There’s Still Hope…
I don’t think Brawl Stars is completely dead. It still has a huge player base, especially among newcomers and kids discovering it for the first time. But among veteran players, there’s a sense of weariness. People are quietly leaving.
The game needs a real resurgence: a complete overhaul that makes players feel heard again. A fair matchmaking system, better rewards, meaningful progression, and updates focused on gameplay, not just monetization.
If Supercell manages to turn things around, there’s still a chance. But if things continue this way, Brawl Stars could slowly fade into just another forgotten mobile game.
Final Thoughts
For me, Brawl Stars used to be a game of fun, creativity, and teamwork. Now it feels like a tedious routine wrapped in flashy animations. I still love it, but I don’t like what it’s become.
Perhaps that’s the saddest part: watching a game you cared about lose its essence.