# Broforce
**Broforce** is a 2D side-scrolling run-and-gun platformer developed by the South African studio Free Lives and published by [Devolver Digital](https://www.edgepedia.org/devolver-digital), in which players control an ensemble of parodied 1980s and 1990s action movie heroes fighting terrorists and satanic enemies across fully destructible terrain[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/274190/STEAM?l=english) • [2](https://www.metacritic.com/game/broforce/). It entered Steam Early Access on April 7, 2014 and received its full release on October 15, 2015[3](https://www.mobygames.com/game/75761/broforce/releases/) • [1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/274190/STEAM?l=english).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer / publisher | Free Lives / Devolver Digital[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/274190/STEAM?l=english) |
| Genre | 2D run-and-gun platformer with destructible terrain[4](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review-early-access/) |
| Releases | Steam Early Access April 7, 2014; full release October 15, 2015[3](https://www.mobygames.com/game/75761/broforce/releases/) |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One[2](https://www.metacritic.com/game/broforce/) • [16](https://www.vgchartz.com/article/272270/a-look-back-at-devolver-digitals-support-for-the-playstation-vita/) |
| Multiplayer | Up to 4 players in local and online co-op, plus local competitive modes[4](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review-early-access/) |
| Reception | Metacritic PC score 83 from 32 critics; user score 7.9 from 540 ratings[2](https://www.metacritic.com/game/broforce/) |
| Final update | Broforce Forever, a free update with six new characters, released August 8, 2023[5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3J3zLLnRU0) |
## Gameplay
Broforce is a fast-paced run-and-gun shooter in the tradition of Contra, in which the player shoots and blows up enemies and explosive barrels across totally destructible terrain[4](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review-early-access/). The destructibility is central to both the spectacle and the tactics: explosions trigger chain reactions that level wide swaths of the environment in seconds, and players can shoot or dig through walls to attack enemies from behind or avoid them entirely[6](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/broforce-early-access-review/1100-6419077/) • [4](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review-early-access/). Excessive destruction carries risks, since chewing up the ground can open gaps too wide to jump across, dropping the player into a lethal void[4](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review-early-access/).
The campaign sends the bros around the world against the armies of terror led by a red-skinned, snappily dressed figure who is quite obviously the Devil, with environments shifting from green jungle to war-torn and hellish backdrops[7](https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2015/10/15/broforce-review/). Death is instant, which the design balances against the incompetence of the enemy[6](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/broforce-early-access-review/1100-6419077/). The game also includes a level editor and support for custom user-created levels[4](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review-early-access/) • [1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/274190/STEAM?l=english).
**Co-op.** The campaign supports up to four players in local and online cooperative play, and the game is widely described as at its best in company: reviewers called co-op wonderfully chaotic and a playground for brotastic chaos, while noting that the shared screen becomes hard to read, with players losing track of their own character amid the gunfire and screen-shaking explosions[8](https://www.gameinformer.com/games/broforce/b/pc/archive/2015/11/12/broforce-game-informer-review.aspx) • [6](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/broforce-early-access-review/1100-6419077/) • [9](https://www.gamereactor.eu/broforce-review/). Competitive local modes include deathmatch and race modes[4](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review-early-access/).
## Characters
The roster is the game's centerpiece. Each bro is a pixel-art parody of an action hero, with a unique primary weapon and a special attack: Rambro, Brommando (the game's take on [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://www.edgepedia.org/arnold-schwarzenegger)'s character in *[Commando](https://www.edgepedia.org/commando-1985-film)*, who fires a flurry of rockets), Brobocop, Bro Dredd, Snake Broskin, Ellen Ripbro, Indiana Brones, Broce Lee, and Mr. Other examples include MacBrover, who throws a giant turkey with a bomb in it, and Ash Brolliams, who goes on a chainsaw rampage[4](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review-early-access/).
Characters are unlocked as the player progresses, and because each plays differently, the roster changes how the game is played from run to run[10](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review/). Dying swaps the player to a different bro, which keeps the play varied but introduces randomness into character selection[11](https://playwanderer.online/game-reviews/broforce).
## Development and release
The game's concept emerged from a game jam; a doctoral study of indie game development lists Broforce (2015) alongside *Surgeon Simulator*, *Goat Simulator*, and *Titan Souls* as notable successful ideas that came out of game jams[12](https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/download/f4c774014eb658d393546474a1f05239902daea94b472d087b55a81670defd38/9151466/Darius%20Malek%20PhD%20-%20Defining%20the%20Indie%20Game%20as%20Process.pdf). It was sold during Early Access at $15/£12 and received monthly updates adding bros, missions, enemies, and features[4](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review-early-access/). The game was later released for PC, PlayStation 4, [Nintendo Switch](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-switch), and [Xbox One](https://www.edgepedia.org/xbox-one); its planned [PlayStation Vita](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-vita) version was cancelled[2](https://www.metacritic.com/game/broforce/) • [16](https://www.vgchartz.com/article/272270/a-look-back-at-devolver-digitals-support-for-the-playstation-vita/).
## Broforce Forever
The free update added an improved and expanded campaign with new unlocks, six new bros (including Seth Brondle, Xebro, Desperabro, a stake-throwing teenage Slayer, Bro Gummer, and Demolition Bro), four new challenge levels called Muscle Temples, new enemies such as Motorbike Maniacs, and bug fixes[5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3J3zLLnRU0) • [1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/274190/STEAM?l=english). A hotfix followed in December 2023[11](https://playwanderer.online/game-reviews/broforce).
## Reception
The PC version scored 83 on Metacritic, rated Generally Favorable, based on 32 critic reviews of which 30 were positive and none negative; the user score was 7.9 from 540 ratings[2](https://www.metacritic.com/game/broforce/). Critics framed it as a sincere love letter to iconic action movies and an extremely polished run-and-gun platformer beneath the action-movie silliness[13](https://www.metacritic.com/game/broforce/critic-reviews/). The [PlayStation 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-4) port scored lower, at 68 from 12 critic reviews, and Destructoid noted technical issues in the PS4 version that were not present on PC[14](https://www.metacritic.com/game/broforce/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4) • [15](https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-broforce/).
Reviewers consistently praised the destructible environments, the humor, and the character roster, while common criticisms included co-op visual clutter, some boss fights that halt the fun, and an unforgiving co-op lives system[9](https://www.gamereactor.eu/broforce-review/) • [7](https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2015/10/15/broforce-review/). On Steam the game holds an Overwhelmingly Positive rating, with 96% of 20,521 English-language user reviews positive[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/274190/STEAM?l=english).
## References
1. [Broforce on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/274190/STEAM?l=english)
2. [Broforce Reviews - Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/broforce/)
3. [Broforce Releases - MobyGames](https://www.mobygames.com/game/75761/broforce/releases/)
4. [Broforce review (Early Access) - PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review-early-access/)
5. [Broforce Forever Update | Coming August 8 - YouTube, Devolver Digital](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3J3zLLnRU0)
6. [Broforce Early Access Review - GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/broforce-early-access-review/1100-6419077/)
7. [Broforce Review - TheSixthAxis](https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2015/10/15/broforce-review/)
8. [Broforce Review - Game Informer](https://www.gameinformer.com/games/broforce/b/pc/archive/2015/11/12/broforce-game-informer-review.aspx)
9. [Broforce Review - Gamereactor](https://www.gamereactor.eu/broforce-review/)
10. [Broforce review - PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/broforce-review/)
11. [Broforce review - Wanderer](https://playwanderer.online/game-reviews/broforce)
12. [Darius Malek PhD - Defining the Indie Game as Process, University of Canterbury](https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/download/f4c774014eb658d393546474a1f05239902daea94b472d087b55a81670defd38/9151466/Darius%20Malek%20PhD%20-%20Defining%20the%20Indie%20Game%20as%20Process.pdf)
13. [Broforce critic reviews - Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/broforce/critic-reviews/)
14. [Broforce PlayStation 4 critic reviews - Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/broforce/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4)
15. [Review: Broforce - Destructoid](https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-broforce/)
16. [A Look-Back at Devolver Digital's Support for the PlayStation Vita](https://www.vgchartz.com/article/272270/a-look-back-at-devolver-digitals-support-for-the-playstation-vita/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Game genres › Shooter games › Run-and-gun and twin-stick shooters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license